Lewis Fiander, a renowned Australian actor, began his acting journey at the National Theatre in Melbourne in 1954, making his debut at the tender age of 16. He further honed his skills as a radio actor in Sydney, mastering a diverse range of dialects and accents, which would serve him well in his future endeavors.
As a stage actor, Fiander specialized in Shakespearean comedy, taking on iconic roles such as "Twelfth Night" and "The Merchant of Venice". He later expanded his repertoire to include musical plays, works by Ibsen and O'Neill, and even essayed the role of Professor Higgins in a Victorian Arts Centre production of "My Fair Lady".
In the early 1960s, Fiander joined the Elizabethan Theatre Trust and relocated to London, where he spent the next two decades working alongside some of the most esteemed actors of his time, including Laurence Olivier and John Gielgud. He toured New Zealand with the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1966 and landed the coveted role of Mr. Darcy in a BBC production of "Pride and Prejudice" in 1967.
Fiander's versatility as an actor is showcased in his filmography, which includes appearances in two horror films, "Dr Jekyll & Sister Hyde" (1971) and "Dr. Phibes Rises Again" (1972),as well as a stint as the sinister Professor Tryst in the "Doctor Who" serial "Nightmare of Eden: Part One" (1979).
After a hiatus from stage and television work, Fiander returned to the spotlight with a star turn as John Adams in the 1970 London production of "1776", a musical about the signing of the American Declaration of Independence. He then reteamed with Patricia Hodge for "Noël and Gertie" in 1986, a compilation of musical numbers written by Noël Coward and performed with Gertrude Lawrence.
In the late 1980s, Fiander returned to Australia and appeared in several television productions, including the mini-series "Tanamera - Lion of Singapore" (1989) and "Bangkok Hilton" (1989).
