Tal Ordell

Talone Ordell (1880–1948), better known as Tal Ordel, was an Australian actor, writer and director. Ordell was probably born in Calcutta, India, seventh child of Victorian-born parents William Odell Raymond Buntine, drover, and his wife Susanna, née Mawley.^[1] He worked extensively on stage and screen as an actor in the 1910s and 1920s, playing Dad Rudd twice for Raymond Longford and Dad Hayseed – a similar role – three times for Beaumont Smith. He was the original "Ginger Mick" in the stage version of The Sentimental Bloke. He toured Australia with Marie Tempest.^[2]

He turned director with The Kid Stakes (1927), based on the cartoon character Fatty Finn. In the 1930s he worked more in radio as a writer and actor.^[3] His son Robin, who was killed during the Second World War, worked with him on the film and radio projects.