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Toni Lamond

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Toni Lamond
Lamond in The Pajama Game (1957)
Born
Patricia Lamond Lawman

(1932-03-29) 29 March 1932 (age 92)
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Other namesLolly-Legs (nickname)
Occupations
  • Vaudevillian
  • cabaret performer
  • singer
  • actress
  • dancer
  • comedienne
  • media personality
  • presenter
  • writer
Years active1942–present
Spouse
Frank Sheldon
(m. 1954; died 1966)
FamilyHelen Reddy (half-sister), Tony Sheldon (son)
Musical career
Genres
  • Vaudeville
  • musical theatre
  • television
  • radio
  • cabaret
Websitehttp://www.tonilamond.com

Toni Lamond AM (born as Patricia Lamond Lawman; 29 March 1932), is an Australian vaudevillian, cabaret performer, singer, actress, dancer, comedian, writer and television and radio personality/presenter. She has had a successful career spanning some 80 years, both locally and internationally, including in the United Kingdom and United States.[1]

Lamond, who comes from a family involved in the performing arts, started her career as a child actor vaudeville/variety entertainment aged ten and was the first woman in the world to host a midday show. The second was her younger half-sister Helen Reddy.[2]

Alongside her showbiz contemporaries Jill Perryman and Nancye Hayes, Lamond has been called one of the three grand dames of Australian musical theatre, and in her prime a talent that could rival Doris Day.[3]

Biography

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Early life

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Lamond was born in Sydney, Australia on 29 March 1932 to actress and comedian Stella Lamond (1909-1973) and actor father Joe Lawman, as Patricia Lamond Lawman. She learned to tap dance at 8 and began her professional career aged 10 when she sang on the radio while touring with her vaudevillian parents in variety shows.[4][5]

Theatre and variety

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Lamond worked on the Tivoli Theatre circuit, the Brennan-Fuller Vaudeville Circuit and J. C. Williamson's and was a staple of touring mainstream theatre since 1951.

Her first stage performances were at the Tivoli Theatre in Sydney.[5] Her first performances as a leading lady were with English comedian Tommy Trinder in The Tommy Trinder Show in 1952.[6]

She also starred in Australian productions of Oliver!, Annie Get Your Gun, The Pajama Game, and Gypsy: A Musical Fable.

Lamond was given the nickname 'Lolly-Legs' by entertainer, Noel Ferrier, who stated she had the "second best legs in the industry" when she featured on In Melbourne Tonight[2]

Screen

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Lamond was a regular in a number of 1970s television shows, such as Number 96 in a controversial black mass storyline and Graham Kennedy's In Melbourne Tonight.[2] She later compèred her own IMT, becoming the first woman in the world to compère a variety television show.[7]

In 1986, she appeared on the US television fiction crime series Murder, She Wrote starring Angela Lansbury in the episode "Murder in the Electric Cathedral".[8] She also appeared in films including telemovies and features such as the 2007 Razzle Dazzle: A Journey Into Dance.[9]

International career, recordings and stage

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Lamond travelled to the United Kingdom, where in a similar vein to entertainer Lorrae Desmond, she appeared in the British night club and cabaret, circuit and on BBC-TV and BBC Radio. She also recorded two singles for record label; Philips in London.[7]

In the mid-1970s, Lamond moved to Los Angeles, where she appeared in musicals and television shows. She debuted on the New York stage with a production Cabaret at the age of 67. On her return to Australia in the mid-1990s, she performed in shows including 42nd Street, The Pirates of Penzance, and My Fair Lady.

In April–May 2008, she appeared in an autobiographical one-woman show, Times of My Life (co-written with her son Tony Sheldon), at the Seymour Centre in Sydney.[10]

Publications

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Lamond has written several autobiographical books, including First Half (1990), Along the Way (2002), and Still a Gypsy (2007). The first book went to the top of the bestseller list in eight days.[11]

In July 2010, Lamond was a headline act in the inaugural Melbourne Cabaret Festival.

