MALIBU—Australian native PT Townend became a household name worldwide during the 1970s and ’80s. The handsome surfing champion spoke exclusively with Canyon News just before going into the Pacific Ocean for his daily surf on Monday morning. “I still try to surf every day. When you get past the second half of the century mark, you had better stay busy and keep moving.”
“Busy” is an understatement for Townend. Just last week the journalist, surfer and part-time actor appeared on set to film the movie version of “Just 45 Minutes From Broadway.” The stage version is still showing at the Edgemar Theatre in Santa Monica. “It was great. I met Mary Crosby and although we didn’t previously know each other, we knew the same people back in the ’80s.” The film version of “Broadway” also stars Tanna Frederick, Sabrina Jaglom and Jack Quaid, the son of movie stars Dennis Quaid and Meg Ryan. “Jack is very smart, Tommy, as you know him as well. People would be surprised to know he’s not just some typical Hollywood kid. He’s very sharp,” said PT.
Born in 1953 in Coolangata, Australia, PT’s grandparents owned the Coolangata Hotel on the beach, and his parents were beach people also. “I couldn’t help becoming a surfer, as I was at the beach since I was a baby,” said PT Townend. “From surfing to running the company ActivEmpire (ATE), which is a brand consultancy company specializing in brand management, athlete representation and special event marketing in the surf and skate markets, I have been pretty busy lately.”
When asked about working in front of the camera again, Townend said, “Henry Jaglom is a tough director, but he’s brilliant and great to work for. People don’t realize how hard of work acting really is. I had a little experience in being around the Hollywood culture from my year on the set of making the John Milius surf epic ”˜Big Wednesday’ in the ’70s. I flew over from Australia when my friend Jan Michael Vincent asked me to become his double in the film. So I arrived at Warner Bros. and was on the lounge talking with William Katt. In came the producer and he said, ‘Great, you are Bill’s double.’ I didn’t argue with him. So years later I’m now doing a speaking role. Big difference, Tommy!”
PT is also producing specialty documentaries in surf/skate culture. He served as the President of Surfing America since it’s inception in 1997, the Surf Industry Manufacturers’ Association (SIMA) funded non-profit umbrella organization, which is the National Governing Body (NGB) for surfing in America under the International Surfing Association (ISA).
Townend stepped down from the presidency to accept the USA Surf Team position of Head Coach and led the Americans to the silver medal at the ISA Quiksilver World Junior Surfing Championships in Tahiti in December 2004, and also led them to the Bronze medal in 2005. He resigned the position in 2007.
He is also serving on the Board of Directors for US Skateboarding, the organization endeavoring to gain NGB status with the goal of having skateboarding in future Olympics. Whether it’s acting, his charity work for Project Save Our Surf or running a major corporation, PT Townend’s success is actually not by accident at all. “Tommy, I’m ready for anything. I love staying busy and now that I’m a grandfather, I’m ready to show the world I’m still going strong,” concluded Townend.
Photographs are Courtesy PT Townend
PT on set of “Big Wednesday” with William Katt circa 1970s and PT, Tanna Frederick and Tosh Townend 2010
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