Lift-Off: What happened to the cast of this iconic Aussie kids' show?

It's been over 30 years since kids' TV show Lift-Off launched on the ABC. It was innovative in how it showed children from different cultures and backgrounds and the problems they encountered growing up.

Using a combination of documentary and fantasy storytelling, it helped prepare kids aged three to eight for school and the world around them.

Lift Off! was a huge production that involved 350 animators and 150 writers, actors, artists, puppeteers, technicians, musicians, film crew and production hands.

Both child and adult actors were used in the show – but what happened to the most well-known of these?

Mark Mitchell - Mr Fish

If you remember Lift Off then you remember grouchy Mr Fish, the concierge of the apartments where all the kids and their families lived.

Mark was already well-known on the comedy scene, starring in The Comedy Company, playing characters such as Con the Fruiterer. But Lift-Off gave him a start in children's TV, and he went on to roles in Round the Twist, The Genie from Down Under and The Flamin' Thongs.

"I think shows that make you happy will always leave a huge, indelible imprint in memory, but also in emotion," he revealed to the Australian Children's Television Foundation about why he is remembered for his iconic roles in kids' TV shows.

Most recently, Mark appeared in the 2021 SBS TV miniseries New Gold Mountain.

Alan Fletcher - Harry Stinson

Alan Fletcher played architect Harry who adopted daughter Kim with his wife.

But Alan is probably better known now for playing Dr Karl Kennedy on Neighbours, a role he's played for almost 30 years.

Did you remember that he was in Lift-off first?

John Orcsik - Franco Ponti

John Orcsik played Marco and Raph's dad who worked as a firefighter on the show. John was a prolific actor already, featuring in The Flying Doctors, A Country Practice and Home And Away, and was married to fellow Australian actor Paula Duncan.

Since Lift-Off, John has appeared in Neighbours, Superwog and New Gold Mountain alongside Mark Mitchell. Next up, he will be starring in and directing TV series Bunchie, which is currently in production.

Jared Daperis - Raph Ponti

Jared was just six when he played Raph in Lift-Off. But even in his first role, others recognised his acting talent.

"One thing I will never forget about Jared was... even though he was four to five years younger than me, I was very impressed with his ability to act at such a young age," Mario Filintatzis who played his onscreen brother revealed.

After Lift-Off, Jared had main roles in shows such as Ponderosa, Ocean Star, Holly's Heroes and Underbelly. Despite later performances being compared with that of a "young Mel Gibson", Jared, 33, decided he preferred the other side of the camera and is now focusing on directorial work.

Mario Filintatzis - Marco Ponti

Mario played Marco Ponti the eldest son of Franco who due to his spinal bifida sometimes needed a wheelchair.

"What I did love about Lift-Off and the portrayal of disability in both series was that it taught young viewers to never discriminate towards people who might seem different, because we weren’t," Mario revealed in 2020.

He has sinceleft acting behind him. "I was never interested [and] there was never an opportunity to pursue acting much after Lift-Off, especially as I was so young," he said.

"However, as an adult I’ve been involved in a couple of short films to promote disability awareness and advocacy. Being an advocate for people with disabilities is something I am very passionate about."

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