Long-time Australian show business veteran Frank Howson has died at the age of 71.
Best known as a film producer, the Melbourne-born entrepreneur worked with some of the biggest names in the entertainment scene Down Under, including Guy Pearce, John Waters, Kate Ceberano and music legend John Paul Young.
TV Tonight reports that Howson died on February 9, just weeks short of his 72nd birthday.
Howson announced to followers on social media early this year he was struggling with terminal bowl cancer.
‘A surgeon in Sydney is attempting to operate. If it doesn’t work, I’ll be dead within three months,’ Howson told fans in January.
Among Howson’s most famous films are Boulevard of Broken Dreams (1988) with John Waters, and Heaven Tonight (1990) which also starred Waters and featured Guy Pearce and fan favourite Rebecca Gilling.
Howson was also a major figure in Australia’s music scene as a publisher and songwriter.
He penned tunes for 80s hitmakers Pseudo Echo, John Paul Young and Kate Ceberano.
Monty Python member Eric idle was also used one of Howson’s songs.
Long-time Australian show business veteran Frank Howson has died at the age of 71. Pictured: Howson in 2016
Born in 1952, Howson’s working life started in radio at Melbourne’s 3UZ as an ‘office boy’.
A one time child actor and tap dancer, Howson scored his first big gig when he recorded a cover of Seventeen Ain’t Young by U.S. band The Archies in 1968.
Well-known as a stage performer by the time he was 21, Howson starred in the famed Australian production of the West End hit Olivier!
Howson’s best known film is Boulevard of Broken Dreams with John Waters (pictured)
The Melbourne-born entrepreneur worked with some of the biggest names in the entertainment scene Down Under, including Guy Pearce, John Waters, Kate Ceberano and music legend John Paul Young. Pictured: Guy Pearce in a scene from Flynn
He was later cast for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s stage blockbuster Jesus Christ Superstar.
He turned to producing for the stage with the children’s musical The Faraway Land of Magical Frank in 1976.
As an actor Howson was known for his featured roles in the TV drama Skyways (1979-1981).
Howson was responsible for launching the career of 80s hitmakers Pseudo Echo and wrote a number of their songs
In the late 80s, Howson launched Boulevard Films and produced a number of movies, including Boulevard of Broken Dreams (1988).
Howson’s productions featured early starring roles for Guy Pearce, including Heaven Tonight (1989) Friday on My Mind (1990), Hunting (1991) and Flynn (1996).
His career behind the camera was recognised in 1989 when he scored the prestigious Producer of the Year Award from Film Victoria.
He returned to stage late in life to produce Genesis to Broadway in 2012 and 2013.
Howson was married and divorced three times. He has a son Oliver Howson, 33, from his second marriage to Lynn Murphy.
Howson also wrote music for Kate Ceberano (pictured)
