Australian showbiz veteran Frank Howson has died aged 71.
Best known as a film producer, the Melbourne-born entrepreneur has worked with some of the biggest names in Australia’s entertainment scene, including Guy Pearce, John Waters, Kate Ceberano and music legend John Paul Young.
Television Tonight reports that Howson died on February 9, just weeks before his 72nd birthday.
Howson announced to his followers on social media earlier this year that he was battling terminal colon cancer.
“A surgeon in Sydney is trying to operate on me. If it doesn’t work, I’ll be dead in three months,” Howson told his followers in January.
Howson’s most famous films include Boulevard of Broken Dreams (1988), with John Waters, and Heaven Tonight (1990), which also starred Waters and also featured Guy Pearce and fan favourite Rebecca Gilling.
Howson was also a major figure in the Australian music scene as a publisher and songwriter.
He wrote tunes for 80s hitmakers Pseudo Echo and wrote hit songs for John Paul Young and Kate Ceberano.
Monty Python member Eric Idle also used one of Howson’s songs.
Australian showbiz veteran Frank Howson has died aged 71. Pictured: Howson in 2016
Howson was born in 1952 and began his working life at Melbourne’s 3UZ radio as an “office boy”.
Howson, a former child actor and tap dancer, landed his first big gig when he recorded a cover of “Seventeen Ain’t Young” by American band The Archies in 1968.
Howson, who became a household name as a theatre artist by the time he was 21, starred in the acclaimed Australian production of the West End hit Olivier!.
Howson’s best-known film is Boulevard of Broken Dreams with John Waters (pictured)
The Melbourne-born impresario has worked with some of the biggest names in Australia’s entertainment scene, including Guy Pearce, John Waters, Kate Ceberano and music legend John Paul Young. Pictured: Guy Pearce in a scene from Flynn
He was later cast in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s theatrical blockbuster Jesus Christ Superstar.
In 1976 he turned to theatre production with the children’s musical The Faraway Land of Magical Frank.
As an actor, Howson was known for his leading roles in the television drama Skyways (1979–1981).
Howson was responsible for launching the career of 80s hitmakers Pseudo Echo and wrote several of their songs.
In the late 1980s, Howson launched Boulevard Films and produced several films, including Boulevard of Broken Dreams (1988).
Howson’s productions included Guy Pearce’s first starring roles, including Heaven Tonight (1989), Friday on My Mind (1990), Hunting (1991) and Flynn (1996).
His career behind the camera was recognised in 1989 when he received Film Victoria’s prestigious Producer of the Year Award.
He returned to the stage later in life to produce Genesis to Broadway in 2012 and 2013.
Howson was married and divorced three times. He has one son, Oliver Howson, 33, from his second marriage to Lynn Murphy.
Howson also wrote music for Kate Ceberano (pictured)
