Joe Hasham

Joseph Christopher Hasham (OAM) (Arabic: جو هشام) (born 4 September 1948 Tripoli, Lebanon) is a Lebanese Australian actor and artistic theatre director who became famous in Australia in the 1970s through his long running role of dependable and decent gay lawyer Don Finlayson in soap opera Number 96.

Not to be confused with Joe Hachem.

Joe Hasham
OAM
Hasham in 2012
Born
Joseph Christopher Hasham

(1948-09-04) 4 September 1948
Tripoli, northern Lebanon
Occupation(s)Actor, artistic director
Years active1969–present
Known for= Number 96 as Don Finlayson
SpouseFaridah Merican

Education

Hasham graduated from the National Institute of Dramatic Art in 1968.

Career

Hasham subsequently made several appearances in television series produced by Crawford Productions.

Number 96

When Number 96 began in 1972, it was an instant hit. Original cast member Hasham became one of the most popular cast members, regarded as a sex symbol by many fans. He reprised the role in the feature film version of the serial, in which his character engaged in a gay kiss with the closeted Simon Carr (John Orcsik), although the shot was later cut from the film. Hasham continued to play the role until Number 96 ended in 1977.

Later in the show's run, a spin-off series focusing on Hasham's character switching to a career as a private investigator also failed to pan-out.

Other work

After the series ended, Hasham continued his acting career with roles where he was part of a television series ensemble. His most widely seen post-Number 96 acting performance in Australia was likely an ongoing role as villain, Ken Hansen, in soap opera The Young Doctors in 1979.

Through the early 1980s he presented a series of television advertisements for a television rental company called 'Electronic Sales and Rentals'.

Music

During the run of the Number 96 Hasham released a pop-music album, although he was not able to successfully launch a career as a singer.

Emigration to Malaysia

He emigrated to Malaysia in 1984. Initially, he joined with kindred spirits to form a commercial production company, which grew rapidly… finishing their material in Australia became a burden, and it soon became obvious there was a market for a local ‘post’ production facility. Launched as GHA Images Sdn Bhd (Goudie, Hasham & Aman) in partnership with Antah Holdings, late in 1987. Subsequently it was rebranded, and still operates today as APV (Asia-Pacific Videolab). Over the following decades of growth, APV has developed a reputation as one of the leading video post facilities in the region. From that ‘foot in the door’ - into the Malaysian television and creative world, together with his actor wife Faridah Merican, he looked back to his roots and set up The Actors Studio actor training and theatre company in 1989. He is currently the Artistic Director of the company.

He and Merican are also responsible for the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (KLPac) along with Living Arts Malaysia which aims to introduce theatre to young Malaysians. Hasham's production company JHA Productions is responsible for many of the commercials screened on Malaysian television.

Order of Australia

In 2009, Hasham was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) "for service to performing arts through The Actors Studio, Malaysia, and as an actor, writer, producer and director".[1]

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Type
19713 to GoJohnAnthology film, segment: Toula
1974 Number 96Don FinlaysonTV movie

Television
Year Title Role Type
1971The Thursday Creek MobPrivate Squizzy TaylorTV series
1971HomicideScott MartinTV series, 1 episode
1971Matlock PoliceJohnny Marcellis / Nick KatsavakisTV series, 2 episodes
1971–72Division 4Will Robinson / Barry Ward / Mud / Dave Brown / Lew FletcherTV series, 5 episodes
1972–77Number 96Don FinlaysonTV series, 331 episodes
1974This AfternoonSeifTV series
1975HashamSelfTV special
1975Australian Pops OrchestraHostTV special
1975King of PopHostTV special
1977The Guinness OlympicsHostTV special
1977–78Blankety BlanksPanellistTV series
1978Good Morning SydneyHostTV series
1978Micro MacroSelfTV series
1978Racing New FacesSelfTV special
1978–79The Young DoctorsKen HansenTV series, 8 episodes
1979The OracleTV miniseries, 1 episode
1980Celebrity Tattle TalesSelfTV series
1980John Laws' WorldSelfTV series
1980CabaretHostTV series
1980–83The Mike Walsh ShowSelfTV series, 3 episodes
1981Cop ShopSharkeyTV series, 1 episode
1982Spring & FallBossTV series, 1 episode
2012The Ancient Seamasters: The Journey of the Malayo-Polynesian Ancient SeafarersNarratorDocumentary video

Discography

Studio albums
List of albums, with Australian chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart
positions
AUS
[2]
New World 27

Singles
List of singles, with Australian chart positions
Year Title Peak chart
positions		 Album
AUS
[2]
1975 "New World in the Morning" 78 New World

References
  1. "Australian Honours". Australian Government. 8 June 2009. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 8 June 2009.
  2. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 135. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
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