Dennis Olsen (actor)

Dennis Olsen
Born (1938-02-28) 28 February 1938 (age 86)
Adelaide, South Australia
Occupations
  • Actor
  • singer
  • pianist
  • director

Dennis Hans Olsen AM (born 28 February 1938) is an Australian singer, actor, director and pianist. His performances include opera, musical theatre, cabaret, radio, television and film. He is best known as an exponent of "patter" roles in Gilbert and Sullivan operas and his performances of Noël Coward songs.

At first trained as a pianist, Olsen soon switched to acting, beginning his career with Australian theatre companies in the 1960s. After success with Opera Australia, Olsen briefly joined the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company in England. He returned to Australia in 1971, playing in theatre as well as Gilbert and Sullivan over the next four decades.