George Wallace (Australian comedian)

For other people named George Wallace, see George Wallace (disambiguation).

George Wallace
Born
George Stephenson Wallace

4 June 1895
Aberdeen, New South Wales, Australia
Died16 October 1960(1960-10-16) (aged 65)
Kensington, New South Wales, Australia
Other namesOnkus
Occupations
  • Comedian
  • actor
  • vaudevillian
  • radio personality
Years active1919–1957[1]
Known forThe character Onkus, one half of comedy duo Dinks ad Onkus with Jack Patterson (as Dinks)[1]
Notable workDuo of Dinks and Onkus
ChildrenGeorge Leonard Wallace (known as George Wallace Jnr)[2]

George Stephenson "Onkus" Wallace (4 June 1895 – 19 October 1960), was an Australian comedian, actor, vaudevillian and radio personality. During the early to mid-20th century, he was one of the most famous and successful[citation needed] Australian comedians on both stage and screen, with screen, song and revue sketch writing amongst his repertoire. Wallace was a small tubby man with goggle eyes, a mobile face and croaky voice who appeared in trademark baggy trousers, checkered shirt and felt hat. His career as one of Australia's most popular comedians spanned four decades from the 1920s to 1960 and encompassed stage, radio and film entertainment. Ken G. Hall, who directed him in two films, wrote in his autobiography that George Wallace was the finest Australian comedian he had known.

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference adb was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Wallace, George Leonard (1918–1968)". George Leonard Wallace. Australian Dictionary of Biography. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University.