Clifford Frank Degrey[2] (20 May 1918 – 16 March 2007), professionally known as Slim DeGrey and also credited as Slim De Grey and Slim de Gray. was an English-born Australian actor, compere, musician, lyricist, composer and comedian.[3][4]
DeGrey who was born in Lancashire, England came to Australia aged six, he served in the Australian Army during World War II, seeing action in the Malayan campaign with the 2/10th Field Ambulance, part of the 8th Division of the Second Australian Imperial Force. He became a POW at the fall of Singapore on 15 February 1942 and was imprisoned in Changi Prison until the end of the war. While at Changi he composed, presented and produced shows.[5][6][7][8][9]
Degrey appeared in film roles including Newsfront (1978) and Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles (2001) and appeared in the miniseries Changi, coincidently enough the only survivor who was imprisoned at Changi.[2]
His television roles included Young Ramsay, Bellamy and Skippy the Bush Kangaroo.
He was married to Christina de Grey (c.1926/1927-2016)[1] and they had two sons: Calvin, an actor (1957-2008); and Darrell. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Mo Awards.
The Australian Entertainment Mo Awards (commonly known informally as the Mo Awards), were annual Australian entertainment industry awards, that recognised achievements in live entertainment in Australia from 1975 to 2016. Slim DeGrey won four awards in that time.[10]