Rafferty, Chips (1909-1971), was an Australian motion-picture actor. From the 1940’s until his death, Rafferty was perhaps the best-known cinema personality in Australia. The tall, lanky Rafferty played many roles that symbolized the free spirit and individualism of the Australian character.
Rafferty appeared primarily in Australian movies, though he did make a number of British and American films. He made his film acting debut in 1938. His major Australian movies include Dad Rudd, M.P. (1940); Forty Thousand Horsemen (1940); The Rats of Tobruk (1944); King of the Coral Sea (1954); Walk into Paradise (1956), released in the United States as Walk into Hell (1957); and Wake in Fright, known outside of Australia as Outback (1971). His British films include The Overlanders (1946); Bush Christmas (1947); Eureka Stockade (1949), also known as Massacre Hill (1950); Bitter Springs (1950); and Smiley (1956). Rafferty’s American movies include Kangaroo (1952), The Desert Rats (1953), The Sundowners and The Wackiest Ship in the Army (both 1960), and Mutiny on the Bounty (1962).
Rafferty was born on March 26, 1909, in Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia. His real name was John William Goffage. He spent four years with the Royal Australian Air Force during World War II (1939-1945). He died on May 27, 1971.
