BARRY CROCKER, OAM began his theatrical career at the age of 16 as an amateur with Geelong Musical Comedy Company. Over the next three years he progressed from the chorus to supporting roles then to leads in shows including No, No Nanette!; The Count of Luxembourg and You're in Love.

Barry turned professional in 1956 and for the next year toured with Variety on Parade. Returning to Melbourne Barry found himself in great demand as a cabaret performer. Barry became one of television's early stars and was one of the original bandleaders on Channel 9 Melbourne. Later teaming up with David Clark, Barry toured on the Tivoli circuit with the Sabrina and Tommy Steele shows.

When Crocker and Clark broke up in 1962, Barry left Australia to tour the world as a solo artist and over the next four years plied his trade throughout Asia, Europe, Canada and the US before returning in 1965 for a season at Melbourne's famous Lido club. Barry performed in Channel 0âs new satirical comedy show Î66 And All That; which also starred Carol Raye and Mike Walsh, before heading Channel 10âs tonight program, The Barry Crocker Show. In 1969 he moved to the Nine network to star in The Sound of Music. The show garnered all awards over the next two years winning four Logies, including a personal Gold Logie, a Sammy and a Penguin Award amongst others.

1972 found Barry in London filming the first of the two Barry McKenzie movies The Adventures of Barry McKenzie. He would follow this 18 months later with Barry McKenzie Holds His Own. Both films were an enormous success and are attributed with having kick-started the Australian film industry in the 1970s. Between movies Barry worked extensively in clubs throughout Britain. On television he hosted four Saturday Night Variety Specials on ITV and two Eurovision Specials for BBC, as well as appearing on The Harry Secombe Show and Stars on Sunday.

In the US Barry worked across the country in cabaret, theatre and television, including appearances at New York's Bon Soir and Village Barn; Las Vegas' MGM Grand and Sahara and in Lake Tahoe at The Sahara.

On television he appeared on The Dinah Shore and Peter Marshall Shows, with return visits to the Jerry Lewis Telethons, reaching an estimated viewing audience of 50 million. Barry's theatre credits in the US include playing Jerry Ryan in See Saw with Michelle Lee and Tommy Tune and, in Australia, the title role in J C Williamson's Scapino; David Cahn in Mother's Day with June Salter and Katy Manning; Banjo Paterson in Banjo the Man; Banjo Paterson in Barry Crocker's Banjo which he wrote; Frank in two seasons of Educating Rita and the Narrator in The Rocky Horror Show.

He has enjoyed an extensive recording career, earning 33 Gold Albums, but his major passion has always been the stage, and he is thrilled to be part of this all-Australian musical, Eureka. In 1987 Barry Crocker was awarded an Order of Australia for services to the Australian entertainment industry and to charity.

His autobiography, Bazza, The Adventures of Barry Crocker, was published in October 2003.

Barry has recently been nominated for a Green Room Award for his portrayal of Paddy in Eureka. Barry has just joined the Sydney cast of Fiddler on the Roof starring Topol.