# Ross Jennings

Ross James Jennings (13 November 1944 – 25 March 2016) was a New Zealand actor, becoming one of New Zealand's most experienced television producers and directors, whose credits included The Mad Dog Gang, Close to Home, Moynihan, Inside Straight, feature film I Live With Me Dad, Australian TV series Special Squad and Acropolis Now, NZ's soap Homeward Bound, New Zealand's first reality series, Middlemore, Strip Search, Police Ten 7 and Melody Rules.He devised, created and produced TVNZ's highly successful 36 hr live to air Millenium Show as well as devising, creating and producing Maori Television's ANZAC Day show - a 17-hour, annual, live to air programme which played a large part in the resurgence of the ANZAC Day revitalisation in NZ, as well as becoming Maori Television's flagship programme. Born in Hawera in 1944, Jennings was raised by his mother in Taihape and Hawera, his father having died during World War II.As a member of the NZ Players and Children's Art Theatre, ross jennings toured NZ as an actor before being granted a QE2 Arts Council Grant to study acting in England where he worked at Salisbury Theatre and took on minor television and film roles, before returning to New Zealand in 1971. He joined the NZBC in 1973, and the Drama Department within 18 mths, mentored by producer Tony Issac.