Ernie Bourne
Ernest "Ernie" Alfred Bourne (1 August 1926 – 21 January 2009) was an English Australian actor, an entertainer and comedian best known for his regular roles on television and theatre
Early life
Bourne was born in Dorset, England and raised in Yeovil, Somerset where his mother ran a boarding house following the early death of his father. Leaving school and home at the age of 14, Bourne worked in a cafe before joining the British Merchant Navy during World War II, where he became interested in acting after appearing in an pantomime, he would appear regularly in English pantomime and in many stage productions in Bristol, before migrating to Australia.
Immigration and Career
He emigrated to Australia in 1952, initially settling in Geelong joining the Geelong Musical Comedy Company and later moving to Melbourne. In the 1960s, he was loved (and booed) as a series of pantomime-style villains on Australian television such as Sir Jasper Crookley (in Magic Circle Club), and multiple similar baddies in Adventure Island including Sir Cedric Sneak, Captain Crook, Chummy Chums and Miser Meanie's sidekick Fester Fumble.