Wayne Jarratt

Wayne Jarratt (19 April 1957 – 14 May 1988) was an Australian stage and television actor in the 1980s, remembered for his role in internationally renowned TV cult series Prisoner as friendly prison officer Steve Fawkner.[1] He played the part for 71 episodes, as a supporting cast member first appearing in the penultimate episode of Season 3 (10 November 1981), but opted to leave the series to take a stage role. His final appearance was in Season 4, bowing out in Episode 316 (5 October 1982).

Jarratt attended Balgowlah Boys High in Sydney from 1969–1974. He acted from the age of 11 and starred in various school plays. After leaving school, he had to choose between a career in acting or naval architecture.[1] He chose acting and graduated from NIDA in 1977, before joining the South Australian Theatre Company for three years.[1] He took on a number of stage roles, including Happy in Nimrod Theatre Company's production of Death of a Salesman in 1982. He had a small role in The Sullivans, before joining the cast of Prisoner.[1] Jarratt preferred small character roles, saying "I'm not after a constant spotlight. My main ambition is to make myself as versatile as possible."[1]

After leaving Prisoner, Jarratt appeared in the Melbourne Theatre Company's production of Michael Gurr's A Pair of Claws.[1] In February 1985, he played Bottom in Kim Carpenter's A Midsummer Night's Dream at The Nimrod, alongside Hugo Weaving and Angela Punch McGregor. He received praise from The Sydney Morning Herald's Mick Barnes, who said his performance was "beautifully played".[2]

Jarratt died of a brain tumour at the age of 31 on 14 May 1988 in the Neringah Hospital, Wahroonga.[1][3]