Barry Otto

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Barry Otto
Barry Otto.jpg
Otto at the Spot Festival in March 2012
Born1941 (age 8384)
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Education Brisbane Central Technical College
OccupationActor
Years active1975–present
Spouses
  • Lindsay Clayton
    (div. 1973)
  • Susan Hill
Children3, including Miranda and Gracie Otto

Barry Otto (born 1941) is an Australian actor.

Early life

Barry Otto was born in 1941 in Brisbane, the son of Alice Long and Bob Stephens, a car dealer from the suburb of Chermside. His mother later married Ronald Otto, a butcher of German ancestry. Barry is actually of Scottish and Irish descent. [1] [2] [3] [4] He has a sister named Denise, [5] who was a model. [6]

Contents

Otto's artistic talents were discovered at the age of 17, by the family landlord, May Stephens. She had found him painting a watercolour replica of one of the Norman Lindsay paintings she owned, after which she paid for him to attend Brisbane Central Technical College. Stephens also took him to the theatre and the opera, which inspired him to follow his passion for the arts. [6]

In the 1960s, Otto worked as a commercial artist and fashion illustrator, [7] for the likes of Myer and McWhirters, while he took classes in cutting and designing, with dreams of becoming a fashion designer. [6]

Otto started his acting career in amateur theatre, but never formally trained as an actor [4] [6]

Career

Otto began acting in amateur theatre and drawing room comedies in the 1970s. [2] [4]

He has starred in numerous films, including playing Harry Joy in Bliss (1985), for which he received a Film Critics Circle of Australia Award for Best Actor. [8] His performance as Doug Hastings (father of Paul Mercurio’s Scott) in Baz Luhrmann’s first feature film Strictly Ballroom (1992) earned him two awards for Best Supporting Actor from the Australian Film Institute and Film Critics Circle of Australia. [8] He then appeared in Dad and Dave: On Our Selection (1995), opposite Geoffrey Rush and Noah Taylor and Lilian's Story (1996) alongside Toni Collette. In 1996, he starred as mental health patient Roy in Cosi [9] for which he received a Green Room Award for Best Actor. [8]

In 1997 he starred in The Nice Guy with Jackie Chan, [8] and played Jimmy D’Abbs in Oscar and Lucinda , [10] opposite Cate Blanchett. The same year he had a role in Kiss or Kill (1997), [8] before appearing in Dead Letter Office , [8] opposite daughter Miranda in 1998. He went on to star in 2002 short film The Visitor , romantic drama Love's Brother (2004) [8] and horror feature Rogue (2007). [8]

Otto portrayed Administrator Allsop in Baz Luhrmann epic adventure drama Australia [8] with Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman in 2008, and the same year also starred in Three Blind Mice and drama film Newcastle . [8] Further film credits include Baz Luhrmann's The Great Gatsby (2013) [8] with Leonardo DiCaprio and Toby Maguire, and comedy drama film The Dressmaker (2015) starring Kate Winslet and Liam Hemsworth.

Otto has also performed voicework, including narrating the 2001 animated short Dad’s Clock [11] He voiced a character in 2010 animated film Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole and in 2015, he voiced the role of Mayor Wilberforce Cranklepot, a goanna, in animated feature Blinky Bill the Movie .

Otto has worked extensively in television, beginning with an ongoing role as Trevor McKenzie in Grundy's soap opera Until Tomorrow in 1975. He later starred as Douglas Goddard in the acclaimed 1987 miniseries Vietnam alongside Nicole Kidman. His other miniseries credits include The Dismissal (1983), The Paper Man (1990) and Through My Eyes (2004) alongside daughter Miranda.

He starred as Sir Jeffrey in dance series Dance Academy in 2013, and as Julius Bechly in Sisters in 2017. In 2023, the film Australia received a spin-off miniseries, Faraway Downs in which Otto reprised his role as Administrator Alsop.

He has also had guest roles in Case for the Defence , Spring & Fall and A Country Practice , Shadows of the Heart , G.P. , Murder Call , Outriders , Farscape , The Secret Life of Us , HeadLand , All Saints , Stupid Stupid Man , Rake and The Other Guy .

