Jon English performing “Oh, Better Far to Live and Die” in the 90s Essgee version of The Pirates of Penzance. Let it be known that nobody rocks purple pants like Jon “The Pirate King” English!
Whether you knew him as an rock legend, the “Pirate King” on stage or as a Logie Award winning actor, Jon English could easily be considered one of the great Australian entertainers. Joining a number of other celebrities who have gone well before their time, it has been confirmed this morning that Jon English passed away last night, aged 66.
Following what was described last month as a “small operation” with a “full recovery” expected over the period of a few weeks, he died due to post-operative complications. He passed away with his four children and other family members by his side. As there will no doubt be many looking to remember and celebrate English’s life, there will be a public service sometime soon. More information will be announced at a later date.
As a child of the 90s, most of my memories of Jon English are from his work on-stage. Starring alongside Simon Gallaher in the Essgee productions of The Pirates of Penzance (The Pirate King), The Mikado (Poo-bah) and HMS Pinafore (Dick Deadeye), he immediately caught my attention due to his regular comedic and fourth-wall breaking banter, alongside modernised performances of classic Gilbert & Sullivan songs. More recently he also shone in the Harvest Rain Theatre Company production of SPAMALOT, where he starred as King Arthur alongside Simon Gallaher, Julie Anthony and Frank Woodley.
English was not a man to simply let the years catch up on him, and as recently as March 8th, had new events being listed on his official Facebook page. As someone who was planning to see him perform live later this year at QPAC, I am saddened I will not be able to hear his voice one last time.
Tributes have understandably been coming in all day today from fans, fellow stars and performing arts venues across Australia. You can view these with #jonenglish on Instagram, with a few of the many trbutes including those by Marina Prior, The Arts Centre Gold Coast and Harvest Rain.
I end this post with a video posted by Harvest Rain Theatre Company earlier today. During their 2014 production of SPAMALOT, English took to the stage with a performance of the renown song “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life”. It features all the charm which made him a thrill to watch on stage all these years.
