Damian Walshe-Howling

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Damian Walshe-Howling
DamianWalshe-HowlingAug2011.jpg
Walshe-Howling in August 2011
Born
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Education Atlantic Theater Company (1999)
Occupation(s)Film and television actor
Years active1989–present
Notable credit(s) Blue Heelers (1994–2006)
Underbelly (Best Supporting Actor, 2008)

Damian Walshe-Howling is an Australian actor, well known for his role as Andrew 'Benji' Veniamin in the Australian underworld drama Underbelly , for which he won the Best Supporting or Guest Actor in a Drama Series at the 2008 AFI Awards.

Contents

Early life and education

Damien Walshe-Howling was born in the inner south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne. His Italian mother, Iris (nee. Romanella) was an actress, involved in the theatre at La Mama and the Pram Factory, a director and drama teacher. His father was a professor of third generation Irish background. Aspiring to be an actor too, he performed in small theatre shows as a child and started professionally in the industry around the age of 19. [1] [2]

In 1999, he studied at New York's Atlantic Theater Company, specifically their technique 'Practical Aesthetics', both internationally and in Australia. [3] [4]

Career

Television

Walshe-Howling had a guest role in long-running soap opera Neighbours in 1993. He got his first big break starring in Blue Heelers as Constable Adam Cooper [5] from 1994 to 1998, and returned for the series finale in 2006. His first major television role after leaving the series, was as rock singer Mac in The Secret Life of Us (2001), [6] earning him an Australian Film Institute Award nomination for Best Actor in a Guest Role in a Television Drama Series for his performance. [7] [8]

Other guest roles followed in Marshall Law (2002), Stingers (2003), [9] Wilfred (2007), All Saints (2007), East West 101 (season 2), Rescue: Special Ops and Satisfaction . [7]

In 2008, Walshe-Howling's next major break was starring as real-life crime figure Andrew 'Benji' Veniamin in the first season of Channel Nine’s Australian underworld drama Underbelly . [5] The role won him a 2008 Australian Film Institute Award for Best Supporting or Guest Actor in a Drama Series [5] [10] and also saw him nominated for a Silver Logie for Most Outstanding Actor in 2009. [10] That same year, he hosted the Seven Network's factual series Crash Investigation Unit . [11]

In 2010, Walshe-Howling hosted the Nine Network’s reality show Customs; [7] and in 2011, he had a guest role in Steven Spielberg’s Terra Nova (2011). [7] In 2012, he appeared in Australian TV drama series Bikie Wars: Brothers in Arms [6] as Bandidos vice president Mario 'Chopper' Cianter, and also appeared in long-running children's series, Play School .

In 2014, he appeared in a supporting role in the ABC TV comedy drama series, Old School , [6] alongside Bryan Brown and Sam Neill. [12] He also had a supporting role as star prosecutor Owen Mitchell in three seasons of the ABC’s legal drama series, Janet King . [13] [12]

He has most recently been seen in US Netflix superhero series Titans , ABC crime drama Jack Irish opposite Guy Pearce and 2023 crime series Last King of the Cross with Lincoln Younes. [12]

Film

Walshe-Howling starred in 2000 TV movie Halifax f.p.: A Person of Interest , opposite Rebecca Gibney. That same year, he also appeared in A Wreck A Tangle , playing Benjamin. [5] His first film role after departing his regular role on Blue Heelers was as Milo in 2001 comedy-drama He Died with a Felafel in His Hand [6] [5] with Noah Taylor.

He appeared in a cameo role in 2003 biographical film Ned Kelly , about the famed Australian bushranger, opposite Heath Ledger and Orlando Bloom, after being invited by director Gregor Jordan. [14] He then starred in the 2006 modern day reimagining of Macbeth [6] [7] alongside Sam Worthington. Prior to his breakthrough role in Underbelly , he appeared opposite Joel Edgerton in short film Saturn’s Return. He was set to star in Point Break 2, however, due to the 2008 financial crisis, the film did not go ahead. [15]

He next starred in survival horror film The Reef with former Underbelly co-star Gyton Grantley. The movie was released in Australian cinemas in March 2011. [16] In 2013, he had a supporting role in crime film Mystery Road . [9]