Additionally, Otto has appeared in numerous theatre productions during his career, including The Marriage of Figaro for which he won a 1991 Green Room Award. [8] He received another 1994 Green Room Award for his performance as Roy in the MTC's production of Cosi , the same part he played in the original 1992 Belvoir production [8] and the 1996 feature film.

Playing Captain Andy in the Mariner Theatre’s Showboat in 1999 saw him nominated for another Green Room Award. [8] His role in Last Cab to Darwin earned him a 2005 Adelaide Theatre Guide Award nomination for Best Individual Male Performance, [8] while his performance in Tartuffe for the Melbourne Theatre Company earned him yet another Green Room Award nomination in 2008. [8]

Otto's daughter Gracie directed Otto By Otto , a 2024 documentary film for Revealed on Stan, celebrating the life and career of her father. The film was a finalist for the Documentary Australia Award at the Sydney Film Festival, [9] and won the 2025 AACTA Award for Best Documentary. [12]

Personal life

Otto married Lindsay Clayton, whom he met while performing in amateur theatre in Brisbane. [6] They appeared together in a Brisbane Repertory Theatre 1967 stage production of Goodnight Mrs Puffin. [13] Together they had a daughter Miranda (also an actress), who was born in Brisbane in 1967. [14] They divorced in 1973. [15]

After his marriage broke down, Otto met second wife Susan 'Sue' Hill (eventual co-founder of Sydney’s Belvoir Street Theatre), [15] whom he credits with "rescuing him". [6] They met at Brisbane's Twelfth Night Theatre box-office and moved to Sydney in the mid-1970s, when Otto was in his mid-30s, settling in Petersham [15] and both scoring jobs at the Nimrod Theatre. [6]

Together with Hill, Otto has a son, Eddie (a teacher and professional cricket coach), and daughter, Gracie (a filmmaker and actress), born in 1987 in Sydney. [14] [16] Through daughter Miranda and her actor husband Peter O’Brien, Otto is grandfather to Darcey O'Brien. [15]

Otto is also an artist. He often paints members of his family and has twice entered the Archibald Prize. [17]

Otto was prone to suffering from depression, which hit an all-time low when he suffered a nervous breakdown after a blow to his confidence when performing in a stage production of The Kreutzer Sonata at the Adelaide Festival. [6]

After a stint in hospital for a hip replacement, in which he became confused, Otto was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2018. Ultimately, his family decided against telling him, as they feared it would exacerbate his depression. [6] [18]

Filmography

Otto with Australian actress Deborah Mailman in 2012 Deborah Mailman, Barry Otto (6825541756).jpg
Otto with Australian actress Deborah Mailman in 2012

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1982 Norman Loves Rose CharlesFeature film
1983September '51Short film
1984 Undercover Professor HenckelFeature film
1985 Bliss Harry JoyFeature film
1986 The More Things Change... LexFeature film
1987 Howling III: The Marsupials Professor Harry BeckmeyerFeature film
1989 The Punisher ShakeFeature film
Black SorrowThe PsychiatristShort film
1992 Strictly Ballroom Doug HastingsFeature film
1993 The Custodian Brian FergusonFeature film
The DoorStepfatherShort film
Touch MeStewartShort film
1994 Exile Sheriff HamiltonFeature film
1995 Dad and Dave: On Our Selection J.P. RileyFeature film
1996 Così RoyFeature film
Lilian's Story John SingerFeature film
My Entire Life (aka Mr Reliable)The PremierFeature film
1997I Love Rachel
Mr. Nice Guy BaggioFeature film
Kiss or Kill Adler JonesFeature film
The Beneficiary Leonard DunbarShort film
Oscar and Lucinda Jimmy D'AbbsFeature film
A Cut in the RatesShort film
1998 Dead Letter Office Gerald UrquhartFeature film
2002Dad's ClockNarratorShort film
The Visitor MichaelShort film
2004 Love's Brother Father AlfredoFeature film
2005Are WeNarratorShort film
2006Single White FarmerPoleyShort film
2007La même nuitThe ConciergeShort film
Soul MatesPaddy ByrneShort film
Cheap SeatsEnjouerShort film
Rogue MervFeature film
2008 Newcastle GrampsFeature film
Three Blind Mice FredFeature film
$9.99 Albert (voice)Feature film (animated)
Australia Administrator AllsopFeature film
In a Pig's EyeThe ButcherShort film
2009SchadenfreudeShort film
2010 South Solitary George WadsworthFeature film
Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole Echidna (voice)Feature film (animated)
SeamstressCliveShort film
2011Waiting for the Turning of the EarthTomShort film
To Face the SunFatherShort film
2012A Cautionary TailDoctor (voice)Short film
2013 The Great Gatsby Benny McClenahanFeature film
2015 Blinky Bill the Movie Mayor Wilberforce Cranklepot (voice)Feature film (animated)
The Dressmaker Percival AlmanacFeature film
2016Fish with LegsHead Fish WarrenShort film

