Chum Ehelepola is an Australian actor, filmmaker, and teacher. [1] [2] [3] [4] Ehelepola has recently starred as Dennis in the ABC TV series, The Newsreader, [5] [1] and is also cast as Jagadish in the streaming series Nautilus. [6] [1]
Chum Ehelepola is an Australian actor, filmmaker, and teacher. [1] [2] [3] [4] Ehelepola has recently starred as Dennis in the ABC TV series, The Newsreader, [5] [1] and is also cast as Jagadish in the streaming series Nautilus. [6] [1]
Ehelepola was born in New Zealand [7] [4] [1] and raised in both Sri Lanka [7] [4] [1] and Australia. [7] [4] [1] Ehelepola attended Hampton Senior High School in the Perth suburb of Morley, Western Australia.
Ehelepola has also starred in a number of Australian TV series, including No Activity, [8] [9] Stateless, [8] The Straits, [7] and as Lionel in the Australian comedy series Preppers. [10]
Due to greater opportunities for actors from diverse backgrounds, Ehelepola relocated [1] to Los Angeles and appeared in a number of US television shows whilst residing there, including the AMC series Lodge 49 [8] and the Netflix series Lady Dynamite. [8] He was also cast in the role of Ramtish in the Disney live action film, Mulan. [7] [11]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Nautilus | Jagadish | 6 episodes | [12] |
| 2021–25 | The Newsreader | Dennis Tibb | 18 episodes | [13] [14] |
| 2023 | One Night | Andrew | 4 episodes | [15] |
| We Interrupt This Broadcast | Antiques Roadshow Host | 4 episodes | ||
| 2021 | Preppers | Lionel | 6 episodes | |
| 2020 | Stateless | Oshan | 2 episodes | |
| 2018-19 | Lodge 49 | Anil | 4 episodes | |
| 2017 | Lady Dynamite | Dr. Ronjon Runningstream | 1 episode | |
| Throwing Shade | Banker 3 | 1 episode | ||
| 2016 | No Activity | Steve | 3 episodes | |
| Doctor Doctor | Daniel | 1 episode | ||
| Rake | Jeffery | 1 episode | ||
| 2014 | Sequestered | Ramesh | 12 episodes | |
| How to Talk Australians | Mr D'Silva | 1 episode | ||
| Courtside | Naveen | 6 episodes | ||
| 2013 | Bones | Mo Khan | 1 episode | |
| 2012 | The Moodys | Chris | 4 episodes | |
| Redfern Now | Ubit | 1 episode | ||
| The Straits | Joseph | 5 episodes | ||
| 2011 | Sea Patrol | Vadara | 1 episode | |
| Laid | Van | 1 episode | ||
| 2007 | Comedy Inc. | 1 episode | ||
| All Saints | Chris | 1 episode | ||
| 2005 | The Surgeon | Dr. Ravi Jayawardener | 8 episodes |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Mulan | Ramtish | [16] | |
| 2016 | Another Time | Tim | Short | |
| Open House on Beverely | Shuman | Short | ||
| 2015 | Super Awesome | Shae da Silva | ||
| 2012 | Intersecting Beauty | Hussain | Short | |
| Four Season of Love | The Tree | Short | ||
| Status Update: A Facebook Fairytale | Amit | Short | ||
| 2009 | Traces | Gunn | Short | |
| Frances and Annie | Ambulance Officer #2 | Short | ||
| Natural Selection | Nick | Short | ||
| Franswa Sharl | George | Short | ||
| 2008 | Scary Loney Wolves | |||
| 2007 | Spider | Gas Station Attendant | Short | [17] |
| Cross Life | Roman | |||
| 2006 | Playing with Piranhas | Keith | ||
| Happy Birthday | El | Short | ||
| 2005 | Don't Say a Word | Mahesh |
Ehelepola is a qualified Civil Engineer, [8] [1] having attended Curtin University. Ehelepola followed his passion of acting, taking the path of washing dishes, serving coffee and acting classes on the way to building a successful acting career. [3] After residing in Los Angeles for a period of time, Ehelepola returned with his family to Australia and currently resides in NSW. [1]
Ehelepola also founded the Sydney Actors Collective, providing acting classes to aspiring Australian acting talent. [3]