Bob Ellis (b. 1942) is a journalist, columnist, screenwriter, film director and playwright. His screenwriting credits, Newsfront, Goodbye Paradise, Maybe This Time, Fatty Finn, Top Kid and The Paper Boy all won major prizes, as did his collaborations with Paul Cox, Man of Flowers and My First Wife. For the stage, he collaborated with Michael Boddy on The Legend of King O'Malley. Ellis was answerable for the sensational 'Abbott and Costello' defamation case in March 1999. Finding assertions made in a short passage of his 1997 book Goodbye Jerusalem: Night Thoughts of a Labor Outsider false and defamatory, the judge ruled that his publisher pay compensation of $277 500 to Liberal politicians Peter Costello and Tony Abbott and their wives. Ellis capped the annus horribilus of 1999 with a farcical paternity dispute.
Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of David Naseby 2001
© David Naseby
Accession number: 2001.14
Copyright image request form
Request a digital copy of an image for publication
David Naseby (4 portraits)
On one level The Companion talks about the most famous and frontline Australians, but on another it tells us about ourselves: who we read, who we watch, who we listen to, who we cheer for, who we aspire to be, and who we'll never forget. The Companion is available to buy online and in the Portrait Gallery Store.
Bob Ellis (1942–2016) was a journalist, columnist, screenwriter, film director, playwright, speechwriter and critic.
Explore portraiture and come face to face with Australian identity, history, culture, creativity and diversity.
Timed ticketing, location, accessibility and amenities
Principal partner
Strategic partner
Cultural partner
Media partner
Beverage partner
Imaging partner
Digital partner
Audio visual partner
