Death of a Friend – The Murrumbidgee Kid

I remember Bill Kerr for many things. First of all playing the role of Humphrey Bogart in Woody Allen’s stage success “Play It Again Sam”, in London. It was an astonishing performance. Bill had become a close friend of ours, and he knew my wife and I were in the audience, so he kept on his makeup as Bogie until we went to his dressing room afterwards. He still looked and sounded like Bogart.

I have many great memories of Bill in London. He’d become a star there, he first appeared with the catchphrase “I’ve only got four minutes”, this and his inimitable Aussie accent are what made him famous. From stage and radio, he moved on to television. He was a regular in “Hancock’s Half Hour”, and worked with Spike Milligan. He went on to feature in musicals, and returned here to Australia about the same time as I did, playing roles in “Gallipoli”, as well as many other films. One of his last roles was in a show of mine, “The Private War of Lucinda Smith” which we filmed in Western Samoa, and it was there Bill told me the story of his childhood, and his mother’s obsession to make him an actor.

It was from that background I wrote the novel “The Murrumbidgee Kid”, and my dedication to him read: “My deep thanks are due to Bill Kerr. While this is a work of fiction, Bill’s reminiscences of his childhood were the sparks that kindled my interest, and led to the character that became Teddy Carson.”

Bill Kerr died three weeks ago, and did not receive the accolades he deserved. There was an obituary and news of his death in Perth, where he had lived for many years, but I saw nothing in the Sydney papers and heard no word of it on radio or television. His close friend Vincent Ball and I both heard the news of his passing from friends in London, where he was still considered a star, and warmly remembered.

“The Murrumbidgee Kid” was the story of Teddy Carson and his mother Belle.
To quote from the opening lines: “Belle Carson was a good looker, the best looker for miles around; even those who didn’t like her (which included most of the women in town and quite a few of the men) had to admit that. But they also agreed she was as nutty as a fruitcake, and in the manner of small communities the bush telegraph—which frequently spread any gossip the least bit unusual or outrageous—frequently carried news of her.”

But Belle Carson soon left the town, taking Teddy to live in Sydney, in a room at Kings Cross where they struggled and barely managed to survive. Then Belle’s dreams came true: Teddy did become a star until . . . . . . You’ll have to read the book to find out.

If you’d like to know more about The Murrumbidgee Kid, Click here.