Russell Dykstra

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Russell Dykstra
The Addams Family Rehearsal (8472723828).jpg
Dykstra in 2013, at the Addams Family rehearsal
Born (1966-12-31) 31 December 1966 (age 57)
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
OccupationActor

Russell Dykstra (born 31 December 1966) is an Australian actor of screen, stage and TV.

Contents

Early life

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

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) , ABC TV’s 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 Rake, Series 4. [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 is set to appear in the upcoming ABC production titled Ladies in Black. [29]

Filmography

Film

TitleYearRoleNotes
1998 Soft Fruit BoFeature film
AFI Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role (1999)
Film Critics’ Circle Award nomination (1999)
1999 Bondi Banquet RufusFilm
2000Beach StoryFrankShort film
2001 Lantana MichaelFeature film
2001 Garage Days BrunoFeature film
2001VersusJayShort film
2002 BlackJack: Murder Archive BuchananTV film
2002Stuffed BunnyManShort film
2002 Ned Kelly Wild WrightFeature film
2002 The Wannabes MarcusFeature film
2004Amorality TaleBrian ChappellShort film
2005 BlackJack: Ace Point Game BuchananTV film
2005The Water DiaryRogShort film
2006 Romulus, My Father MitruFeature film
AFI Award Nomination for Best Supporting Actor (2007)
2007 Clubland ShaneFeature film
2007 BlackJack: Ghosts BuchananTV film
2007 Hey Hey It's Esther Blueburger Osmond BlueburgerFeature film
2007 The View from Greenhaven TimFeature film
2008 Scorched KeithTV film
2009NightwalkingVoicesShort film
2011 Oranges and Sunshine DanFeature film
2013MaidenMickShort film
2018 Slam Paul KoustakidisFilm

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1996 Medivac FitzpatrickTV series
2001 Water Rats TinoTV series
2001 Grass Roots Bill HooksTV series
2002 BackBerner Mr Dennis McCauleyTV series
2003 White Collar Blue Dale TrindleTV series
2003 All Saints Grant JenkinsTV series
2003 Loot Bruno BatelliTV series
2007The Adventures of Charlotte and HenryHenry's Dad / Tough GuyTV series
2009 My Place Mr. MerryTV series
2009 Spirited AdamTV series, Season 1
2010-16 Rake Barney MeagherTV series,
Seasons 1-4
Equity Award for Most Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
2021Fires, ABC TVDavid JasicTV mini series
2022 Irreverent LesterTV series
2023 Last King of the Cross BartucciTV series
2023In LimboFrankTV miniseries

Awards and nominations

AwardYearCategoryResultWork
Victorian Green Room Award1998Best Male ActorNominatedChildren of the Devil
Brisbane Theatre Critics’ Matilda Award1998Best Male ActorWonChildren of the Devil
Film Critics’ Circle Award 1999Best Male ActorNominated Soft Fruit
Australian Film Institute Award (AFI) 1999Best Actor in a Leading RoleWon Soft Fruit
Helpmann Award 2006Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a PlayWonStuff Happens
Australian Film Institute Award (AFI) 2007Best Supporting ActorNominatedRomulus, My Father (Film)
Sydney Theatre Critics Circle Award2007Best Actor in a Supporting RoleWonToy Symphony
Helpmann Award 2008Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a PlayWonToy Symphony
Equity Award 2011Most Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama SeriesWon RAKE Series 1
USQ Alumnus Awards2013Outstanding Alumnus of the YearWonOutstanding Achievement
Helpmann Award 2013Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a MusicalWon The Addams Family
Sydney Theatre Critics Circle Award2013Best Performance by an Actor in a MusicalNominated The Lion King
Canberra Film Festival Award2013Best PerformanceWonMaiden
Helpmann Award2014Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a MusicalNominated The Lion King
Equity Award2015Most Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama SeriesWon RAKE Series 3
Australian Film Institute Award (AFI) 2016Best Supporting Actor in a Television DramaNominated RAKE Series 4

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