Notable work

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She joined the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra with Trisha Crowe, Michael Falzon, Amanda Harrison, Lucy Maunder, Andy Conaghan, and others to record I Dreamed a Dream: The Hit Songs of Broadway for ABC Classics, released on 21 June 2013.[12] Lamond sang "Send in the Clowns" from Stephen Sondheim's A Little Night Music.

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Type
1987 Running from the Guns Davie's Mum Feature film
1989 How Wonderful! Kerry's Mum TV movie
1991 Spotswood (aka The Efficiency Expert) Mrs. Lorna Ball Feature film
1994 The Pirates of Penzance Ruth TV movie
2007 Razzle Dazzle Sherry Leonard Feature film

Television

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Year Title Role Type
1972 Number 96 Karen Winters TV series, 10 episodes
1973 The True Blue Show Various characters TV series, episode 5
1974 Division 4 Janie Gibson TV series, 1 episode
1974 Mac and Merle TV series
1975 The Unisexers Mrs. Lewis TV series (recurring role)
1977 Starsky & Hutch Ruth Willoughby TV series (US), 1 episode
1977 The Bob Newhart Show Mrs. Doris Peterson TV series (US), 1 episode
1979 Eight Is Enough Mrs. Dreissen TV series (US), 1 episode
1982 Three's Company Patient TV series (US), 1 episode
1984 Punky Brewster Stage Manager TV series (US), 1 episode
1985 The Love Boat Mrs. Burton TV series (US), 1 episode
1986 Murder, She Wrote Ad-Lib Woman TV series (US), 1 episode
1986 The Last Frontier Auntie Dier TV miniseries, 2 episodes
1987 Starman Edna TV series (US), 1 episode
1987 The Tortellis Mrs Hamilton TV series (US), 1 episode
1987 Highway to Heaven Maggie (as Tony Lamond) TV series (US), 1 episode
1992 Fish Police Voice Animated TV series (US), 1 episode
1992 Capitol Critters Voice Animated TV series (US), 1 episode
1997 Fallen Angels Irene Lucas TV series, 1 episode

Television (as self)

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Year Title Role Type
1967 I'm Alright Now Herseif TV series
1952 The Tommy Trinder Show Guest TV series UK, 1 episode
1958 Personal Album Herself TV series, 1 episode
1959–60 BP Super Show Comedian TV series, 3 episodes
1959–70 In Melbourne Tonight Guest TV series, 6 episodes
1960 Be My Guest Guest TV series, 1 episode
1960–65 Graham Kennedy's Channel 9 Show Regular guest performer TV series
1962 The 3rd Annual Logie Awards Winner TV special
1966 Jimmy Guest TV series, 3 episodes
1969 Bandstand Guest performer TV series, 1 episode
1969 Show of the North Guest TV series (UK), 1 episode
1969; 1975 The Don Lane Tonight Show Guest TV series, 2 episodes
1972 Kamahl Guest TV series, 1 episode
1972–75 The Graham Kennedy Show Guest TV series, 5 episodes
1974 The Bert Newton Show Guest performer TV series, 1 episode
1978; 1979 The Mike Douglas Show Guest performer TV series US, 2 episodes
1978 This Is Your Life Special guest TV series, 1 episode: "Toni Lamond"
1978 The Mike Walsh Show Guest TV series, 1 episode
1981 Channel Nine Celebrates: 25 Years of Television Herself (archive clips from In Melbourne Tonight) TV special
1982 The Mike Walsh Show Guest (with son Tony Sheldon) TV series, 1 episode
1982 Parkinson in Australia Guest TV series, 2 episodes
1983; 1984 The Mike Walsh Show Guest TV series, 2 episodes
1986 Star Search Guest judge TV series, 1 episode
1987 The Tortellis Guest role: Mrs. Hamilton TV series (US), 1 episode
1989 The Bert Newton Show Guest performer TV series, 1 episode
1989; 1990 In Melbourne Today Guest (with Tony Sheldon) TV series, 2 episodes
1989 Turn onto Tap Presenter Video
1990 Hey Hey It's Saturday Herself TV series, 1 episode ("Red Faces" segment)
1992 The Morning Show Guest TV series, 1 episode
1994 At Home Guest TV series, 1 episode
1996 Good Morning Australia Guest TV series, 1 episode
1998 Good Morning Australia Guest (with Tony Sheldon) TV series, 1 episode
1998 Denise Guest (with Tony Sheldon) TV series, 1 episode
1999; Good Morning Australia Guest performer (singing "Breezin' Along with the Breeze" with Helen Reddy) TV series, 1 episode
1999 Good Morning Australia Guest performer (singing "The Place That I'll Call Home") TV series, 1 episode
2002 Good Morning Australia Guest performer (singing "I'm Still Here") TV series, 1 episode
2003 This Is Your Life: Helen Reddy Guest performer (singing "Best Friend" with Helen Reddy) TV series, 1 episode
2004 Good Morning Australia Guest performer (singing "St Louis Blues" with Tony Sheldon) TV series, 1 episode
2005 Graham Kennedy: Farewell to the King Guest performer (singing "I Believe in You") TV special
2005 Good Morning Australia Guest TV series, 1 episode
2005 Talking Heads Guest TV series, 1 episode
2005–2009 Spicks and Specks Guest TV series, 5 episodes
2005 50 Years 50 Shows Herself TV Special
2005 Sunday Afternoon Herself & Stuart Wagstaff (June Bronhill Tribute) ABC TV series, 1 episode
2007 Bert's Family Feud Contestant (with Noeline Brown, Val Jellay & Val Lehman) TV series, 1 episode
2009 The Real Graham Kennedy Herself ABC TV Special
2010 Lights! Camera! Party! Television City Celebrates Herself TV special
2011 Helpmann Awards Special guest - recipient of JC Williamson Award for Lifetime Achievement (with Jill Perryman & Nancye Hayes) TV special
2015–17 Stop Laughing...This Is Serious Herself TV series, 3 episodes
2018 The Recording Studio Herself TV series, 1 episode