In 2020, he appeared in the 2020 Australian sci-fi thriller 2067 , [17] alongside Ryan Kwanten. [9]

Theatre

In 2008, Walshe-Howling appeared in the Bell Shakespeare production of Pericles, Prince of Tyre . He also went back to his theatre roots with a lead role as Neil in B Sharp production of A View of Concrete. [7] [9]

His other theatre credits include Danny and the Deep Blue Sea , Mojo , Crave , Sam Shepard’s Fool for Love and Brendan Cowell’s Melbourne production of Men. In 2015 he performed in the Black Swan Theatre Company production of David Mamet's Glengarry Glen Ross . In 2019 he appeared as Marco in Melbourne Theatre Company’s production of Arthur Miller’s A View from the Bridge . [9]

Filmmaker

Walshe-Howling is also an accomplished filmmaker. He made his debut with his 2007 short film The Bloody Sweet. [18] After submitting the film to Flickerfest, it made the Australian content section of the competition. A few months later, he was approached to present Flickerfest on Extra, a tv show on Movie Extra, which he went on to host for two years. [1]

His 2012 short film Suspended, which he wrote, produced and directed, screened in official competition at Flickerfest, the 2012 Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland, [18] the 2012 Nashville Film Festival, [9] the 2012 St Kilda Short Film Festival, [19] the 2013 Canberra Short Film Festival, Slamdance Film Festival and Cannes Cinephiles. [9]

In 2015, his short film MESSiAH was one of four winners of the third annual Lexus Short Film Competition, in California. [18] The win enabled him to collaborate with The Weinstein Company and the film then premiered at the Sydney Film Festival. [6]

His 2016 short film Unspoken, which he wrote and directed, was awarded Best Short CinefestOZ in 2024, before taking out the International Grand Prize at the 2025 Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival, France’s second-largest film festival after Cannes. [18]

He also completed a Director’s Attachment with Peter Andrikidis on Screentime's 2018 miniseries Underbelly Files: Chopper . [9]

Recognition and awards

YearTitleAwardCategoryResult
2001 The Secret Life of Us (episode: "State of Limbo") AFI Awards Best Actor in a Guest Role in a Television Drama SeriesNominated [8]
2008 Underbelly (episode: 'Wise Monkeys") AFI Awards Best Supporting or Guest Actor in a Drama SeriesWon [20] [10]
2009 Underbelly Logie Awards Silver Logie for Most Outstanding Actor Nominated [10]
2009Damian Walshe-Howling Cleo Bachelor of the YearNominated [1]
2010 The Reef A Night of Horror International Film Festival Best ActorWon [21]
2012Suspended Locarno Film Festival Golden Pardino - Leopards of Tomorrow AwardNominated [18]
2013 Canberra Short Film Festival Festival Prize for Best FilmNominated
2014 The Time of Our Lives Equity Ensemble Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble Series in a Drama SeriesNominated [22]
2015MESSiAHLexus Short Film CompetitionWon [23]
2024Unspoken CinefestOZ Best ShortWon [18]
2025 Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival International Grand PrizeWon [18]

Personal life

Walshe-Howling said in 2010, that he had been single for many years. [1]

When it was announced that the first series of Underbelly was banned (for legal reasons) in Melbourne the day before it was due to go to air, Walshe-Howling moved to Sydney to maximise his work opportunities. [1]

While on the set of 2010 film The Reef , he stood on a venomous stonefish, known to be fatal to humans. Production was shut down for 24 hours, while he was in hospital. [14]

An extra, who appeared in 2012 miniseries Bikie Wars: Brothers in Arms , Rebecca Wilson, launched a sexual harassment suit against Walshe-Howling, alleging he "forcibly kissed" her during filming in 2011. After a preliminary hearing in 2019, the parties reached an out-of-court settlement and proceedings were dismissed. [24] [25]

Walshe-Howling taught an advanced acting course at Brave Studios at the Cotton Mills in Footscray, Melbourne. [5]

