Toni Lamond

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[2]

Toni Lamond

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

(1932-03-29) 29 March 1932
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(s)Frank Sheldon (m, 1954-1966, his death)
Parent(s)Stella Lamond (mother), Joe Lawman (father)[1]
FamilyHelen Reddy (half-sister), Tony Sheldon (son)
Websitehttp://www.tonilamond.com

Lamond, whose comes from a family involved in the performing arts, started her career as a child actor vaudeville/variety entertainment at only ten and was the first woman in the world to host a midday show. The second was her younger half-sister Helen Reddy[3]

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.[4]

Biography

Early life

Lamond was born in Sydney, Australia in 1932, as Patricia Lamond Lawman. She learned to tap dance at 8 and began her professional career at the age of 10 when she sang on the radio while touring with her vaudevillian parents in variety shows, which included her actress and comedian mother Stella Lamond (1909-1973), a popular actress who worked at the Tivoli Theatre and the Brennan-Fuller Vaudeville Circuit and J.C. Williamson's[5] and her actor father Joe Lawman.[1]

Theatre and variety

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[3]

Her first stage performances were at the Tivoli Theatre in Sydney.[1] Her first performances as a leading lady were with English comedian Tommy Trinder in The Tommy Trinder Show in 1952.[6]

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

Screen

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.[3] 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

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

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

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.

Theatre credits (selection)

  • Toni Lamond, other than working with the Tivoli Theatre circuit, Brennan-Fuller Vaudeville Circuit and J.C Williamson's and has been a staple of touring mainstream theatre since 1951

Her theatre credits can be found on the link below, which also includes links to the theatre roles of her showbiz parents (Joe Lawson: main page[13] and (Stella Lamond: main [14]

Toni Lamond theatre credits: link [15] Sources: Austage, IBDB

Year Show Role Notes
1957 The Pajama Game Babe Williams Australasian Tour
1959 For Amusement Only Herself Theatre Royal, Sydney
1963 Wildcat Wildcat Jackson Princess Theatre, Melbourne
1966 Oliver! Nancy Australian Tour
1971 Anything Goes Reno Sweeney Richbrooke Theatre, Sydney
1975 Gypsy Rose Australian Tour
1978 Annie Various (u/s Miss Hannigan) USA - Second national tour
1985 Madonna and Child Herself Performed at off-Broadway Theatre, NSW, with Tony Sheldon
1989 42nd Street Maggie Jones Australian Tour
1994 The Pirates of Penzance Ruth Australian tour and 1994 TV movie
1996 My Fair Lady Mrs Pearce Lyric Theatre, Brisbane
1998 Dream Kitchen Betty One-woman play directed by son, Tony Sheldon
1998 Follies Sally Durant Plummer Sydney Opera House
2004 High Society Mother Lord The Production Company
2010 Love, Loss, and What I Wore Various Sydney Opera House

Filmography

FILM

Year Title Role Type
1987Running from the GunsDavie's MumFeature film
1991Spotswood aka The Efficiency ExpertMrs. Lorna BallFeature film
2007Razzle DazzleSherry LeonardFeature film

