Redmond Phillips

Who was Redmond Phillips?

Redmond Bernard Phillips was a New Zealand actor and writer.

Phillips was born in Reefton, New Zealand and began acting in the theatre while a student at Victoria University of Wellington. After moving to Sydney, Australia in the late 1930s he performed with Doris Fitton's pioneering Independent Theatre group and wrote material for radio star Jack Davey. During World War two he served as a staff sergeant with the Entertainment Unit of the Australian Army for which he also wrote material.

He moved to England in 1948 where he became a successful character actor in the theatre, working with the Nottingham Playhouse, the Birmingham Repertory Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company. From 1957 he started acting for television and appeared in many series such as Maigret, Danger Man, The Saint and The Avengers and in several plays produced by the BBC.

In 1968 he returned to Sydney and continued performing on stage with the Old Tote Theatre Company. He remained active in television playing roles in many series and was part of the regular cast of Spyforce playing the ruthless Colonel Cato.