Frank O'Donnell

Who was Frank O'Donnell?

Frank O'Donnell was an Australian actor. He was born in Sydney in 1907 and educated at St Aloysius' College. He died in Sydney during 1956.

O'Donnell performed in many productions directed by Doris Fitton at Sydney's Independent Theatre Company. He achieved notice for his performance as Mac in Rusty Bugles, the controversial 1948 play by Sumner Locke Elliott. This play is considered as being pivotal in the history of twentieth-century Australian theatre.

His son John D'Arcy O'Donnell was also educated at St Aloysius' College and later at Sydney University where he graduated as medical practitioner in 1970. John is best known for his work in the media where he goes by the screen name of Dr John D'Arcy; he worked first as a presenter on Beyond 2000 Towards 2000 and later as the first medical practitioner appointed to an Australian newsroom and continues as ‘medical editor’ for The Seven Network’s Sunrise program.

Frank's nephew, Peter O'Donnell, was a prominent sailor and winner of an Olympic Gold Medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 1964.Peter O'Donnell