Theatre

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Year Title Role Type
1951 Gay Fiesta / Mother Goose Theatre Royal, Adelaide
1952–53 The Tommy Trinder Show Actor / Singer Tivoli Theatre, Melbourne, His Majesty's Theatre, Perth, Theatre Royal, Adelaide, Tivoli Theatre, Sydney
1952 By Request Soubrette Tivoli Theatre, Melbourne
1952 Cinderella Tivoli Theatre, Melbourne
1957 The Pajama Game Babe Williams His Majesty's Theatre, Brisbane, Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne, Empire Theatre, Sydney, Theatre Royal, Adelaide with J. C. Williamson's
1959 For Amusement Only Self / Singer Theatre Royal, Sydney with J. C. Williamson's
1963 Wildcat Wildcat Jackson Princess Theatre, Melbourne with Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust
1966 Oliver! Nancy Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne, Theatre Royal, Sydney, Her Majesty's Theatre, Adelaide, His Majesty's Theatre, Perth, Canberra Theatre, Tivoli Theatre, Sydney with J. C. Williamson's
1971 Anything Goes Reno Sweeney Richbrooke Theatre, Sydney
1973 Expresso Bongo SGIO Theatre, Brisbane with Queensland Theatre Company
1975 Gypsy Mama Rose Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne, Her Majesty's Theatre, Sydney with J. C. Williamson's
1977 Annie Get Your Gun Annie Oakley Adelaide Festival Centre
Carry On Laughing Bournemouth, UK
1978–82 Annie Sophie / the Kettle / Mrs. Pugh / Perkins / Miss Hannigan (understudy] Broadway, New York (second national tour)
Hello, Dolly! Dolly Gallagher Levi (understudy for Yvonne De Carlo) Grand Dinner Theater, Anaheim
Mame USA
42nd Street USA
Oliver! USA
Female Transport USA
An Evening with Woody Allen USA
Nunsense USA
1985 Sherlock's Last Case Mrs. Hudson New Mayfair Theatre, Santa Monica
1985 Madonna and Child Self / singer Off Broadway Theatre, Sydney (with son, Tony Sheldon)
1986 The Mystery of Edwin Drood Princess Puffer Sacramento Music Circus, California
1989; 1992–93 42nd Street Maggie Jones Her Majesty's Theatre, Sydney, His Majesty's Theatre, Perth, Lyric Theatre, Brisbane, Festival Theatre, Adelaide, Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne
1991 Cabaret Fraulein Schneider Playhouse, Adelaide with STCSA
1992 Legends at the Tilbury Hotel Singer Tilbury Hotel, Sydney for Sydney Festival
1992 Better Known as Bee Q Theatre, Penrith
1992 A Life in Show Business Solo show / Self La Boite Theatre, Brisbane
1993 Follies Hattie State Theatre, Melbourne
1994 Legends Singer Sydney Opera House
1994 The Pirates of Penzance Ruth Lyric Theatre, Brisbane, State Theatre, Sydney, Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne, Her Majesty's Theatre, Adelaide, Newcastle Civic Theatre, Canberra Theatre with Essgee Entertainment (also in 1994 TV movie version)
