Maurice Brendan Murphy (born 1939 in Sydney[1]) is an Australian film and television director, producer, writer and actor.

The cinema became an integral part of Murphy's school holidays with musicals, Bob Hope and Bing Crosby 'Road' movies and comedies his favourite genres and ones that would influence his future work.

Throughout his school years Murphy would regularly escape into the wonders of radio hit parades, spending countless hours analysing pop song structures and writing down lyrics.

He was mentored by Frank Muir and worked with many British comedy stars including Ronnie Barker, Tommy Cooper, Harry Corbett and Wendy Craig.

He directed Doctor in the House, starring Robin Nedwell, which was the first non-American comedy series to be bought by US television.

In 1968 Murphy directed the 6-episode series of Complete and Utter History of Britain starring Michael Palin and Terry Jones.

On his return to Australia in 1972, Murphy helped to create the ground-breaking anarchistic comedy, The Aunty Jack Show, starring Grahame Bond, Rory O'Donoghue, John Derum and Sandra McGregor.

Then a young adult satirical comedy with the emphasis on fun, Exchange Lifeguards (aka Wet and Wild Summer!)

More serious was his family tale of love in wartime, 15 Amore starring Lisa Hensley and Steve Bastoni.

More recently, the ethereal singing of the students of New Zealand's Toi Whakaari inspired Murphy to create a musical feature film, Zenolith, as a vehicle for their talents.

He co-wrote the song lyrics with Lee Hatherly and secured the collaboration of New Zealand composer, Gareth Farr, and the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra.