Background
He was born in Melbourne and attended Caulfield Grammar School, and served with the Australian Imperial Force in World World War World War II
He was born in Melbourne and attended Caulfield Grammar School, and served with the Australian Imperial Force in World World War World War II
Following the war, Ashbolt began acting and helped establish the Mercury Theatre with Peter Finch before he was hired by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (American Broadcasting Company) as a producer. In 1959 he was appointed as the American Broadcasting Company"s first North America correspondent, and during 1963 he served as a correspondent and executive producer of Four Corners, which has become Australia"s longest-running investigative journalism/current affairs television program He was known for his belief that the American Broadcasting Company should promote free speech and controversial political content.
Ashbolt held senior positions at the American Broadcasting Company until retiring after a 25-year career with the network, and also wrote for the New Statesman, a British political magazine.
He died in Sydney in 2005.