Sharlto Copley

Last updated

Sharlto Copley
SharltoCopleyCCJuly09.jpg
Copley at the July 2009 San Diego Comic-Con International
Born (1973-11-27) 27 November 1973 (age 50)
Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
OccupationActor
Years active1996–present
Spouse
​
(m. 2016)​
Children1
Website sharltocopley.com

Sharlto Copley (born 27 November 1973) is a South African actor. His acting credits include roles in the Academy Award-nominated science fiction film District 9 , [1] the 2010 adaptation of The A-Team , the science fiction film Elysium , the science fiction horror film Europa Report and the dark fantasy adventure film Maleficent . He also played the title character in the science fiction film Chappie , Jimmy in the science fiction action film Hardcore Henry , and starred in two seasons as Christian Walker of the TV series Powers .

Contents

Copley is married to fellow South African actor and supermodel Tanit Phoenix. [2]

Early life

Sharlto Copley was born in Johannesburg and educated at St. Andrew's Preparatory School in Grahamstown and Redhill School in Morningside, Johannesburg. [3] His father is Dr. Bruce Copley, a former university professor. [3] [4] His brother, Donovan, [3] is the lead singer of the Cape Town band Hot Water. [5] [6] [7]

Career

Copley in October 2016 Sharlto Copely wit cast of Free Fire (29741517424) (cropped).jpg
Copley in October 2016

Shortly after leaving high school, Copley met Neill Blomkamp, who is six years his junior. Copley allowed Blomkamp to use computers at his production company to help the company pitch various projects and allow Blomkamp to pursue his passion and talent for 3D animation and design. [8]

In Blomkamp's District 9 (2009), Copley played the lead role of Wikus van der Merwe, an Afrikaner bureaucrat assigned to move a race of extraterrestrial creatures stranded on Earth. In the film, the aliens, popularly and derogatorily referred to as "prawns", must be moved from District 9, a military-guarded slum in Johannesburg, South Africa, to an internment camp outside the city. Copley improvised all of his dialogue. [9] At the 2009 IGN Summer Movie awards, Copley won Favorite Hero [10] and Best Performance. [11]

In 2010 Copley produced, wrote, and directed an insert for the South African Film and Television Awards called "Wikus and Charlize", featuring fellow South African star Charlize Theron. The clip features Copley as Wikus attempting to track down Charlize Theron in Hollywood to help him present the Award for Best Afrikaans Pop album. [12]

Copley then starred alongside Liam Neeson, Bradley Cooper, and Quinton "Rampage" Jackson in the feature film adaptation of The A-Team , [13] which was produced by Ridley Scott and Tony Scott. Copley used a Southern American dialect for his portrayal of A-Team member H. M. Murdock, and employed other dialects, including Scottish, English, Australian and Swahili, as part of the character's rapid-fire style. Dwight Schultz, who played Murdock in the original TV series, praised Copley's performance and said Copley was the only actor he knew of who was "true to his character." [14]

Copley guest-co-hosted WWE Raw on 7 June 2010, along with his A-Team co-stars Cooper and Jackson.

In 2013, Copley played fictional astronaut James Corrigan in Europa Report , the story of a crew of international astronauts sent on a private mission to Jupiter's fourth moon. The same year, Copley portrayed the villain Agent Kruger in Elysium , [15] a science fiction film written and directed by Blomkamp, starring Matt Damon and Jodie Foster. [16]

Copley played villain Adrian Pryce in Spike Lee's Oldboy , a remake of the 2003 South Korean film of the same name. [17] He also starred opposite Angelina Jolie in the 2014 Disney film Maleficent and played King Stefan, Princess Aurora's father. He also provided the voice, reference work, and interaction with the cast as Chappie, the titular character of the 2015 film Chappie , also directed by Neill Blomkamp. [18]

In 2015, Copley was announced to star as Christian Walker in the superhero TV series Powers . [19] He later provided the voiceover for the e-tron GT concept promotional video by Audi Sport GmbH. [20]

Also in 2015, Copley played the supporting character Jimmy in the film Hardcore Henry .

In March 2018, Copley starred in the crime comedy film Gringo as Mitch Rusk. [21] Copley portrayed the titular character of a biographical film about Ted Kaczynski titled Ted K . [22]

Personal life

Copley has been in a relationship with actress and supermodel Tanit Phoenix since January 2012. [23] They wed on 15 February 2016, in Cape Town, South Africa. [2] [24] The couple have a daughter together.

