Peter Sumner

Peter Malcolm Sumner-Potts (29 January 1942 – 22 November 2016), professionally known as Peter Sumner, was an Australian actor, director, and writer. He had a long career in theatre, television, and film.

Career

Acting

Initially a high-school teacher, Sumner made his professional acting debut in the 1965 television adaption of the novel My Brother Jack, followed by his film debut in 1966'sThey're a Weird Mob and his professional theatre debut in a 1967 production of Arthur Miller's Incident at Vichy.

Sumner was a presenter on the ABC youth show On the Inside from 1967 to 1968 while continuing to act, including starring in the Ensemble Theatre's 1968 production of Daphne in Cottage D. He then appeared in supporting roles in the films Color Me Dead (1969) and Ned Kelly (1970) before being cast as one of the leads of the successful television series Spyforce, which ran for 41 episodes from 1971 to 1973 and was shown around the world, including in Yugoslavia.

Sumner served as a presenter on Play School in 1974 while also starring in the miniseries A Touch of Reverence and appearing in guest roles in series including Homicide, Division 4, Matlock Police, Boney and The Sullivans.

In 1976 Sumner was on a European holiday when he arrived in London broke. His agent organised two days work on an American science fiction movie named Star Wars, filmed in Elstree Studios. Playing Death Star Officer Lieutenant Pol Treidum, Sumner had two lines, as well as controlling the Dianoga (garbage compactor monster) puppet.

Later film appearances included The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith (1978), The Survivor (1981) and Bush Christmas (1983). On television he starred in Tickled Pink (1978–81) and, opposite Jacki Weaver, in the sitcom Trial by Marriage, portrayed Bill Hayden in The Dismissal and appeared in many Australian soap operas, including Cop Shop, Neighbours, E Street, The Flying Doctors, Home and Away, All the Way, Cluedo, Heartbreak High and Jeopardy.

Directing

Sumner was a follower of Meher Baba and directed a TV documentary, Baba's Birthday, shot in India, produced by Sensory Image, with music by Pete Townshend. The documentary follows Sumner's son, Luke Sumner, as he journeys to India in search of spiritual meaning.

Additionally, Sumner directed theatrical performances, including a season of Extremities for The Edge Theatre, Sydney, and wrote and directed the documentary Cradle of mankind.

In 1988 Sumner produced Australian theatrical posters 1825-1914, which accompanied an exhibition held at the Performing Arts Museum and the rights for his script Spiderdance, based on the life of Lola Montez, were secured by Indianic Pictures in 2021.

Personal

The great grand-nephew of John Bird Sumner, Archbishop of Canterbury, Sumner was married twice. The first was to Christina, with whom he had two daughters; Kate and Joanna. Sumner married actor and activist Lynda Stoner in 1983 and their son Luke was born in 1984. Sumner and Stoner remained married until his death, aged 74, after a long illness.

Filmography

Film

As actor

As director and/or writer

Television

Stage

As actor

As director

External links

• at IMDb
• on YouTube