Chips Rafferty
A lanky, laconic actor whose weathered face and easy manner became the cinematic embodiment of the rugged, no-nonsense Australian bushman for a generation.
1909–1971 (age 62)·Australian actor·Birthday: March 26·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Standing at six-foot-four with a trademark slouch and a face that looked carved from sandstone, Chips Rafferty didn't just play Australians—he seemed to be the continent personified. Born John Goffage in rural New South Wales, he adopted his stage name from two Australian slang terms and never looked back. His career began in the era of 'the bushman' archetype, and he filled it perfectly in films like 'The Overlanders,' where his understated, capable presence felt authentically of the land. Rafferty carried this image through decades, becoming a beloved national figure who represented a certain resilient, dry-humored ideal of masculinity. While he excelled in homegrown epics, he also served as a friendly, familiar ambassador in international co-productions like 'The Sundowners' and even in British television ads encouraging emigration to Australia. His final role in the brutal outback nightmare 'Wake in Fright' added a complex, darker layer to his iconic persona, proving his depth as an actor who helped define and then subtly critique the Australian character on screen.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Chips was born in 1909, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Chips Was Born
The biggest hits of 1909
Chips's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1909Born
Robert Peary claims to reach the North Pole
President: William Howard Taft
1914Started school
World War I begins
President: Woodrow Wilson
1922Became a teenager
King Tut's tomb discovered in Egypt
President: Warren G. Harding"April Showers" — Al Jolson
1925Could drive
The Scopes Trial debates evolution in schools
Home: $4,366President: Calvin Coolidge"Sweet Georgia Brown" — Ben Bernie
1927Could vote
Lindbergh flies solo across the Atlantic; The Jazz Singer premieres
President: Calvin Coolidge"My Blue Heaven" — Gene Austin
1930Turned 21
Pluto discovered
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,510President: Herbert Hoover"Body and Soul" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: All Quiet on the Western Front
1939Turned 30
World War II begins; The Wizard of Oz premieres
Gas: $0.19/galMin wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Over the Rainbow" — Judy GarlandBest Picture: Gone with the Wind
1949Turned 40
NATO founded; Mao proclaims the People's Republic of China
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Riders in the Sky" — Vaughn MonroeBest Picture: All the King's Men
1959Turned 50
Fidel Castro takes power in Cuba
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $12,400Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"The Battle of New Orleans" — Johnny HortonBest Picture: Ben-Hur
1969Turned 60
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1971Died at 62
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
Key Achievements
- Starred in and helped produce 'The Overlanders' (1946), a seminal Australian outback epic that found international success.
- Played the lead role in 'The Sundowners' (1960), a major Hollywood film about Australian drovers starring Robert Mitchum and Deborah Kerr.
- Appeared as the iconic Sergeant Fury in the long-running Australian TV series 'The Adventures of the Terrible Ten.'
- Was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1971 for services to the Australian film industry.
Did You Know?
His nickname 'Chips' came from an Australian slang term for a carpenter, and 'Rafferty' from the phrase 'Rafferty's rules,' meaning no rules at all.
He worked as a commercial artist and gold miner before becoming an actor.
During WWII, he served in the Royal Australian Air Force making training films.
He was the first Australian actor to be featured on a postage stamp, appearing on a 1985 stamp commemorating Australian cinema.
“I'm not a bloody Pommy actor. I'm an Australian playing an Australian.”