Filmography

Film

As actor

YearTitleRoleNotes
1999 A Wreck A Tangle Benjamin
2001 He Died with a Felafel in His Hand Milo
2003 Ned Kelly Glenrowan policeman
2004 Josh Jarman Fringe theatre actor
2005The Umbrella MenJohnShort film
RuptureThe ManShort film
2006Three Months at SeaJulianShort film
Teenage LustTomShort film
Kenny Crazy man in toilet
Macbeth Ross
InsigniaPaul AndrewsShort film
2008Crushed
2010The ClearingAdamShort film
The Reef [26] Luke
2011MonkeysFriend 2Short film
Post Apocalyptic ManShadeShort film
2012Summer SuitDadShort film
2013 Mystery Road Wayne Silverman
Around the Block Brent Graham
2017Goodnight SweetheartTysonShort film
2018House PartyKnivesShort film
Desert DashIvanShort film
2020 2067 Billy Mitchell
2022DarklandsJohn Kolt

As director / producer / writer

YearTitleCredited asNotes
DirectorProducerWriterEditor
2007The Bloody Sweet HitYesNoYesNoShort film
2009Dog MeatNoNoNoYesShort film
2012SuspendedYesCo-producerYesNoShort film
2016MessiahYesNoYesNoShort film
2016UnspokenYesYesYesYesShort film [18]
2025A Good BoyNoPre/post-production consultantNoNoShort film

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1990 More Winners Reg Sanders1 episode
1993–1994 Neighbours Troy Duncan7 episodes
1994–1998; 2006 Blue Heelers Constable Adam Cooper Main role (seasons 1–5)
guest role (season 13)
178 episodes
1995 Sky Trackers Hoon1 episode
2000 Halifax f.p. Scott BrennanSeason 5, episode 1: "A Person of Interest"
2001 Love Is a Four Letter Word Dean Masselos4 episodes
Saturn's ReturnDimiShort TV film
The Secret Life of Us Mac7 episodes
2002 Marshall Law Jeffrey Mason1 episode
2003 Stingers Dave Williams1 episode
2005Heartbreak TourDannyShort TV film
LifeJoey CardamoneTV film
2007 Wilfred Keith1 episode
All Saints Jacob Shipper1 episode
2007–2008 Satisfaction Gino2 episodes
2008 Underbelly Andrew 'Benji' Veniamin 6 episodes
2008–2011 Crash Investigation Unit Narrator
2009 Whatever Happened to That Guy? Jarred1 episode
Rescue: Special Ops Nick1 episode
East West 101 Tony Caruso1 episode
2009–2010Flickerfest on EXTRANarrator
2011 Panic at Rock Island [27] Rufus MitchellTV film
Terra Nova Carter8 episodes
2012 Bikie Wars: Brothers in Arms Mario 'Chopper' CianterMiniseries (main role)
Agony Uncles Himself6 episodes
2013 The Time of Our Lives Ewan4 episodes
2014–2017 Janet King Owen Mitchell24 episodes (main role) [28]
2014 Old School Vince Pelagatti7 episodes [29]
2017 Blue Murder: Killer Cop Alan AbrahamsMiniseries, 1 episode
2018 Wrong Kind of Black KevinWeb series, 4 episodes (main role)
Bite Club Dr. Kristof Olsen8 episodes (main role) [30]
Titans Graham Norris1 episode
2019 Blue Water Empire Wing Commander Donald Thompson Docudrama [31]
WelfareJackson SpencerWeb series, 1 episode
Buying Blind Narrator6 episodes [32]
2021 Jack Irish Daryl Riley1 episode
2023 Last King of the Cross Joey Romano7 episodes [33]
2024Til You Make ItFinn1 episode
Thou Shalt Not Steal Spider1 episode [34]

