Russell Dykstra
Russell Dykstra | |
|---|---|
 Dykstra in 2013, at the Addams Family rehearsal | |
| Born | 31 December 1966 Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Occupation | Actor |
Russell Dykstra (born 31 December 1966) is an Australian actor of screen, stage and TV.
Early life
[edit]Dykstra grew up in the Brisbane suburb of Calamvale.[1]
Dykstra first appeared on stage at age 10 in a theatre production of Toad of Toad Hall. He later studied acting at the University of Southern Queensland, and in his early career worked alongside fellow actor Geoffrey Rush with the Grin and Tonic theatre troupe.[2][3] Dykstra also studied at the school of Jacques Lecoq in Paris and Philippe Gaulier in London.[4]
Career
[edit]Dykstra made his feature film debut in the critically acclaimed Soft Fruit, directed by Christina Andreef, for which he received an AFI Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role (1999) and a Film Critics’ Circle Award nomination (2000).[5][6]
Dykstra's one-man show Children of the Devil had previously toured nationally in 1996–98 with funding from the Australia Council, earning him a Matilda Award[7] and a Victorian Green Room Award[8] nomination for Best Actor.[9][10][11]
In 2007 Dykstra was nominated for an AFI Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Romulus, My Father directed by Richard Roxburgh.[12][13] Other film appearances include Oranges and Sunshine, Clubland, Lantana, Garage Days, Ned Kelly, The View from Greenhaven, The Wannabes and Hey, Hey, It's Esther Blueburger.
Dykstra's theatre credits are extensive, including God of Carnage,[14] The Wonderful World of Dissocia,[15][16] The Unlikely Prospect of Happiness,[17] for the Sydney Theatre Company and Babyteeth,[18][19] Ray’s Tempest, The Underpants, The Laramie Project, Yibiyung and The Ham Funeral for Company B. His performances in Toy Symphony and Stuff Happens earning him national theatre Helpmann Awards for Best Supporting Actor in 2006 and 2008 and a Sydney Theatre Award (2007).[20] Dykstra has also worked with the Malthouse Theatre, Theatre of Image, Griffin Theatre, Ensemble, La Boite Theatre and Queensland Theatre Company.
Television credits include the Australian TV series Spirited, Wild Boys, My Place, Scorched, BlackJack (film series), Loot, All Saints and White Collar Blue.
Dykstra is perhaps most well known for his portrayal of the character Barney, in the award-winning ABC TV series Rake.
In 2013 Dykstra appeared as Uncle Fester in the Australian production of the Broadway musical The Addams Family.[21] For this performance Dykstra was honored with his third Helpmann Award, for Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical (2013).[22]
Dykstra played Pumbaa in the Australian tour of Disney's The Lion King.[23] For this performance Dykstra received a Sydney Theatre Award nomination for Best Performance by an Actor in a Musical (2013) and was nominated Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical at the 14th Annual Helpmann Awards.[24][25]
In 2015 Dykstra won his second Equity Award, for Most Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama Series, for his portrayal of Barney in the ABC TV series Rake.[26]
In 2016 Dykstra received an AACTA Award Nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a Television Drama for his performance as Barney in season 4 of Rake.[27]
More recently Dykstra portrayed Lester in the Matchbox Pictures production Irreverent streaming on Peacock in the US and Netflix Australia. He also appeared in the ABC TV series Fires and In Limbo produced by Bunya Productions.[28]
In 2024 Dykstra appeared in the ABC TV production of Ladies in Black.[29][30]
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]| Title | Year | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Soft Fruit | Bo | Feature film AFI Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role (1999) Film Critics’ Circle Award nomination (1999) |
| 2000 | Beach Story | Frank | Short film |
| 2001 | Lantana | Michael | Feature film |
| 2001 | Garage Days | Bruno | Feature film |
| 2001 | Versus | Jay | Short film |
| 2002 | BlackJack: Murder Archive | Buchanan | TV film |
| 2002 | Stuffed Bunny | Man | Short film |
| 2002 | Ned Kelly | Wild Wright | Feature film |
| 2002 | The Wannabes | Marcus | Feature film |
| 2004 | Amorality Tale | Brian Chappell | Short film |
| 2005 | BlackJack: Ace Point Game | Buchanan | TV film |
| 2005 | The Water Diary | Rog | Short film |
| 2006 | Romulus, My Father | Mitru | Feature film AFI Award Nomination for Best Supporting Actor (2007) |
| 2007 | Clubland | Shane | Feature film |
| 2007 | BlackJack: Ghosts | Buchanan | TV film |
| 2007 | Hey Hey It's Esther Blueburger | Osmond Blueburger | Feature film |
| 2007 | The View from Greenhaven | Tim | Feature film |
| 2008 | Scorched | Keith | TV film |
| 2009 | Nightwalking | Voices | Short film |
| 2011 | Oranges and Sunshine | Dan | Feature film |
| 2013 | Maiden | Mick | Short film |
| 2018 | Slam | Paul Koustakidis | Film |
Television
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Medivac | Fitzpatrick | TV series |
| 2000 | Bondi Banquet | Rufus | TV series |
| 2001 | Water Rats | Tino | TV series |
| 2001 | Grass Roots | Bill Hooks | TV series |
| 2002 | BackBerner | Mr Dennis McCauley | TV series |
| 2003 | White Collar Blue | Dale Trindle | TV series |
| 2003 | All Saints | Grant Jenkins | TV series |
| 2003 | Loot | Bruno Batelli | TV series |
| 2007 | The Adventures of Charlotte and Henry | Henry's Dad / Tough Guy | TV series |