As of 2010, Copley resides in Cape Town and Los Angeles. [25] [ better source needed ]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleDirectorNotes
2006 Yellow Soldier Neill Blomkamp Short film
Alive in Joburg SniperShort film; also producer
2009 District 9 Wikus van der Merwe
2010Wikus and CharlizeHimselfShort film; also producer, writer and editor
The A-Team Captain H.M. "Howling Mad" Murdock Joe Carnahan
2013 Europa Report James Corrigan Sebastián Cordero
Elysium Agent M. KrugerNeill Blomkamp
Oldboy Adrian Pryce Spike Lee
Open Grave John Doe / Jonah Cooke Gonzalo López-Gallego
2014 Maleficent King Stefan Robert Stromberg
The Snow Queen 2: The Snow King OrmAleksey TsitsilinVoice; English dub
2015 Chappie Chappie / policeman (cameo) [26] Neill Blomkamp
2016 Hardcore Henry Jimmy Ilya Naishuller Also executive producer [27]
The Hollars Ron Hollar John Krasinski
Free Fire Vernon Ben Wheatley
2017 God: Serengeti GodNeill BlomkampShort film
2018 Gringo Mitch Rusk Nash Edgerton
God: City GodNeill BlomkampShort film
2020 The Last Days of American Crime William Sawyer Olivier Megaton
2021 Ted K Ted Kaczynski Tony Stone Also producer
Seal Team SwitchGreig Cameron & Kane CroudaceVoice
2022 Beast Martin Battles Baltasar Kormákur
2023 Boy Kills World Glen van der KoyMoritz Mohr
2024 Monkey Man Tiger Dev Patel
TBA Desert Warrior Rupert Wyatt Post-production

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2015–16 Powers Christian WalkerMain role; 20 episodes
2022 Russian Doll ChezRecurring role (season 2); 3 episodes
2024 Curb Your Enthusiasm Michael Fouchay(season 12); 2 episodes

Video games

YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
2016 Payday 2 JimmyVoice and face, reprising role from Hardcore Henry [28]

Web

YearTitleRoleNotes
2016 Rooster Teeth Shorts JimmyEpisode: "Hardcore Henry Meets Rooster Teeth"

Awards and nominations

YearFilmAwardCategoryResultRef.
2009 District 9 Chicago Film Critics Association Award Most Promising PerformerNominated [29]
IGN Movie Awards Favorite Summer HeroWon [30]
Golden Schmoes Awards Best Actor of the YearNominated [31]
Breakthrough Performance of the Year2nd place
2010 Empire Award Best Newcomer Nominated [32]
International Cinephile Society AwardBest ActorNominated [33]
MTV Movie Award Best Scared-As-S**t Performance Nominated [34]
Online Film & Television AssociationBest Breakthrough Performance - MaleNominated [35]
Online Film Critics Society Award Best Actor Nominated [36]
Scream Award Best Science Fiction ActorNominated [37]
Breakout Performance - MaleNominated
Teen Choice Award Choice Movie Actor - Sci-Fi Nominated [38]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sigourney Weaver</span> American actress (born 1949)

Susan Alexandra "Sigourney" Weaver is an American actress. A figure in science fiction and popular culture, she has received various accolades, including a British Academy Film Award, two Golden Globe Awards, and a Grammy Award, in addition to nominations for three Academy Awards, four Primetime Emmy Awards, and a Tony Award. In 2003, she was voted Number 20 in Channel 4's countdown of the 100 greatest movie stars of all time.

<i>Appleseed</i> (manga) Japanese manga series

Appleseed is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Masamune Shirow. The series follows the adventures of ESWAT members Deunan Knute and Briareos Hecatonchires in Olympus. Like much of Shirow's work, Appleseed merges elements of the cyberpunk and mecha genres with politics, philosophy, and sociology. The series spans four volumes, released between 1985 and 1989. It has been adapted into an original video animation, three feature films, a 13-episode TV series, and two video games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Simon Kinberg</span> American screenwriter

Simon David Kinberg is a British-born American filmmaker. He wrote or produced a number of films in the 20th Century Fox X-Men film franchise, and has also written such films as Mr. & Mrs. Smith and Sherlock Holmes. He has served as a producer on others including Cinderella and The Martian, the latter which was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture. His production company Genre Films had a first-look deal with 20th Century Fox. Kinberg made his directorial debut in the 2019 X-Men film Dark Phoenix from a script he also wrote.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neill Blomkamp</span> South African and Canadian filmmaker (born 1979)

Neill Blomkamp is a South African and Canadian film director, screenwriter and producer. He is known as the co-writer and director of the science fiction action film District 9 (2009), for which he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, and the director of the dystopian science fiction action film Elysium (2013), which garnered moderately positive reviews. He also directed the science fiction action film Chappie (2015) and the sports drama film Gran Turismo (2023).

<i>The A-Team</i> (film) 2010 American action thriller film by Joe Carnahan

The A-Team is a 2010 American action comedy film based on the 1980s television series of the same name created by Frank Lupo and Stephen J. Cannell. Directed by Joe Carnahan and written by Carnahan, Brian Bloom, and Skip Woods, the film stars Liam Neeson, Bradley Cooper, Jessica Biel, Quinton Jackson, Sharlto Copley, and Patrick Wilson. The film tells the story of a Special Forces team who, imprisoned for a crime they did not commit, escapes and sets out to clear their names. The film was produced by Cannell, Tony Scott, and his brother Ridley Scott.

Chappie may refer to:

<i>District 9</i> 2009 science fiction film by Neill Blomkamp

District 9 is a 2009 science fiction action film directed by Neill Blomkamp in his feature film debut, written by Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell, and produced by Peter Jackson and Carolynne Cunningham. It is a co-production of New Zealand, the United States, and South Africa. The film stars Sharlto Copley, Jason Cope, and David James, and was adapted from Blomkamp's 2006 short film Alive in Joburg.

