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Max was born in Ashfield, New South Wales. He was the son of Stan and Fleur Rowley. He attended Haberfield Primary School and Cleveland Street High School. His professional debut as an actor was in the long running radio serial "Portia Faces Life". He started acting in his teens and spent many years in the professional workshops at the Independent Theatre where he made his breakthrough playing the role of Paris in Arthur Miller's "The Crucible". This role brought him to the notice of drama producers. He trained and taught at the Rosalind Kennerdale School of Radio Acting. Rosalinde was an actress who appeared in Ken G. Hall's Cinesound film The Broken Melody (1938). Max was eventually asked to take over this school as principal when Rosalinde retired and passed all of her students over to him.
He studied Shakespeare with Rosalinde's husband, Broadway actor and producer Lawrence H. Cecil. Max has worked professionally as an actor in 'character' and 'straight' roles since his teens. He mastered all British and foreign dialects early in his training. As a television and film actor, Max appeared in the ABC film Come in Spinner (1990), The Dismissal (1983), 'Girl from Moonooloo' which starred David Atkins, 'Harp in the South', 'Dad and Dave', 'Sons and Daughters', 'Possession', 'Kings' etc.
Acting since the late fifties, he first appeared in the earliest ABC live dramas such as 'Stormy Petrel' and 'The Hungry Ones'. He was in the series "Willisees Australians", and appeared as a guest in episodes of 'Mavis Bramston' and 'Paul Hogan' plus other comedy shows such as 'The Tony Hancock Show', 'A Hard Days Week', and many more. After commencing professionally in theatre, he appeared in theatre restaurant at the music hall in "East Lynne" and in the Sydney production of the critically acclaimed "You'll Come to Love Your Sperm Test" and as co-star and producer of the revue "Ten Bob in Kitty" which saw Jackie Weaver launch her legitimate theatre career.
Max gained his professional radio start during the closing years of broadcasting's 'Golden Age' of radio drama, working consistently with Grace Gibson, Artransa, 2UE, 2GB, 2UW, AWA and all ABC radio units. Max appeared in 'classic' serials such as 'Portia Faces Life', 'Dr Paul', 'Mary Livingstone MD', 'The Guiding Light', 'Mary Lane', 'The Reverend Matthew', 'The Cattleman', 'Kid Grayson Rides the Range', as well as features such as 'A Town Called Alice', 'A Man Named Peter', 'Undercover Man', 'Danger Is My Business', 'Deadlier Than the Male', 'Scotland Yard Confidential', 'Edge of Darkness' and dozens more.
Max was last seen and heard in a series on 'Garry McDonald's Ripsnorters' in the late 90s. Max commenced his TV announcing career on Channel 7 Sydney with no previous experience as a television announcer. In over 30 years of Media involvement, Max Rowley was both promotional voice-over, presentation announcer, as well as on-camera news reader and 'Voice of the Seven Revolution' on Channel 7 for 15 years, from the sixties through to the Seventies.
Max moved from Seven to work as Promotions voice-over Announcer on Channel 9 for 5 years from 1975 to 1980. During these years he also appeared in the ABC's first groundbreaking 'Gunston' Series. Max moved to Channel 10 to work as voice-over promotions announcer from 1980 to 1982. He then appeared and was voice-over announcer on 'It Could Be You' with Barry Crocker. Over many decades he has been involved in numerous other TV shows as on-camera personality, voice-over announcer or producer, associate producer or writer, researcher and 'warm up'.
Max has been seen and heard on numerous voice over and radio commercials. Through the nineties he has featured in television and press commercials for the New South Wales State Treasury Bonds. The national launch of the 'Vision Express' company.
Among many other I00% commercials were Purnell Brothers Cars for many years during the seventies. Max was also the Travel land voice for many years. He continues to be heard in or appear on commercials. More recently in the "Canon can do" series as well as the Tim Ferguson Hyundai series and the novelty " Lipton's from the hip" campaign.. Max has been seen or heard on over 48,000 radio and TV program promotions and commercials
Max was one of the very few announcers who started in Sydney without previous Country experience. For ten years through the sixties and into the seventies he presented Breakfast, Drive, Afternoon, evening and Mid-Morning sessions presenting Jazz, middle of the road, gold, talk, features and rock and roll on Radio 2CH. For well over fifteen years from 1975 Max was heard throughout Australia on the 'John Laws Show'. Listeners on over 100 stations Australia wide recognised Max as Johns promotional 'Voice' during this time. His tracks are still being played. Max was also the 'voice' on the Mix 106 FM Robert Duckworth' show. Max conducted his own "Talk Back" show on 2KY heard in 1994 for twelve months Sunday to Thursday nights throughout the early hours. Prior to replacing Donnie Sutherland, Max was heard. from 11:00 p.m. Friday to 5:00 a.m. on Saturday morning, then Saturday and Sunday nights. Max was heard before this, during 1992 and 1993, in the 2KY 'Pulse of the City' Radio Show as Video and Film Reviewer.
Max Rowley's Radio Program was a Magazine Talk format which included Video News, Films, Theatre and Show Music'. Other special segments included Mainstream and Alternate Medicine, Psychology, Pets, the Law as well as Herbal Remedies, Naturopathy, Psychics, Clairvoyants, Astrology, Racing tips. Celebrity guests included leading Authors Entertainers and Actors. Max has always been freelance and does work as it comes. At this stage of his life he enjoys work as it presents itself.