TELEVISION

Year Title Role Type
1952 The Tommy Trinder Show Herself - Guest TV series UK, 1 episode
1958 Personal Album Herself TV series, 1 episode
1959-1970 In Melbourne Tonight Herself TV series, 6 episodes
1959-1960 BP Super Show Herself / Comedienne TV series, 3 episodes
1960 Be My Guest Herself TV series, 1 episode
1962 The 3rd Annual TV Week Logie Awards Herself - Winner TV special
1966 Jimmy Herself TV series, 3 episodes
1967 I'm Alright Now Role unknown TV series
1969 Bandstand Herself - Singer TV series, 1 episode
1969 Show of the North Herself - Guest TV series UK, 1 episode
1969 The Don Lane Tonight Show Herself - Guest TV series, 1 episode
1972 Kamahl Herself - Guest TV series, 1 episode
1972 Number 96 Recurring role: Karen Winters TV series, 10 episodes
1972-1975 The Graham Kennedy Show Herself TV series, 5 episodes
1973 The True Blue Show Herself - Various Characters TV series
1974 Division 4 Guest role: Janie Gibson TV series, 1 episode
1974 Mac and Merle Role unknown TV series
1974 The Bert Newton Show Herself - Singer TV series, 1 episode
1975 The Unisexers Recurring role: Mrs. Lewis TV series
1975 The Don Lane Show Herself - Guest TV series, 1 episode
1977 Starsky & Hutch Guest role: Ruth Willoughby TV series US, 1 episode
1977 The Bob Newhart Show Guest role: Mrs. Doris Peterson TV series US, 1 episode
1978;1979 The Mike Douglas Show Herself - Guest / Singer TV series US, 2 episodes
1978 This Is Your Life Herself TV series, 1 episode
1979 Eight Is Enough Guest role: Mrs. Dreissen TV series US, 1 episode
1979 The Mike Douglas Show Herself - Guest Helen Reddy's sister TV series US, 1 episode
1982 Three's Company Guest role: Patient TV series US, 1 episode
1982 Parkinson In Australia Herself - Guest TV series, 2 episodes
1982 The Mike Walsh Show Herself - Guest TV series, 1 episode
1984 Punky Brewster Guest role: Stage Manager TV series US, 1 episode
1985 The Love Boat Guest role: Mrs. Burton TV series US, 1 episode
1986 Murder, She Wrote Guest role: Ad-Lib Woman TV series US, 1 episode
1986 The Last Frontier Recurring role: Auntie Dier TV miniseries, 2 episodes
1987 Starman Guest role: Edna TV series US, 1 episode
1987 The Tortellis Guest role: Mrs. Hamilton TV series US, 1 episode
1987 Highway to Heaven Guest role: Maggie (as Tony Lamond) TV series US, 1 episode
1989 The Bert Newton Show Herself - Guest / Singer TV series, 1 episode
1989 Turn Onto Tap Herself - Presenter Video
1990 Hey Hey It's Saturday Herself (Red Faces) TV series, 1 episode
1990 How Wonderful! Recurring role: Kerry's Mum ABC TV film
1992 The Morning Show Herself - Guest TV series, 1 episode
1992 Fish Police Herself - Voice Animated TV series US, 1 episode
1992 Capitol Critters Herself - Voice Animated TV series US, 1 episode
1994 At Home Herself - Guest TV series, 1 episode
1994 The Pirates of Penzance Recurring role: Ruth ABC Teleplay
1996;1998 Good Morning Australia Herself - Guest TV series, 1 episode
1997 Fallen Angels Guest role: Irene Lucas ABC TV series, 1 episode
1998;1999 Good Morning Australia Guest - Herself & Tony Sheldon TV series, 1 episode
1998 Denise Herself - Guest & Tony Sheldon TV series, 1 episode
1999 Good Morning Australia Herself - Guest & Helen Reddy TV series, 1 episode
2003 This Is Your Life: Helen Reddy Herself - Guest / Singer sings "Best Friend" sister with Helen Reddy TV series, 1 episode
2005 Graham Kennedy: Farewell to the King Herself - Singer sings "I Believe In You" TV special
2005-2009 Spicks and Specks Herself ABC TV series, 5 episodes
2005 Talking Heads Herself - Guest ABC TV series, 1 episode
2007 Bert's Family Feud Herself - Contestant with Noeline Brown, Val Jellay & Val Lehman TV series, 1 episode
2010 Lights! Camera! Party! Television City Celebrate Herself TV special
2011 The Helpmann Awards Herself - JC Williamson Award for Lifetime Achievement with Jill Perryman & Nancye Hayes TV special
2015 Stop Laughing...This Is Serious Herself ABC TV series, 3 episodes
2018 The Recording Studio Herself ABC TV series, 1 episode

Awards and honours

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

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.[13]

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.[22]

Her son is actor and writer Tony Sheldon

Personal life

She married performer Frank Sheldon in 1954, but in 1966 shortly after a separation, he killed himself.

An addiction to prescription drugs followed, and she was a patient at Chelmsford Private Hospital, where she underwent deep sleep therapy.[23] 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

  1. "Toni Lamond AM". Victorian Government. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
  2. Toni Lamond at IMDb
  3. "Toni Lamond". Talking Heads (transcript of interview with Peter Thompson). 17 October 2005.
  4. Neutze, Ben (18 May 2016). "Back to the '50's? international actors take prized roles in Australian musical productions".
  5. "Lamond, Toni". State Library of New South Wales - Dictionary ofSydney.
  6. "Toni Lamond". The Arts Centre, Melbourne. May 2003. Retrieved 23 April 2008.
  7. "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. "Joe Lawman". AusStage database.
  14. "Stella Lamond theatre credits".
  15. "Toni Lamond theatre". AusStage.
  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. "Toni Lamond AM".
  23. "Good times roll for show biz queen". The Sydney Morning Herald. 9 June 2003. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
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