| 2009 | My Place | Mr. Merry | TV series |
| 2009 | Spirited | Adam | TV series, season 1 |
| 2010-16 | Rake | Barney Meagher | TV series, seasons 1-4 Equity Award for Most Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series |
| 2021 | Fires | David Jasic | TV miniseries |
| 2022 | Irreverent | Lester | TV series |
| 2023 | Last King of the Cross | Bartucci | TV series |
| 2023 | In Limbo | Frank | TV miniseries |
| 2024 | Ladies in Black | Stefan | TV series, 6 episodes |
Awards and nominations
[edit]| Award | Year | Category | Result | Work |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Green Room Award | 1998 | Best Male Actor | Nominated | Children of the Devil |
| Matilda Award | 1998 | Best Male Actor | Won | Children of the Devil |
| Film Critics’ Circle Award | 1999 | Best Male Actor | Nominated | Soft Fruit |
| Australian Film Institute Award | 1999 | Best Actor in a Leading Role | Won | Soft Fruit |
| Helpmann Award | 2006 | Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play | Won | Stuff Happens |
| Australian Film Institute Award (AFI) | 2007 | Best Supporting Actor | Nominated | Romulus, My Father |
| Critics' Circle Theatre Award | 2007 | Best Actor in a Supporting Role | Won | Toy Symphony |
| Helpmann Award | 2008 | Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play | Won | Toy Symphony |
| Equity Award | 2011 | Most Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama Series | Won | RAKE Series 1 |
| USQ Alumnus Awards | 2013 | Outstanding Alumnus of the Year | Won | Outstanding Achievement |
| Helpmann Award | 2013 | Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical | Won | The Addams Family |
| Critics' Circle Theatre Award | 2013 | Best Performance by an Actor in a Musical | Nominated | The Lion King |
| Canberra Film Festival Award | 2013 | Best Performance | Won | Maiden |
| Helpmann Award | 2014 | Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical | Nominated | The Lion King |
| Equity Ensemble Award | 2015 | Most Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama Series | Won | RAKE Series 3 |
| Australian Film Institute Award (AFI) | 2016 | Best Supporting Actor in a Television Drama | Nominated | RAKE Series 4 |
References
[edit]- ^ "Brisbane actor returns home as windy warthog in The Lion King". ABC News. 25 September 2014. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
- ^ "Home | The Grin and Tonic Theatre Troupe". www.grinandtonictheatre.com.au. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
- ^ Grin and Tonic Theatre Troupe -- About, retrieved 12/04/13.
- ^ 2013 USQ Faculty of Arts Alumnus of the Year, University of Southern Queensland, retrieved 6 October 2016
- ^ AACTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role, Wikipedia.com retrieved 12/04/13
- ^ "Winners & Nominees". www.aacta.org. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
- ^ Brisbane Theatre Critics’ History of the Matilda Awards
- ^ "GREEN ROOM AWARDS » History". 21 March 2012. Archived from the original on 21 March 2012. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
- ^ "http://www.matildaawards.com.au/html/archives.html#m98", retrieved 12/04/13
- ^ "Romulus, My Father | Starring Eric Bana and Franka Potente | Directed by Richard Roxburgh". www.romulusmyfather.com.au. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
- ^ "AusStage". www.ausstage.edu.au. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
- ^ Romulus, My Father (film), Wikipedia retrieved 12/04/13
- ^ "Winners & Nominees". www.aacta.org. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
- ^ "http://www.theblurb.com.au/Issue107/GodofCarnage.htm", retrieved 12/04/12
- ^ "http://www.australianstage.com.au/reviews/sydney/the-wonderful-world-of-dissocia--sydney-theatre-company-2483.html", retrieved 12/04/13
- ^ "http://www.australianstage.com.au/slides/dissocia0409.php", retrieved 12/04/13
- ^ "http://www.accessmylibrary.com/article-1G1-119023965/unlikely-prospect-happiness-theater.html", retrieved 12/04/13
- ^ Belvoir Street Theatre, Surry Hills, NSW, Babyteeth
- ^ "http://aussietheatre.com.au/reviews/babyteeth-a-love-story-about-death/", retrieved 12/04/13
- ^ "http://www.sydneytheatreawards.com/history/2007", retrieved 12/04/13
- ^ Blake, Elissa (14 March 2013). "Mysterious and kooky". The Age. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
- ^ "http://www.helpmannawards.com.au/default.aspx?s=winners", retrieved 25/12/13
- ^ "Cast | Disney's THE LION KING | Official Site for Tickets in Sydney, Australia". Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 16 August 2013.
- ^ "http://www.sydneytheatreawards.com/history/2013", retrieved 25/12/13
- ^ "http://www.helpmannawards.com.au/assets/2014-ha-nominees.pdf", retrieved 24/07/14
- ^ "http://if.com.au/2015/04/23/article/Equity-Ensemble-Awards-winners/AJWUOZEIVQ.html", retrieved 11/05/15
- ^ "https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/AACTA_Award_for_Best_Guest_or_Supporting_Actor_in_a_Television_Drama", retrieved 07/12/23
- ^ [ https://www.filmink.com.au/public-notice/cameras-roll-in-queensland-on-new-abc-comedy-series-limbo/ "https://www.filmink.com.au/public-notice/cameras-roll-in-queensland-on-new-abc-comedy-series-limbo/"], retrieved 07/12/23
- ^ "Ladies in Black (2024) - The Screen Guide - Screen Australia". www.screenaustralia.gov.au. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
- ^ Knox, David (13 November 2023). "Cast announced for Ladies in Black | TV Tonight". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 30 June 2024.