Latest news with #JoshSzeps
The Guardian
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Henri Szeps, film, theatre and TV actor known for the ABC's Mother and Son, dies at 81
Henri Szeps, the actor best known for his role in the ABC sitcom Mother and Son, has died aged 81. Szeps' decline from Alzheimer's was largely peaceful and 'Henri retained his sense of wonder and joie de vivre until the end,' a statement shared by the publicist for Szeps' son, broadcaster Josh Szeps, said. Szeps was the son of Holocaust survivors from Poland. Born in a refugee camp in Switzerland in 1943, he arrived in Australia at the age of eight with his mother and older sister. Szeps told the Refugee Council of Australia that despite children at his school in the Sydney suburb of Greenwich laughing at his 'foreign ways', it was the recognition he received from appearing – and earning more laughs – in school plays that made him realise he wanted to act. Szeps studied electrical engineering at the University of Sydney and also trained at Sydney's Ensemble Theatre in 1962. He moved to London in his 20s where he starred in I, Claudius alongside David Warner and toured in the Prospect Theatre Company with Derek Jacobi, according to the statement. On his return to Australia, Szeps took on the role of older brother Robert to Garry McDonald's Arthur Beare in comedy classic Mother and Son. He played the egocentric dentist – in what the Guardian described as 'the perfect 'love to hate' key' – from 1984 to 1994 He went on to appear in television series A Country Practice, Skippy, All Saints and Palace of Dreams. Szeps played prime minister Harold Holt in the series Vietnam which won a Logie and launched Nicole Kidman's career. He also appeared in Mission: Impossible, South Pacific and was Barry Humphries' choice to play a down-on-his-luck scientist, Charles Herpes, in Les Patterson Saves the World, the statement said. Szeps also had many significant roles on stage and long collaboration with the playwright David Williamson. His wife of 56 years and fellow actress, Mary Ann Severne, was by his side when he died, the statement said.
Daily Mail
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Comedian Austen Tayshus sets the record straight on his relationship with Kim Williams after he name-dropped the ABC boss in fiery text to journalist
Kim Williams is once again under fire for his relationship with Sandy Gutman after the comedian name-dropped the ABC boss as he told a former radio host to 'shut up'. Gutman, who uses the stage name Austen Tayshus, recently took exception to a column by podcaster and former ABC radio host Josh Szeps about the war in Gaza. Mr Szeps, who is Jewish, had questioned the actions of the Israeli government and concluded it was 'time for Jews to abandon Israel'. The piece led Gutman, who is also Jewish, to send a series of texts to Mr Szeps, which were later shared with 2GB radio on Friday. 'I know you need attention and you made several reasonable points, but what does it achieve to slam Israel right now?' the 71-year-old wrote in one message. '...the thing is you need to shut up instead of sharing your profound, mostly rehashed views because in reality you are empowering murderers and arsonists to attack us.' Gutman signed off the text as 'Austen Tayshus. Difficult conversationalist and mate of Kim Williams'. Mr Szeps replied to the message, saying, 'Hello mate. I'm a fan. Saw you when I was a kid... I suspect you're not proud of telling me to shut up and I don't think you'll end up particularly proud of that message. So I won't take the bait. Peace.' Gutman responded, telling Szeps, 'You can sleep well. Just shut up, keep these opinions to yourself at this dangerous moment'. Mr Williams was quick to distance himself from Gutman after the texts came to light. 'Sandy Gutman is not and never has been a friend of mine. I find the comment disgraceful' he said in a statement. And it's not the first time Mr Williams' relationship with the comedian has come under scrutiny. In April, Media Watch took aim at the ABC chairman for allegedly pressuring local radio stations to promote Gutman's comedy shows. Host Linton Besser claimed Gutman had phoned Mr Williams in August last year to complain about being repeatedly denied interviews with regional ABC radio stations. Mr Williams reportedly interceded on Mr Gutman's behalf, and he was interviewed multiple times. In one email, Mr Williams said of Mr Gutman: 'I am of course essentially on his side. Our people are often arrogant with talent'. Mr Gutman was also accused of attempting to leverage his relationship with Mr Williams several times during his press tour, writing in an email to a regional ABC office: 'No response. I will speak to Kim Williams today'. The comedian told Daily Mail Australia on Friday he had name-dropped Mr Williams at the end of his message to Mr Szeps as a joke. 'I was joking, I was being ironic. That was just a reference to the Media Watch thing, which was completely blown out of proportion,' he said. Asked about his relationship with Mr Williams, the comedian said: 'I'm not mates with him, I don't hang out with him'. Though the pair were 'from the same era' and might have met when the entertainer was 'really flying high in the 80s,' he had no memory of it. He regretted the negative attention Mr Williams had received over their acquaintance. 'Kim is just helping getting entertainment in regional New South Wales, what is terrible about that?' he said. He also defended his critique of Mr Szeps' column. 'My point is nobody really knows what's going on in Gaza because all the information's coming from Hamas, and Hamas is a registered terrorist organisation around the world. 'I don't think it's in his interest to criticise Israel based on the lack of information.'