1995 Woman on the Move Solo show / Singer Glen Street Theatre, Sydney, Tilbury Hotel, Sydney
1996 My Fair Lady Mrs Pearce Lyric Theatre, Brisbane with Victorian State Opera
1996 Gala Re-Opening of the Regent Theatre Artistic performer (guest) Regent Theatre, Melbourne
1996 Beauty and the Beast Madame de le Grande Bouche Her Majesty's Theatre, Sydney
1998 Follies Sally Durant Plummer Sydney Opera House with Sydney Symphony Orchestra for Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras
1998 Dream Kitchen Betty / solo show Universal Theatre, Melbourne
1998 The 4th Canberra Area Theatre Awards Singer Playhouse, Canberra
1999 Oh, Coward! Marian Street Theatre, Sydney with Northside Theatre Company
1999 Careful, He Might Hear You Lila Baines Acton Street Theatre
2001; 2002 Toni Lamond: Full of Life Solo show / Singer Cafe 9, Sydney, Top of the Cross, Canberra, Woodfire Cabaret Restaurant, Sydney, Dunstan Playhouse, Adelaide with East Coast Theatre Company
2001 The 7th Annual Duesburys Canberra Area Theatre Awards Playhouse, Canberra
2002 The 2nd Helpmann Awards 2002 The Star, Sydney
2002 Hot Spots Banquet Room, Adelaide for Adelaide Cabaret Festival
2002 The 8th Annual Duesburys Canberra Area Theatre Awards Patron Playhouse, Canberra
2003 Stage Door The Basement, Sydney
2003 Not New Years Eve Singer Sydney Opera House with Willoughby Symphony Choir & Australian Philharmonic Orchestra
2003 New Year's Eve & the Night Before Singer Melbourne Concert Hall with Australian Philharmonic Orchestra & Australian Pops Orchestra
2004 High Society Mother Lord State Theatre, Melbourne with Orchestra Victoria & The Production Company
2004 Morning Melodies Brolga Theatre, Maryborough
2004 The 10th Walter Turnbull Canberra Area Theatre Awards Canberra Theatre
2005 Shout Her Majesty's Theatre, Adelaide
2006 Telstra Country Wide Canberra Area Theatre Awards 2005 Canberra Theatre
2006 Kookaburra Launch Concert Singer Lyric Theatre, Sydney
2006 The Full Monty The Street Theatre
2006–08 Times of My Life Solo show / Singer Australian tour
2007 Toni Lamond – Still Full of Life Solo show / Singer Ford Theatre, Geelong, Frankston Arts Centre
2007; 2008 Ozmade Musicals Concert Singer Melbourne Athenaeum
2008 A Musical Send Off Singer Capitol Theatre, Sydney
2009 The Burlesque Hour - Legends! Singer Fortyfivedownstairs, Melbourne
2010 The Burlesque Hour: She's Back Singer Acton Street Theatre
2010 Love, Loss, and What I Wore Various roles Sydney Opera House
2019 Showqueen Singer Sydney Cabaret Festival

[13][14]

Publications

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Year Title Type
1990 First Half Autobiography
2002 Along the Way Autobiography
2007 Still a Gypsy Autobiography
1976 Cooking When You're Broke

[15]