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1975 Until Tomorrow Trevor McKenzie180 episodes
1977 Benny Hill Down Under Trevor McKenzieTV movie
1978 Case for the Defence Doctor1 episode
Tickled PinkLeoTV special
1980 Spring & Fall Harry DawsonAnthology series, season 1, episode 5: "The Slammer"
1982M.P.S.I.B.Mike Barry1 episode
1983 The Dismissal Miniseries, 1 episode
A Country Practice Bela Szollos4 episodes
1984The Secret Discovery of AustraliaFrench AmbassadorTV movie
Singies PeterMiniseries, 1 episode
Who Killed Hannah Jane? James HarnneyTV movie
1985 The Fast Lane Daniells1 episode
1986 Studio 86 Mr Van Mint1 episode
1987FrontierGovernment Agent Archibald MestonMiniseries, 3 episodes
I've Come About the Suicide Garfield LawsonTV movie
Vietnam Douglas GoddardMiniseries, 10 episodes
1988 Takeover George Oppenheimer TV movie
1989 The Hijacking of the Achille Lauro Kevin BlaxlandTV movie
1990 The Paper Man Elliot CalderMiniseries, 4 episodes
Shadows of the Heart Charles Munro2 episodes
1992 G.P. Geoff Evatt1 episode
1993Under the Skin1 episode
1998 Murder Call Otis FarrowSeason 2, episodes 10-11: "Deadfall" (parts 1 &2)
2001 Outriders Antiques Dealer1 episode
Invincible ProfessorTV movie
2002 Farscape Dr Tumii1 episode
Don't Blame the KoalasMr Fitch2 episodes
2004LootCharles HighsmithTV movie
2005 The Secret Life of Us Bill HoldforthSeason 4, episode 12: "The Heart of Friday Night"
HeadLand Professor Day2 episodes
2006 All Saints Bob Tyrell1 episode
Stupid Stupid Man Principal CooperSeason 1, 1 episode
2013 Dance Academy Sir JefferySeason 3, 6 episodes
2015Pypo1 episode
2016 Rake Judge Cowper1 episode
2017 Sisters Julius Bechly7 episodes
2019 The Other Guy RonEpisode: "New Wheels and Cock Socks"
2023 Faraway Downs Administrator Alsop6 episodes

