You will never believe what Mr Fisher looks like now! Home and Away star Norman Coburn, 88, pictured for the first time in years as details of his VERY different life in Tasmania emerge
He was a staple on Australian television screens throughout the late ’80s and ’90s, playing stern Summer Bay High’s headmaster Donald Fisher on Home and Away.
And now, veteran actor Norman Coburn has been spotted for the first time in years in Tasmania, where he lives a quiet and peaceful life far from the spotlight.
Rugged up against the chilly morning weather, Coburn, now 88, looked nowhere near his age as he went to buy groceries near his home in Hobart.
Dressed in a brown winter coat, a knitted scarf, and blue jeans teamed with tan suede sneakers, the TV star blended in with the locals as he went about his morning errands.
At one point, he popped on a navy baseball cap and a pair of sunglasses to shield himself from the winter sun as he strolled through the quiet streets with his hands in his pockets.
Coburn lives with his wife Tina on a property south of Hobart, and it’s understood he maintains a holiday home on nearby Bruny Island, where locals say he has a small vineyard of wine grapes for personal use.
These days, he spends his time taking regular strolls on Blackmans Bay beach near Kingston, with locals saying he is often seen wandering along the esplanade with his beloved daughter, Nana.
Nana, a former actress who also appeared on Home and Away, is a real estate agent based in Gerringong, NSW, who often returns to the island to spend time with her parents.
She appeared on the long-running soap as Vicki Baxter in the early 90s, and then as Lisa Matthews in 1995.
‘He looks amazing and moves well for his age. It must be all that crisp Tasmanian air!’ remarked one onlooker who spotted the Logie-winner on one of his beachside walks.
It’s no wonder Coburn has fallen in love with the chilly and windswept Tassie rural lifestyle, with insiders saying it reminds him of a precious time in his life – when he and Tina lived in Cornwall, UK.
In the 1970s, the couple ran the Mermaid Seafood Restaurant in Cornwall and planted their own vineyard.
While in the UK, Coburn attempted to break into the acting scene, scoring a brief role on Coronation Street.
Coburn – whose nickname on Home and Away was ‘Flathead’ stays in touch with his former co-stars, including Nicolle Dickson, who played his on-screen daughter, Bobby Fisher, along with Ryan Clark, who played his grandson Sam Marshall.
It’s understood he is still close with series stalwart Ray Meagher, who travelled to Tasmania to spend his 70th birthday with his old friend.
In 2014, in an interview with New Idea magazine to mark his 70th birthday, Ray revealed he and wife Gilly were travelling from Sydney to visit him.
‘He [Coburn] lives on Bruny Island these days and he tells me the food and the wine’s great down there. I’m looking forward to a good catch-up with him over a few reds,’ he said.
Before retiring, Coburn also dabbled as a sales associate for First National Real Estate.
While he officially retired from acting years ago, Coburn made a brief return to Home and Away for special guest appearances in 2005 and 2007.
He was one of the show’s original cast members and earned a Guinness World Record for being the longest-serving actor in an Australian soap opera at the time of his departure.
He has appeared in a total of 1,505 episodes of the drama.
Despite stepping away from the limelight, Coburn remains a beloved figure in Aussie pop culture.
He is fondly remembered by generations of fans who grew up watching his stern but lovable character navigate the ups and downs of school life in Summer Bay.
His last acting role was making an appearance in Aussie comedy series Rosehaven, which aired on ABC TV.
