Jonathan Biggins

Last updated

Jonathan Biggins

OAM
Born
Jonathan Martin Biggins

(1960-09-14) 14 September 1960 (age 63)
Newcastle, Australia
Education Newcastle Boys High School
Alma mater University of Newcastle
Occupations
  • Actor
  • writer
  • singer
  • director
  • comedian
Spouse Elaine Smith
Children2

Jonathan Martin Biggins OAM (born 14 September 1960) is an Australian actor, singer, writer, director and comedian. He has appeared on film, stage and television as well as in satirical sketch comedy television programmes.

Contents

Early life

Biggins was born in Newcastle, New South Wales, and attended Newcastle Boys' High School in the mid-1970s. He said that it was "a fairly intimidating place to be if you weren't great at sports or maths. However once [I] joined the debating team, and went on to win the state finals, things started looking up." [1]

Career

Film

Biggins' film appearances include Thank God He Met Lizzie , Gettin' Square and A Few Best Men .

Television

His television appearances include The Dingo Principle and Three Men and a Baby Grand, satirical sketch television comedy programmes (for which he was a writer/performer with Phillip Scott and Drew Forsythe).

Jonathan has been seen on TV as a recurring guest panellist on Spicks and Specks . [2]

Hosting

Biggins has hosted the afternoon radio shift for Sydney's 702.

He presented the art panel programme Critical Mass. He hosted the New Year's Eve Gala Concert in 2010 at the Sydney Opera House, and An Audience with Stephen Sondheim (nominated for a 2008 Helpmann Award for Best Special event).

He has hosted the AFI Awards, APRA Awards, Helpmann Awards, Parramatta Riverside's 20th Anniversary Gala, national and international conferences for AMP. He has also made appearances for KPMG, ICI, Commonwealth Bank, ABN-AMRO and the Art Gallery of NSW. [3]

Stage

Biggins' has performed in numerous stage productions, as actor, singer, comedian and MC.

Theatre credits include The Importance of Being Earnest (as John Worthing, replacing Geoffrey Rush), A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and Orpheus in the Underworld . He starred as Peter Sellers in Ying Tong, a play about Spike Milligan and The Goons, which was an Australian-wide hit. He has appeared on stage consistently over the years with the Wharf Revue.

He also performed in the Gilbert and Sullivan operas Ruddigore and The Mikado . [4]

Writing/directing

Biggins has directed the Wharf Revue since 2000. In 2004 Jonathan co-wrote and directed The Republic of Myopia for Sydney Theatre Company. He directed the Australian production of Avenue Q (2009–10). He also co-wrote, with Phillip Scott, some of the dialogue for The Man from Snowy River: Arena Spectacular , a stage musical based on the poem "The Man from Snowy River".

He has written for the Sydney Morning Herald weekly magazine Good Weekend ., [5] Australian Wine Selector and is the author of four books, including The 700 Habits of Highly Ineffective People. [6]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleType
1987 Those Dear Departed Sergeant SteveFeature film
1987 I've Come About the Suicide Bell-hopTV movie
1988 The Clean Machine Bank ClerkTV movie
1991 The Private War of Lucinda Smith Private MurryTV movie
1992 The Importance of Being Earnest John WorthingTV movie
1996 The Munsters' Scary Little Christmas Spooky Onlooker #2TV movie
1997 Thank God He Met Lizzie DarrenFeature film
2003 Gettin' Square Richard Dent QCFeature film
2010Odd SocksNarratorShort film
2011The White GuardThe HetmanFeature film
2011 A Few Best Men Jim RammeFeature film
2015 Manny Lewis Ray McKeeFeature film