Theatre

YearTitleRoleCompany
1967Goodnight Mrs PuffinNicholas Fordyce Brisbane Repertory Theatre [13]
1970Eden HouseBernie Smith La Boite Theatre, Brisbane
1971Flash Jim VauxCircus Style Performer Twelfth Night Theatre, Brisbane
1974 Present Laughter SGIO Theatre, Brisbane
A Doll’s House Torvald Helmer
A Stretch of the Imagination Monk La Boite Theatre, Brisbane [6]
1975 How Does Your Garden Grow? Twelfth Night Theatre, Brisbane
1976 The Tatty Hollow Story Ben Stables Theatre, Sydney
Are You Now Or Have You Ever Been?Edward Dmytryk / Investigator Nimrod Theatre, Sydney
The Recruiting Officer Constable
The Duchess of Malfi Castruchio / Count Malateste
1976–1977 Travesties Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov
1977 Twelfth Night Orsino
Wild Oats Ephraim Smooth Seymour Centre, Sydney
The Tempest Sebastian Sydney Opera House
1978 Black Comedy Brindsley Miller
The Misanthrope Alceste
Hay Fever Sandy Tyrell Canberra Theatre, Sydney Opera House
The Lady from Maxim’s Dr Petypon Sydney Opera House
1979The Bed Before YesterdayFelix Theatre Royal Sydney
On Our Selection Old Carey / Jim Carey Jane St Theatre, Sydney, Nimrod Theatre, Sydney
Upside Down at the Bottom of the World D. H. Lawrence Nimrod Theatre, Sydney
1980TraitorsGiorgi Krasin
The Bride of Gospel PlaceThe Master Jane St Theatre, Sydney
The Dybbuk Azriel
Volpone Corvino Nimrod Theatre, Sydney
1981 Three Sisters Fyodor Ilyich Kulyghin
Protest: Audience / Private View / ProtestMalster / Michal / Stane
Cloud Nine Clive / Cathy
Tales from the Vienna Woods Zauberkonig
1982Welcome the Bright WorldSebastian Ayalti
Burn Victim
1983 Uncle Vanya Uncle Vanya
The Portage to San Cristobal of A.H. Adolf Hitler Sydney Opera House
1987 Tom and Viv T. S. Eliot Wharf Theatre, Sydney with STC
Kiss of the Spider Woman Seymour Centre, Sydney with Nimrod Theatre Company
1988 Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune Johnny University of Sydney
1989–1991 The Marriage of Figaro Figaro Wharf Theatre, Sydney, Playhouse, Melbourne with STC
1990Hot Fudge and Icecream Wharf Theatre, Sydney with STC
1991 Hotel Sorrento Edwin Wharf Theatre, Sydney
1992 Cosi Roy Belvoir Theatre, Sydney
1993The Trials of Brother JeroCourtyard Theatre, Bondi
FaustFaust Russell St Theatre, Melbourne with MTC
1994White Wheat Domain Theatre, Sydney
Amadeus Salieri Melbourne Athenaeum
Cosi Roy Russell St Theatre, Melbourne with MTC
1995 The Tempest Prospero Belvoir Theatre, Sydney, Space Theatre, Adelaide
1996 Night on Bald Mountain Hugo Playhouse Adelaide with STCSA & Belvoir Theatre, Sydney [19]
Wasp Belvoir Theatre, Sydney
1998 Show Boat Cap'n Andy Lyric Theatre Sydney, Regent Theatre, Melbourne
1999 Barrymore John Barrymore Sydney Opera House, Glen St Theatre, Sydney, Newcastle Civic Theatre, Cremorne Theatre, Brisbane with STC
2000The FallsDirector Stables Theatre, Sydney with Griffin Theatre Company
2002 Volpone Volpone Sydney Opera House
2003 Proof Robert Sydney Opera House, Glen St Theatre, Sydney
2003–2004 Last Cab to Darwin MaxAustralian tour with Pork Chop Productions
2005 Boy Gets Girl Les Kennkat Wharf Theatre, Sydney with STC
King Lear King Lear Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne [20]
2007TroupersIsaac Wharf Theatre, Sydney with STC
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Martin Cremorne Theatre, Brisbane with QTC
Heroes Philippe
2008 Tartuffe Orgon Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne with MTC
Hamlet Polonius Sydney Opera House, Playhouse, Melbourne with Bell Shakespeare
2009OptimismPangloss Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne, Sydney Opera House & Royal Lyceum Theatre for Edinburgh Comedy Festival
2012 The Histrionic The Landlord Malthouse Theatre, Wharf Theatre, Sydney with STC
2013 The Kreutzer Sonata Pozdnyshev STCSA for Adelaide Festival
2015SeventeenRonny Belvoir Theatre, Sydney
King Lear King Lear STC [20]

[21]

Radio

YearTitleRoleCompany
1979 What Price Glory? Pharmacist's Mate ABC Radio, Sydney

[21]

Awards and honours

Otto's plaque at the Australian Film Walk of Fame, Ritz Cinema, Randwick, Sydney Film Walk of Fame Ritz Cinema Sydney 020.JPG
Otto's plaque at the Australian Film Walk of Fame, Ritz Cinema, Randwick, Sydney