Awards and honours

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Association Award Year Results
Logie Awards Most Popular Victorian Personality 1962 Won
Variety Club of Australia Award Entertainment Award Honoured
Mo Award Entertainment Award Honoured
Government honour Key to the City of Melbourne 1993 Honoured
List of Woman Shaping the Nation 2000 Honoured
Government of Australia Centenary Medal for Service to the Arts Community 2001 Honoured
Australian Government Order of Australia (AM) for Service to the Entertainment Industry and service to the community through fundraising, including the Guide Dog Association of NSW and Canberra[16] 2003 Honoured
Helpmann Awards JC Williamson Award Lifetime Achievement Award for Contribution to the Live Performance sector and Theatre 2011 Honoured
Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance Equity Sector Lifetime Achievement Award 2014 Honoured

[17] [7][18]"[6][19] [20]

Actors Equity president Simon Burke says: "Toni is a truly legendary Australian performer whose phenomenal career has spanned vaudeville, musical theatre, television, and cabaret. She is also a wonderful human being who has given back to her community, to her colleagues, and to her industry in every way she can."[21]

Showbusiness family

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Lamond has a significant pedigree within the Australian performing arts. She is the daughter of Stella Lamond (Homicide and Bellbird) and Joe Lawman, both vaudeville entertainers. Her parents divorced when she was seven and Stella remarried Max Reddy (Homicide), whilst Lawman married soubrette Joy Robbins.[22]

Therefore through her step-father she is a half-sister to the late singer Helen Reddy, whom she raised as a surrogate mother while their parents were performing.[23]

Her son is actor and writer Tony Sheldon

Personal life

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She married performer Frank Sheldon in 1954, but in 1966 shortly after a separation, he took his own life.

An addiction to prescription drugs followed, and she was a patient at Chelmsford Private Hospital, where she underwent deep sleep therapy.[24] She overcame and publicly discussed the issue in an episode of The Mike Walsh Show, becoming one of the first Australian media personalities to do so.

References

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  1. ^ Toni Lamond at IMDb
  2. ^ a b c "Toni Lamond". Talking Heads (transcript of interview with Peter Thompson). 17 October 2005.
  3. ^ Neutze, Ben (18 May 2016). "Back to the '50's? international actors take prized roles in Australian musical productions".
  4. ^ "Lamond, Toni". State Library of New South Wales - Dictionary ofSydney.
  5. ^ a b "Toni Lamond AM". Victorian Government. 26 May 2022. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
  6. ^ a b "Toni Lamond". The Arts Centre, Melbourne. May 2003. Retrieved 23 April 2008.
  7. ^ a b c "Toni Lamond". tv.com.
  8. ^ "Ad-Lib Woman – Murder, She Wrote". TVmaze. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
  9. ^ "Toni Lamond on ASO – Australia's audio and visual heritage online". Australian Screen. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
  10. ^ "Hear 'em roar: 'We're sisters, not rivals'". Sydney Morning Herald. 18 April 2008.
  11. ^ "Toni Lamond – A Great Entertainer". ABC Radio National. 9 July 2002.
  12. ^ "I Dreamed a Dream: Hit Songs from Broadway". © 2013 Universal Music Australia Pty Limited. Archived from the original on 8 October 2013. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  13. ^ "AusStage".
  14. ^ "Toni Lamond: Learn English as You Sing Along | Stage Whispers".
  15. ^ "– Toni Lamond AM".
  16. ^ "Toni Lamond". It's an Honour. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
  17. ^ "Toni Lamond". School of Arts Cafe.
  18. ^ "It's an Honour: Centenary Medal".
  19. ^ It's an Honour: Member of the Order of Australia
  20. ^ Wright, Maryann (2 August 2011). "Mary's a perfect Poppins - musical scoops annual Helpmann Awards". News.com.au. News Limited (News Corporation). Retrieved 30 April 2012.
  21. ^ "Toni Lamond AM honoured with Lifetime Achievement Award". www.equityfoundation.org.au. Archived from the original on 28 October 2014.
  22. ^ "Joe Lawman". AusStage database.
  23. ^ "Toni Lamond AM".
  24. ^ "Good times roll for show biz queen". The Sydney Morning Herald. 9 June 2003. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
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