Ray Barrett
An Australian actor with a granite voice and tough-guy presence who became a familiar face on both British and homegrown television dramas.
1927–2009 (age 82)·Australian actor·Birthday: May 2·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Ray Barrett's voice—a deep, weathered instrument that suggested hard miles and buried sentiment—was his calling card. He left Australia for London in the late 1950s, finding quick success as a rugged leading man in British television. He became a household name as the gruff, capable Peter Thornton in the aviation drama 'The Troubleshooters', a role he played for six years. In the 1970s, he returned home, his voice and demeanor perfectly suited to a new wave of gritty Australian cinema. He delivered memorable performances in films like 'The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith' and 'Don's Party', embodying a certain Antipodean masculinity: tough, flawed, and resonant. For decades, he was the reliable, compelling presence in countless miniseries and films.
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.
Ray was born in 1927, 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 Ray Was Born
The biggest hits of 1927
#1 Movie
Wings
Ray's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1927Born
Lindbergh flies solo across the Atlantic; The Jazz Singer premieres
President: Calvin Coolidge"My Blue Heaven" — Gene Austin
1932Started school
Amelia Earhart flies solo across the Atlantic
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Night and Day" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Grand Hotel
1940Became a teenager
The Blitz: Germany bombs London
Gas: $0.18/galHome: $2,938Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I'll Never Smile Again" — Tommy DorseyBest Picture: Rebecca
1943Could drive
Allies invade Sicily; Battle of Stalingrad ends
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,290Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I've Heard That Song Before" — Harry JamesBest Picture: Casablanca
1945Could vote
WWII ends; atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $4,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Sentimental Journey" — Les Brown & Doris DayBest Picture: The Lost Weekend
1948Turned 21
Israel declares independence; Berlin Blockade begins
Gas: $0.26/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Twelfth Street Rag" — Pee Wee HuntBest Picture: Hamlet
1957Turned 30
Sputnik launches the Space Age
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $10,550Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"All Shook Up" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: The Bridge on the River Kwai
1967Turned 40
Summer of Love in San Francisco; first Super Bowl
Gas: $0.33/galHome: $14,250Min wage: $1.40/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"To Sir, with Love" — LuluBest Picture: In the Heat of the Night
1977Turned 50
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1987Turned 60
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1997Turned 70
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2007Turned 80
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2009Died at 82
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
Key Achievements
- Starred as Peter Thornton in the long-running BBC drama series 'The Troubleshooters' (1965-1971).
- Won an Australian Film Institute Award for Best Actor for his role in 'Don's Party' (1976).
- Provided the voice for the character 'Dad' in the Australian animated film 'The Magic Pudding' (2000).
- Had a significant late-career resurgence in Australian television, notably in the series 'Something in the Air' and 'Always Greener'.
Did You Know?
He was also a successful voice actor, narrating documentaries and providing voices for animated projects.
He began his career as a radio actor with the Australian Broadcasting Commission.
He was considered for the role of Captain James Cook in a film, but it was never made.
He returned to Australia partly due to disillusionment with the typecasting he faced in the UK.
He was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 2005 for services to the performing arts.
“That voice you hear has lived a thousand different lives.”