Honours

Otto was inducted into the Australian Film Walk of Fame in 2012 (located outside Ritz Cinema in ‘The Spot’ at Randwick) alongside actress Deborah Mailman. Recipients honoured in years before him were Charles 'Bud' Tingwell (2008), Michael Caton, (2009), Roy Billing (2009), Claudia Karvan (2010), Steve Bisley (2010), Gary Sweet (2011) and Jack Thompson (2011). [22]

Awards and nominations

YearWorkAwardCategoryResult
1985 Bliss Australian Film Institute Award Best Actor in a Leading Role Nominated
1986 The More Things Change... Australian Film Institute Award Best Actor in a Leading Role Nominated
1991 The Marriage of Figaro Green Room Award Leading Male in a DramaWon [8]
1992 Strictly Ballroom Australian Film Institute Award Best Actor in a Supporting Role Won
1992 Strictly Ballroom Film Critics Circle of Australia Award Best Supporting ActorWon
1993 The Custodian Australian Film Institute Award Best Actor in a Supporting Role Nominated
1994 Cosi (play) Green Room Award Leading Male in a DramaWon [8]
1996 Cosi (film) Australian Film Institute Award Best Actor in a Supporting Role Nominated
1999 Showboat Green Room Award Male Artist in a Leading RoleNominated [8]
2005 Last Cab to Darwin Adelaide Theatre Guide AwardBest Individual Male PerformanceNominated [8]
2008 Tartuffe Green Room Award Best Male PerformerNominated [8]
2015 Blinky Bill the Movie Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards Favourite Voice in an Animated FilmNominated

References

  1. Lucas, Janine (1 July 2024). "Miranda Otto's family tree surprise... and how to trace your own history". State Library of Queensland . Retrieved 27 August 2025.
  2. 1 2 Porter, Zoë (15 January 2020). "Otto The Great". The National Treasures Series. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  3. "Dichotomia, Barry Otto, 2008". National Portrait Gallery . Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  4. 1 2 3 Morgan, Joyce (26 January 2007). "Barry Otto's busting to talk". The Sydney Morning Herald . Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  5. Faulkner, Noelle (29 December 2017). "The Imaginarium of Mr Otto by Jake Terrey". Side-Note. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Revealed – Otto By Otto press kit" (PDF). Retrieved 5 September 2025.
  7. Kornits, Dov (25 January 2020). "Otto on Otto". FilmInk . Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 "Barry Otto". www.wheelercentre.com. Retrieved 4 September 2025.
  9. 1 2 Abdullah, Immy (2024). "A rare insight into the life of Australian acting legend Barry Otto exposed by daughter in new Stan Original Documentary". www.nine.com.au .
  10. Leask, Margaret (2018). "Barry Otto on Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin". National Film and Sound Archive .
  11. Quigley, Marian (2001). "Dad's Clock". National Film and Sound Archive .
  12. "OTTO BY OTTO wins AACTA Award for Best Documentary". www.yellowcreativemanagement.com. Retrieved 5 September 2025.
  13. 1 2 "Goodnight Mrs Puffin". La Boite Theatre Company . Retrieved 4 September 2025.
  14. 1 2 Gannon, Genevieve (22 June 2023). "Miranda Otto reveals what working with her sister is really like". The Australian Women's Weekly . Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  15. 1 2 3 4 Sayce, Rebecca (10 June 2024). "Film legend is 'still alive but barely' 6 years after Alzheimer's diagnosis". www.metro.co.uk .
  16. Lehmann, Megan (6 November 2021). "Gracie Otto, the human sparkplug" . The Australian . Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  17. Schwartzkoff, Louise (7 February 2009). "Barry's M.Otto: if at first you don't succeed, paint on". The Sydney Morning Herald . Retrieved 4 January 2011.
  18. Maddox, Garry (7 May 2024). "Gracie Otto began a film about her dad's one-man show. A diagnosis changed the story". The Sydney Morning Herald . Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  19. "Night on Bald Mountain (1964)". www.patrickwhitecatalogue.com. Retrieved 5 September 2025.
  20. 1 2
  21. 1 2 "Barry Otto theatre credits". AusStage .
  22. "Walks of Fame". www.randwick.nsw.gov.au. 6 September 2026.