Frank Woodley Biography
Early Career and Lano and Woodley
Frank Woodley is one of Australia’s most recognised comedians, actors and writers, best known for his long-running comedy partnership with Colin Lane as part of the iconic duo Lano and Woodley. The pair performed together for almost 20 years and became famous for their unique blend of physical comedy, slapstick humour and theatrical performances.
Frank Woodley and Colin Lane first met through theatre sports during the mid-1980s. In 1987, they performed together for the first time at an open mic night at the Prince Patrick Hotel in Collingwood, Victoria, alongside friend Scott Casely under the name Found Objects. Over the following years, the trio toured venues throughout Australia and appeared at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
The group became semi-regular performers on ABC TV’s The Big Gig, helping establish themselves as rising stars in Australian comedy. They also hosted a commercial radio program and appeared on the Seven Network sketch comedy series The Comedy Sale. When Scott Casely moved to Alice Springs in 1992, Frank Woodley and Colin Lane continued performing as a duo, adopting the now-famous name Lano and Woodley.
Success of Lano and Woodley
As Lano and Woodley, Frank Woodley played the lovable and innocent character who was often pushed around by Colin Lane’s more controlling personality. Their comedy style quickly gained popularity across Australia and internationally.
Their first major live show, Fence, premiered in 1993 and won the Moosehead Award at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. The production later travelled to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 1994, where it won the prestigious Perrier Comedy Award.
Following the success of Fence, Lano and Woodley created several acclaimed stage productions including Curtains, Glitzy, Slick, Bruiser, The Island and their farewell show Goodbye in 2006. In 2000, the pair also co-hosted the televised Melbourne Comedy Gala.
Television Career
Frank Woodley and Colin Lane expanded their comedy success onto television with The Adventures of Lano and Woodley, which premiered on ABC TV in 1997. The comedy series followed the fictional lives of the duo as flatmates in suburban Melbourne and became a cult favourite with Australian audiences.
The show ran for two seasons and achieved international success, becoming the first Australian television series sold to the BBC and screening in more than 38 countries worldwide. Despite opportunities to relocate production to England, the pair chose to remain in Australia.
In 2004, their live stage production The Island was adapted into a television special for The Comedy Channel. The duo also released a comedy album titled Lano & Woodley Sing Songs and a novel called House Meeting.
Frank Woodley Solo Career
After Lano and Woodley officially split in 2006, Frank Woodley focused on solo projects and new creative opportunities. He explained the decision as a desire to explore new challenges and bring more variety into his career.
Frank Woodley made his solo debut at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival in 2003 with The Happy Dickwit. He later created the one-man theatrical production Possessed, directed by Kate Denborough with music by Paul Mac. The show tells the story of a lonely recluse who falls in love with the ghost of a 19th-century shipwreck victim.
Possessed toured nationally and internationally and showcased Frank Woodley’s trademark visual humour and physical comedy style. Woodley has often cited comedy legends such as Buster Keaton, Charlie Chaplin, Peter Sellers, Jerry Lewis and Laurel and Hardy as major influences on his work.
Television and Film Appearances
Throughout his career, Frank Woodley has made regular appearances on Australian television. He has appeared on popular programs including Spicks and Specks, Good News Week, Thank God You’re Here, The Sideshow, Big Question, Rove Live and Australia’s Brainiest Comedian.
In 1998, he appeared in the Australian television series The Games, playing a fictional veterinarian named Frank Woodley. He also featured in television advertisements for Metlink in Melbourne promoting public transport services.
In 2007, Frank Woodley starred in the stage production The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged), a fast-paced comedy performance covering all 37 Shakespeare plays in just 97 minutes.
Between 2008 and 2009, Woodley co-hosted Aussie Gold on The Comedy Channel, celebrating classic Australian comedy programs. In 2012, he appeared in the Australian comedy film Kath & Kimderella.
Frank Woodley Children’s Books and Writing
In addition to his work as a comedian and actor, Frank Woodley is also a children’s author. He began writing a series of children’s books titled Kizmet, further expanding his creative career into literature and storytelling.
Woodley Television Series
In 2012, Frank Woodley returned to television with his own ABC comedy series titled Woodley. The half-hour comedy followed the life of an accident-prone but well-meaning man attempting to reconnect with his daughter and estranged wife, played by Justine Clarke.
The series relied heavily on visual comedy and slapstick humour rather than dialogue, drawing inspiration from classic silent film comedians. Woodley premiered on ABC1 on 22 February 2012 and showcased Frank Woodley’s signature physical comedy style to a new generation of audiences.
Frank Woodley Legacy
Frank Woodley remains one of Australia’s most respected and influential comedians. Through his work with Lano and Woodley, his solo stage productions, television appearances and children’s writing, he has built a successful career spanning comedy, theatre, television and literature.
Known for his expressive physical comedy, imaginative storytelling and unique humour, Frank Woodley continues to entertain audiences across Australia and internationally.