Television

YearTitleRoleType
1985Green HillTV children's series
1986 The Lancaster Miller Affair HardcastleTV miniseries, 3 episodes
1986-87 A Country Practice Graham BiggsTV series, 8 episodes
1987 The Mike Walsh Show TV variety series
1987Pigs Will Fly
1987 Rafferty's Rules Angus MacLeanTV series, 1 episode
1987 The Dingo Principle Various charactersTV sketch series (also writer)
1989 Swap Shop TV children's series
1989 Bangkok Hilton O'KeefeTV miniseries, 1 episode
1989-90The Monkey or the Gun
1990The Party MachineVarious charactersTV series, 3 episodes (also writer)
1993ReviewReporter / PresenterTV series
1993-95World Series DebatingSelfTV series, 2 episodes
1990–92; 1995 The Investigators TV series
1994Three Men and a Baby GrandVarious charactersTV sketch series, 10 episodes (also writer)
1996-97 Good News Week GuestTV series, 2 episodes
1997 Fallen Angels BarristerTV episode
1999 Noah's Ark First PriestTV miniseries
1999-2000 AFI Awards HostTV special
2001 Flat Chat DuncanTV series, 1 episode
2003-04Critical MassHostTV series
2005-08 Spicks and Specks Guest panellistTV series, 4 episodes
2007 City Homicide James BradwellTV series, 1 episode
2009 My Place Race CallerTV series
2010 Rake MartinTV series, season 1, episode 6
2010New Year's Eve Gala Concert at the Sydney Opera House HostTV special
2011 The Jesters Rupert BaxterTV series, season 2, 1 episode
2011 At Home with Julia Paul Keating / Tony JonesTV series, 3 episodes
2012 Randling SelfTV series, 5 episodes
2017 Drop Dead Weird Harry StylesTV series, 1 episode
2020Back to the RaftersCharles WhitemanTV series
2023 The Messenger Father Terence O'ReillyTV miniseries, 5 episodes

[7]

