Alister Smart, the esteemed Australian actor and cherished presenter of Play School, has passed away at the age of 90 in his residence located in East Gippsland, Victoria.
Although Mr. Smart died on September 9, the announcement of his passing has only emerged recently.
Born in Adelaide on November 30, 1935, and spending part of his youth in Nowra, Mr. Smart initially left school to work in his family’s piano restoration business. His fascination with pianos led him to pursue formal education at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.
Eventually, he shifted his focus to acting, embarking on his career in theatre during the early 1950s. Over the decades, he appeared in numerous television productions both in Australia and the UK, with his career spanning from the 1950s into the mid-1990s.
His notable roles include appearances in shows such as Number 96, Skippy, The Sullivans, Sons and Daughters, A Country Practice, and Neighbours.
Smart was a part of the inaugural episode of ABC’s Play School, which premiered in 1966. He continued to serve as a presenter on this iconic program, recognized as Australia’s longest-running children’s television show, for an impressive 27 years.