Theatre

YearTitleRoleNotes
1993 Accidental Death of an Anarchist Deakin University, Melbourne
1996 Fool For Love Carlton Courthouse, Melbourne with Hoy Polloy Theatre
2001 Crave Belvoir St Theatre, Sydney
2003Slide Night La Mama, Melbourne
Mojo The Store Room, Melbourne
2008 Pericles, Prince of Tyre Bell Shakespeare [7]
A View of ConcreteNeil Belvoir St Theatre, Sydney [35]
Danny and the Deep Blue Sea [8]
2015 Glengarry Glen Ross Ricky RomaHeath Ledger Theatre, Perth with Black Swan Theatre Company
2019 A View from the Bridge Marco Southbank Theatre, Melbourne with MTC
MenMelbourne [8]
2024Gluttony: The PlayPaul Hotel Windsor, Melbourne with Red Stitch Actors Theatre [12]

[36]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Damian Walshe-Howling". www.thebeast.com.au. 15 December 2010.
  2. "From the floor to the big screen: Damian Walshe-Howling". www.segmento.com.au.
  3. "Damian Walshe-Howling Scene Study Intensive". Brave Studios.
  4. "Glengarry Glen Ross – Damian Walshe-Howling". www.xpressmag.com.au. 13 May 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Acting up with Damian Walshe-Howling". www.wildrhinoshoes.com.au. 16 October 2020.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Film Prize Jury 2016 – Damian Walshe-Howling". CinefestOZ .
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Damian Walshe-Howling: Agony Uncles". ABC TV . Australia. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "The Uncles – Damian Walshe-Howling". www.abc.net.au .
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Damian Walshe-Howling". www.bravestudios.com.au. 15 January 2013.
  10. 1 2 3 4 "Friday On My Mind – Damian Walshe-Howling Actor, Writer, Director". www.sandrasdraulig.com. 24 September 2012.
  11. "Damian Walshe-Howling to drive crash". Archived from the original on 11 May 2010. Retrieved 19 April 2010.
  12. 1 2 3 4 "Gluttony: The Play". www.gluttonytheplay.com. 22 August 2024.
  13. "Janet King". Screentime . 2014.
  14. 1 2 "And Action!" (PDF). www.thecelebritywhisperer.com.au.
  15. Bennett, Sally (4 March 2009). "Underbelly star Damian Walshe-Howling in Point Break 2". Herald Sun . Archived from the original on 9 August 2011. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
  16. Trailer for Latest Killer Shark Flick, The Reef Surfaces
  17. "2067". www.australiancinema.info. 29 November 2020.
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Damian Walshe-Howling's 'Unspoken' wins international prize at Clermont-Ferrand as series adaptation moves forward". IF Magazine . 11 February 2025.
  19. "Suspended". Screen Australia .
  20. "ABC comedies scoop prizes at AFI Awards". ABC News . 7 December 2008. Archived from the original on 18 July 2012.
  21. "2011 Feature Film Winners". www.anightofhorror.com.
  22. "Awards for casts of Redfern Now, Top of the Lake, Upper Middle Bogan". IF Magazine . 30 April 2014.
  23. "Lexus reveals winners of the third Lexus short films series at Napa Valley film festival". www.newsroom.lexus.eu. 16 November 2015.
  24. "Sexual harassment suit against 'Underbelly' actor settled out of court". Brisbane Times . 16 March 2020.
  25. "Bikie Wars actor Damian Walshe-Howling accused of unlawful discrimination against female extra". www.news.com.au. 4 October 2019.
  26. "Movie: The Reef". TV Tonight . 15 April 2014.
  27. "Panic at Rock Island cast announced". TV Tonight . 9 August 2010.
  28. Knox, David (22 January 2013). "Cast confirmed for ABC's Janet King". TV Tonight .
  29. Knox, David (29 May 2014). "Old School: May 30". TV Tonight .
  30. Knox, David (7 December 2017). "Filming wraps on Bite Club". TV Tonight .
  31. Knox, David (24 August 2016). "Casting announced for Blue Water Empire". TV Tonight .
  32. Knox, David (16 May 2018). "Airdate: Buying Blind". TV Tonight .
  33. Knox, David (8 May 2022). "Production underway on Last King of the Cross". TV Tonight .
  34. Knox, David (14 September 2023). "Cameras roll on Stan drama Thou Shalt Not Steal". TV Tonight .
  35. "A View Of Concrete". www.sydneyartsguide.com.au. 15 November 2008.
  36. "Damian Walshe-Howling theatre credits". AusStage .