Theatre

YearTitleRoleCompany / Venue
1969 Twelfth Night Hunter Valley Theatre Co
1974 Quality Street Young Peoples' Theatre, Hamilton
1974 The Beggar's Opera Newcastle
1976 Equus Griffith Duncan Theatre for Hunter Valley Theatre Co
1979FlexitimeNewcastle for Hunter Valley Theatre Co
1980 A Toast to Melba University of Newcastle
1980The Star Show: Tonite Heroes, Tomorrow ForgottenCivic Playhouse, Newcastle for Hunter Valley Theatre Co
1980 The Threepenny Opera Hunter Valley Theatre Co
1981 Treasure Island Fort Scratchley, Newcastle for Hunter Valley Theatre Co
1981 A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum Newcastle Civic Theatre for Hunter Valley Theatre Co
1981No Names ... No Pack DrillPlayhouse, Newcastle for Hunter Valley Theatre Co
1981 Hay Fever Playhouse, Newcastle for Hunter Valley Theatre Co
1981 The Playboy of the Western World Playhouse, Newcastle & Seymour Centre for Hunter Valley Theatre Co
1981 Habeus Corpus Playhouse, Newcastle for Hunter Valley Theatre Co
1981Essington Lewis: I Am WorkCivic Playhouse, Newcastle for Hunter Valley Theatre Co
1981Hamlet on IceFanny's Theatre Restaurant, Newcastle for Hunter Valley Theatre Co
1982 Tom Sawyer Hunter Valley Theatre Co
1982 West Side Story Hunter Valley Theatre Co
1982 Big River Singleton & Playhouse, Newcastle for Hunter Valley Theatre Co
1982 Macbeth Hunter Valley Theatre Co
1982Forget-Me-Not LanePlayhouse, Newcastle
1982 The Man from Mukinupin Playhouse, Newcastle for Hunter Valley Theatre Co
1982 Rookery Nook Playhouse, Newcastle for Hunter Valley Theatre Co
1982 The Venetian Twins Playhouse Theatre Co, Newcastle
1983In the Field Where They Buried Peter PanPlayhouse Theatre Co, Newcastle
1983MonstersplashCaptainInner City Theatre Co
1983 It's My Party! NeilInner City Theatre Co
1984Oz Duz NZ! - Bert and MaisyTom Stables Theatre
1985A Bed of Roses Stables Theatre
1985 Private Lives VictorPlayhouse, Newcastle for Hunter Valley Theatre Co
1985TommyVarious charactersNewcastle Panthers for Hunter Valley Theatre Co
1985 Blithe Spirit Civic Playhouse, Newcastle
1985-86Essington Lewis: I Am WorkVarious characters Stables Theatre & Playhouse, Adelaide for STCSA
1986 Pearls Before Swine Cubby Maisonette Belvoir St Theatre, Seymour Centre & Universal Theatre
1986The Last Wake at She-Oak CreekYoumg Chookie Greene / Jack Stables Theatre for Griffin Theatre Company
1986TarantaraVarious charactersQ Theatre Co
1988 Manning Clark's History of Australia: The Musical Various characters Princess Theatre (Melbourne)
1988-89Living in the Seventies Seymour Centre & Studio Theatre, Melbourne
1989 Summer Rain Clarrie Sydney Opera House for Sydney Theatre Company
1990 The Venetian Twins Lelio Queensland Theatre Company, University of Sydney & Playhouse, Melbourne
1991Three Men and a Baby GrandTilbury Hotel, Playhouse Newcastle, Fairfax Studio & Edinburgh Fringe Festival (also writer)
1992 The Importance of Being Earnest John Worthing Theatre Royal, Sydney & Melbourne Theatre Company
1992 The Barber of Seville Figaro Marian Street Theatre
1993Three Men and a Baby GrandSpace Cabaret, Adelaide
1993Three Men and a Baby Grand TooTilbury Hotel, Woolloomooloo
1993Comedy Festival Debate: Television is Bad for You Melbourne Athenaeum
1993Abbie and Lou, Norman and RoseNormanPlayhouse, Newcastle for Hunter Valley Theatre Co
1994 A Midsummer Night's Dream BottomPlayhouse, Newcastle for Hunter Valley Theatre Co
1995It's My Party (and I'll Die If I Want To)Undertaker Glen Street Theatre for Malcom Cooke & Associates
1995 How the Other Half Loves William Featherstone Marian Street Theatre
1995 Ruddigore Robin Oakapple Victorian State Opera at State Theatre, Melbourne
1996 Quartermaine's Terms Derek Meadle Marian Street Theatre
1996Tilbury Hotel 10th Anniversary GalaTilbury Hotel
1997-98Essington Lewis: I Am WorkVarious characters Newcastle Civic Theatre & Belvoir Street Theatre
1997-98Abroad with Two MenCDP Australian tour
1998-99 A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum HysteriumEssgee Productions Australian tour
1999 The Mikado Koko Festival Theatre, Adelaide
2000The Unofficial Visitors Guide to Australia Wharf Revue for Wharf 2 Theatre
2000The End of the Wharf As We Know It Wharf Revue for Sydney Theatre Company
2000Sunday in Iraq with George: A Shock 'n' Awe-full Show Wharf Revue at Wharf 2 Theatre
2001The Best Bits of That Broad and Those Men Glen Street Theatre
2001Free Petrol! Wharf Revue at Wharf 2 Theatre for Sydney Theatre Company
2001Free Petrol Too! Wharf Revue at Wharf 2 Theatre for Sydney Theatre Company
2002 Soulmates GregAustralian tour
2002Much Revue About Nothing Wharf Revue for Wharf 2 Theatre
2003Sunday in Iraq with George Wharf Revue for Sydney Theatre Company
2003 Orpheus in the Underworld John Styx (Singer) Opera Australia at State Theatre, Melbourne & Sydney Opera House
2004 The Mikado Koko State Opera of South Australia, Opera Queensland & Sydney Opera House
2004Fast and Loose Wharf Revue at Glen Street Theatre for Sydney Theatre Company
2005Concert for Tax Relief Wharf Revue at Wharf 2 Theatre
2005 Die Fledermaus Frosch Opera Australia
2005Stuff All Happens Wharf Revue Australian tour
2006Best We Forget Wharf Revue at Wharf 2 Theatre for Sydney Theatre Company [8]
2006Revue Sans Frontieres Paul Keating & various characters The Wharf Revue at Lennox Theatre, Parramatta, Wharf 2 Theatre & Adelaide Cabaret Festival
2007An Audience with Stephen Sondheim Host/MC Theatre Royal, Sydney
2007-08Ying Tong: A Walk With the Goons Peter Sellers Sydney Theatre Company Australian tour
2008Futures Summit Bell Shakespeare Company
2007-08Beware of the Dogma Paul Keating The Wharf Revue Australian tour [9]
2008Waiting for Garnaut Wharf Revue at Wharf 1 Theatre, Casula Powerhouse for Sydney Theatre Company
2009 Travesties Henry Carr Sydney Opera House
2009Christmas at the HouseHost/MC Sydney Opera House for Opera Australia
2009-10Pennies from Kevin Paul Keating / Gough Whitlam / Pope Ratzinger The Wharf Revue Australian tour [10]
2010 APRA Awards HostXYZ Networks
2010Not Quite Out of the Woods Tony Jones / Bob Brown Wharf Revue Sydney Theatre Company Australian tour
2011 The White Guard Herman / Cobbler Sydney Theatre
2011Debt Defying ActsLord Mayor Clover Moore & various characters Wharf Revue Australian tour
2011–13, 2015-16New Years' Eve Gala ConcertHost Opera Australia
2013Whoops!Sir Petulant Pyne Wharf Revue Australian tour
2014 The Happy Ending (Workshop) Opera Australia
2014 Helpmann Awards Co-host
2014Open for Business Paul Keating Wharf Revue Australian tour
2015Premier's Senior Week Gala ConcertVenables Creating Entertainment
2015Celebrating 15 Years Wharf Revue Australian tour
2016Back to Bite You Tony Abbott (Antonius Abbottus) / Donald Trump / Mathias Cormann Wharf Revue at Wharf 1 Theatre for Sydney Theatre Company
2016-20Great Opera HitsHost Opera Australia
2017The Patriotic Rag Donald Trump Wharf Revue at The Playhouse, Canberra for Sydney Theatre Company
2018The Wharf Revue 2018 Wharf Revue Australian tour
2019-20No Cabaret for Old Men Seymour Centre for Sydney International Cabaret Festival & Riverside Theatres Parramatta
2019 Krapp’s Last Tape Krapp Old Fitzroy Theatre for Red Line Productions [11]
2020Celebrating 15 Years Wharf Revue Online - Australia
2020Good Night and Good LuckCoronavirus Wharf Revue for Sydney Theatre Company
2020-21Keating: The Gospel According to Paul Paul Keating Sir Robert Helpmann Theatre, Dunstan Playhouse, Adelaide, Majestic Cinemas, NSW & Riverside Theatres Parramatta for Soft Tread Enterprises [12]
2022Can of Worms Donald Trump / Mark Latham Wharf Revue for Sydney Theatre Company Australian tour [13]
2022Looking for Albanese Jim Chalmers / The Grim Reaper / Clive Palmer / King Charles III / Paul Keating Wharf Revue at Seymour Centre [14]
2023Pride in Prejudice Wharf Revue at Seymour Centre [15]

