Where is iconic Australian actor Frankie J Holden now?

Actor, singer and television presenter Frankie J Holden looks back on his remarkably diverse career, and discusses why his latest TV role is possibly his most important yet.

Last year saw Frankie J Holden become an accidental pioneer. The Australian star had been pushing to get the “holiday at home” concept trending after the bushfires ravaged the nation and caused a mass exodus of tourists from regional areas, including from Tathra Beachside, the NSW holiday park he owns with his actor wife Michelle Pettigrove.

“I’ve been everywhere, man – just like the song.” (Pictured: Supplied)

Things had just started to get back to normal when the pandemic turned things upside-down again. But now the relieved couple are seeing domestic tourism pick up in their area – and they couldn’t be happier.

“It’s great not just for the local businesses, but also for the people doing the touring. I’m a big advocate of people seeing Australia. So many of them haven’t,” the actor, singer and presenter tells Stellar.

“I always say that 90 per cent of Australians have only seen 10 per cent of Australia. I’m lucky; because of my work in music and acting, I’ve been everywhere, man – just like the song.”

Holden, 68, found fame in 1975, when his career launched with the rock band Ol’55. He turned his hand to acting in the 1980s, and despite landing roles in shows ranging from Round The Twist to Police Rescue and movies such as Proof and Clubland, it wasn’t until 2019 that Holden won his first Logie – a peer-voted gong for Most Outstanding Supporting Actor for his work in popular drama A Place To Call Home. Most recently he had a role in Home And Away.

Frankie J Holden as Mr Gribble in Round The Twist with Judith McGrath in 1989.

“My career [has been] quite diverse,” he says. “I’ve been game enough to say, ‘Host a travel show? Yep, I’ll do that. Host a Tonight Show? I’ll have a crack. Heavy drama? Yep. Light comedy? No problem. Popular stuff? I’ll do that, too.’ I’m a versatile performer, to blow my own trumpet. I look back on my career, which has all been an accident, and it’s amazing it has lasted this long.”

Now Holden is set to embark on a reality TV show with a difference. Adventure All Stars is billed as a “socially conscious travel series”, and will see him join other celebrities and everyday Australians who will raise at least $10,000 for their chosen charity before filming starts in July.

They’ll spend six days in mystery locations around the country and explore them from a different perspective for the show’s second series, which will air on the Seven Network and overseas.

Frankie J Holden on stage with rock band Ol’55 in the 1970s. (Picture: Supplied)

Frankie J Holden in A Place To Call Home with Marta Dusseldorp.

Holden’s charity – for which he’s raising funds and awareness – is Myeloma Australia. He heard of the incurable blood cancer when his friend, singer Jim Keays of the rock band Masters Apprentices, succumbed to it shortly after visiting on holiday in 2014.

“I’ve done a lot of travel telly,” he says now. “I was in the original team on The Great Outdoors with Ernie Dingo and Penny Cook in 1993.” Holden and his wife also made two travel shows, Discover Downunder and What’s Up Downunder, in 2009 and 2010.

“The concept of making television for a good cause is exciting and worthwhile because if you look at what’s on the TV now there’s some great drama but there’s some, let’s say, ‘regrettable stuff’. This is a chance to do something worthwhile for someone else.”

Holden combines work and pleasure with occasional Sunday music sessions at his holiday park. “It reinvigorates my love of music. People are learning to appreciate live music again, because we missed it so much last year,” he says. “And caravan parks are a great way to holiday. A lot of people are discovering that now. Families mix and find new friends. It’s a great industry to be in.”

Frankie J Holden features in this Sunday’s Stellar.

Holden finds himself recognised for the different eras of his career by the various age groups who visit the park, which he describes as a great social leveller.

“People over 50 might say ‘I loved [the Ol’55 hit] ‘On The Prowl’; their children in their 30s know me from playing Mr Gribble in Round The Twist; people in their mid-20s seem to remember me from Underbelly.

“Recently it’s been either end of the age spectrum recognising me from Home And Away and A Place To Call Home. From the grandmas to the grandchildren, they know me for something. It makes me feel very proud, very humble – and very tired.”

Adventure All Stars premieres soon on the Seven Network. Click here to donate to Holden’s chosen charity.

Originally published as Where is iconic Australian actor Frankie J Holden now?