In September a greatly loved and admired arts figure passed away. Lex Marinos is deeply missed by all who knew him and worked with him.
Lex Marinos was the ultimate all-rounder, film director, arts administrator, cultural advocate, Broadcaster, cricket and soccer lover and first of all, actor. He passed away on Friday September 13 surrounded by his family “at a moment of his choosing”. Although Lex was not directly connected to ABF many members of the Committee past and present, worked with him over his remarkable 50-year career.
Lex Marinos was an Australian born Greek from Wagga Wagga who never deserted his dual heritage. He grew up in a culturally rich family, with a Greek immigrant father, Fotios (“Frank”) Marinopoulos, and a Greek-Australian mother, Anne Karofilis. The Karofilis family operated Greek cafés throughout the Riverina region, including Wagga Wagga, The Rock, and Bogan Gate. This early life in a multicultural environment likely contributed to Marinos’ versatility as an actor and performer. He later pursued higher education, earning a Bachelor of Arts with honours in Drama from the University of New South Wales.
Marinos’s cultural heritage inspired his best loved TV character Bruno, the Italian son in law in the 1980’s sitcom Kingswood Country. The role of Bruno was one of the first long running parts for a non-Anglo character on Australian television. He was delighted with how his portrayal of a “new Australian” resonated with audiences then and is still fondly remembered.
“It’s very gratifying… It did provide a focal point for kids who were ‘Other,’ he said.” “To see someone representing them on TV became not a responsibility of sorts, but I became aware of it.”
His long television career included appearances in A Country Practice, S.C.O.O.P, Live and Sweaty, Ballzup, Good News Week, World Series Debating and The Slap.
He loved working with the emerging new Austalian theatre scene where he performed at the legendary Nimrod Theatre Company, the Australian Performing Group, Sydney Theatre Company and Melbourne Theatre Company. He described the 1970s theatre scene as a “huge cultural shift”. “There was a lot of alternative theatre and they were putting on new Australian plays with younger actors who weren’t so hung up on trying to be British,” he said. “...That made it an exciting time because you were invariably working on a new script with dynamic actors.”
He began his broadcast career as a producer and presenter on 2JJ/2JJJ (the precursors to Double J and Triple J) in the 1970s, going on to present on ABC and commercial radio in the following decades.
His film directing credits include An Indecent Obsession and Boundaries of the Heart, the television series’ Bodyline and Embassy, as well as a number of documentaries and theatre productions. His writing also appeared in The Bulletin, The Weekend Australian, and the Good Weekend.
In 1994 Marinos was a recipient of the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for his services to the performing arts as a director, actor and writer.
In 1995 he joined the Australia Council for the Arts and was appointed Chair of the Community Cultural Development Board, overseeing the Australia Council’s community cultural activities. He served as Deputy Chair of the Australia Council from 1997-1998 and later continued his association with the Council for many years, hosting and facilitating forums for the Community Cultural Development Board. He also directed the Carnivale Festival in Sydney during the mid-1990s
Creative Australia CEO Adrian Collette AM said: “Lex was a force for good in everything he turned his hand to. A brilliant actor, director, and broadcaster, and to many at Creative Australia (formerly the Australia Council for the Arts), he was a much-loved and admired colleague. He continued and developed a long-standing and proud tradition of support and advocacy for the arts and cultural needs of ethnic and social groups within Australia. Our thoughts are with Lex’s family, friends and all those who had the privilege of working with him. He will be greatly missed.
Always a Wagga Wagga boy at heart, The Museum of Riverina is presenting a tribute to the great actor and cultural activist in December 2024.
Lex Marinos is remembered as a tireless advocate for community empowerment, an inspirational mentor for younger actors, a champion of diversity in the arts, a firm but caring teacher, and a warm and caring friend to many. We will leave the last words to dancer and actor Shree Da Costa who worked with him on his last role in her deeply personal film, Dancing With My Mother.
“Vale to this man Lex Marinos, but more than that, my heartfelt thank you to a friend & colleague. Lex was an icon, an actor, a director, a radio announcer, a writer and much, much more. But more importantly he was one of the true good guys in my life… Thank you, Lex. I am so grateful to have known you & like many others, my husband Pete & I hold so much respect in our hearts for all that you were in this life. With love & sincere condolences to Lex’s family & dearest friends. #friend #missed #forever.”