[16] [17] [18]

Awards and nominations

YearNominated workAwardCategoryResult
2000Jonathan Biggins Mo Awards Male Comedy Performer of the Year [19] Won
2010 Avenue Q Helpmann AwardBest Direction of a MusicalWon
2021Jonathan BigginsMedal of the Order of Australia in the 2021 Queen's Birthday Honours Service to the performing arts through theatre [20] Won

Personal life

He is married to Australian actress Elaine Smith, best known as Daphne Clarke in the soap opera Neighbours . He and Smith have twin daughters born in February 2000. [21]

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References

  1. ↑ "Q&A. Panellist: Jonathan Biggins". Australian Broadcasting Commission. Retrieved 27 July 2011.
  2. ↑ "Jonathan Biggins".
  3. ↑ "Jonathan Biggins".
  4. ↑ https://www.ausstage.edu.au/pages/contributor/2452<
  5. ↑ https://www.ausstage.edu.au/pages/contributor/2452<
  6. ↑ "Jonathan Biggins".
  7. ↑ https://cdn.showcast.com.au/actor-pdfs/f6425b24-8c65-47ff-b7bd-72c200cc2e4d.pdf
  8. ↑ "Not enough fang to give this night the right bite". 20 June 2006.
  9. ↑ "Beware of the Dogma". 19 November 2007.
  10. ↑ https://www.australianstage.com.au/200911233017/reviews/sydney/pennies-from-kevin-%7C-the-wharf-revue.html
  11. ↑ "Krapp's Last Tape | Stage Noise - Diana Simmonds".
  12. ↑ "The Gospel According to Paul".
  13. ↑ "The Wharf Revue: CAN OF WORMS".
  14. ↑ "Theatre review: The Wharf Revue: Looking for Albanese, QPAC". 24 February 2023.
  15. ↑ "The Wharf Revue: Pride in Prejudice".
  16. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20050618231524/http://queenslandmusicfestival.com.au/01_cms/details.asp?k_id=143
  17. ↑ https://www.ausstage.edu.au/pages/contributor/2452
  18. ↑ https://cdn.showcast.com.au/actor-pdfs/f6425b24-8c65-47ff-b7bd-72c200cc2e4d.pdf
  19. ↑ "MO Award Winners". Mo Awards. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  20. ↑ "Queen's Birthday 2021 Honours – the full list". Sydney Morning Herald. Nine Entertainment Co. 13 June 2021. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  21. ↑ Suzy Freeman-Greene (24 October 2009). "Bit parts for parents". The Age . Fairfax Media . Retrieved 14 July 2013.
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