BRIAN Doyle has been one of Australia's most successful and well-known comedians for close to 50 years.
In that time, he has won the Australian Male Comedian of the Year award six times, was named Best Comedy Artist by the Variety Club and has more than 400 television appearances on his CV, including as the Midday Show host.
He is a good friend of former prime minister Bob Hawke.
Over the years, he has worked as the lead-up to international superstars such as Bob Hope, Eartha Kitt, Glen Campbell and Engelbert Humperdinck.
In early 2002, he worked with Alan Jones as part of the Bill Clinton speaking tour of Australia. The 2GB talk-back host was MC and Brian provided the warm-up.
In 1997, along with the late Max Walker, he wrote a book, Sports Jokes, which sold more than 100,000 copies.
The second youngest of five sons, Brian was born in Dublin in 1937. His father Jim had the first private taxi in Dublin and worked long hours.
After leaving school at 17 with his Intermediate Certificate, the teenager completed an apprenticeship in the printing industry but at about 24 he decided he wanted a change and moved to London, landing a job with Butlin's holiday camps, which provided affordable holidays for working class people.
Brian was a "red coat" and he entertained, ran events and organised sporting contests. After two holiday seasons he joined a London pharmaceutical company as the office administrator.
At age 28, a chance meeting with a 23-year-old Sydney girl at a Leicester Square dance in London, dramatically changed his life. It resulted in him sailing to Australia to marry the young lady, Judy, and they have been together for more than 48 years and have three daughters and eight grandchildren. After arriving in Australia in 1969, he applied for several jobs but received a lucky break from fellow countryman John Allan, with whom he had worked at Butlin's.
John was the brother of Dave Allen, host of Channel 9's The Dave Allen Show.
With John's help, Brian landed a job as compere for the Saturday night show at Kogarah RSL and his quick wit and one-liners attracted the attention of NLT Productions, owned by Bobby Limb, Jack Tinker and Jack Neary.
After signing with NLT, things happened quickly. Brian made his first TV appearance in 1970 with Mike Preston on In Melbourne Tonight and soon was a guest on the Don Lane Show.
He won his first Australian Male Comedian of the Year award in 1979 and the last one in 1998.
During the Clinton tour, he became quite friendly with the president and was chuffed when, a few years ago, he received a phone call from his brother Brendon in Dublin, telling him he'd had lunch with the American leader.
"I was surprised to receive a call from the president, who was in Dublin, asking for my brother's number," Brian said.
"The next day my brother phoned to say President Clinton had invited him and his six-year-old granddaughter to his Dublin hotel for lunch."
Brian laughed when he added that the first contact was made by one of the president's PR ladies, and when she said she was calling on behalf of Bill Clinton, she was quickly told where to go and was hung up on. It took two more calls to convince Brendon that it was a genuine contact!
Like many other entertainers, Brian has done plenty of charity work, particularly for Down syndrome.
He celebrated his 80th birthday last December at Kareela Golf Club with a small lunch for family and close friends.
Brian writes his own material, is still quite active and does the occasional gig.
Sport mightn't be his forte, but he has always been a sports lover, especially boxing, soccer (Manchester United) and rugby league (St George/Illawarra). He often catches up with long term friend and former Dragons coach Roy Masters to analyse the Dragons' performances over an ale or two.