Jason Cope is a South African actor. He starred and played multiple roles in the 2009 Academy Award-nominated science fiction film District 9.

The 13th Online Film Critics Society Awards, honoring the best in film for 2009, were announced on 5 January 2010.

Simon Hansen is a South African filmmaker who has been active in the film and entertainment industry since 1992. He is best known for producing Alive in Joburg, the film on which District 9 is based.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Terri Tatchell</span> Canadian screenwriter (born 1978)

Terri Tatchell is a Canadian screenwriter, best known for co-writing the screenplay of District 9 and was nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay at the 82nd Academy Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Watkin Tudor Jones</span> South African singer/rapper

Watkin Tudor Jones, better known by his stage names Ninja and Max Normal, is a South African rapper, songwriter, singer, record producer, performance artist, and director. Jones found international success as a member of Die Antwoord, with Yolandi Visser. He was formerly a member of Max Normal and The Constructus Corporation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tanit Phoenix</span> South African actress and model

Tanit Phoenix is a South African fashion model, actress and makeup artist. She is known for her swimwear and lingerie photo shoots after appearing in a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue in 2003 and in GQ magazine and FHM in the same year.

<i>Elysium</i> (film) 2013 film by Neill Blomkamp

Elysium is a 2013 American dystopian sci-fi action film written, produced, and directed by Neill Blomkamp. It was Blomkamp's second directorial effort. The film stars Matt Damon and Jodie Foster alongside Sharlto Copley, Alice Braga, Diego Luna, Wagner Moura, and William Fichtner. The film takes place on both a ravaged Earth and a luxurious artificial world called Elysium. The film itself offers deliberate social commentary that explores political and sociological themes such as immigration, overpopulation, transhumanism, health care, worker exploitation, the justice system, technology, and social class issues.

<i>Chappie</i> (film) 2015 film directed by Neill Blomkamp

Chappie is a 2015 American dystopian science fiction action film directed by Neill Blomkamp and written by Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell. It stars Sharlto Copley, Dev Patel, Hugh Jackman, Ninja, Yolandi Visser, Jose Pablo Cantillo, and Sigourney Weaver. The film, set and shot in Johannesburg, is about an artificial general intelligence law enforcement robot captured and taught by gangsters, who nickname it Chappie.

Trent Opaloch is a Canadian cinematographer best known for his work with directors Neill Blomkamp and the Russo brothers. His major works include District 9 (2009), Elysium (2013), Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), Chappie (2015), Captain America: Civil War (2016), Avengers: Infinity War (2018) and Avengers: Endgame (2019). In 2010, Opaloch was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Cinematography for his work on District 9. In 2020, Opaloch starred in the music video for Pearl Jam's single "Retrograde".

<i>The Old Guard</i> (2020 film) 2020 American action-fantasy film

The Old Guard is a 2020 American superhero film directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood and written by Greg Rucka, based on his comic book of the same name. The film stars Charlize Theron, KiKi Layne, Matthias Schoenaerts, Marwan Kenzari, Luca Marinelli, Harry Melling, Veronica Ngo, and Chiwetel Ejiofor, and follows a team of immortal mercenaries on a revenge mission.

Eugene Khumbanyiwa is a Malawian South Africa-based stage, television, film and voice actor, popularly known for playing the role of Obesandjo in the 2009 Oscar nominated sci-fi hit District 9.

<i>Boy Kills World</i> 2023 film by Moritz Mohr

Boy Kills World is a 2023 action thriller film directed by Moritz Mohr in his feature directorial debut, from a screenplay by Tyler Burton Smith and Arend Remmers, and a story by Remmers and Mohr. Produced by Sam Raimi and Roy Lee, the film stars Bill Skarsgård, Jessica Rothe, Michelle Dockery, Famke Janssen, Sharlto Copley, Brett Gelman, Isaiah Mustafa and Andrew Koji. Filming took place in South Africa.

References

  1. ↑ "MTV Movie Awards Nominees Announced; New Category for Horror". Dreadcentral.com. 12 May 2010. Archived from the original on 22 July 2014. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
  2. 1 2 "Tanit and Sharlto: Happily Ever After - Grazia South Africa". Archived from the original on 2 June 2016. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 Marks, Lisa (26 July 2010). "Interview with A-Team star Sharlto Copley". The Scotsman. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 21 February 2011.
  4. ↑ "Bruce Copley – Holistic Learning Adds Value" Archived 27 September 2013 at the Wayback Machine SKF Sweden Evolution Business and Technology Magazine article, 7 June 2006
  5. ↑ Hotwater Archived 22 April 2013 at archive.today . Overtone.co.za (16 October 2008). Retrieved on 22 September 2013.
  6. ↑ Hotwater Official Site Archived 18 January 2018 at the Wayback Machine . Hotwater.co.za. Retrieved on 22 September 2013.
  7. ↑ Archived 10 December 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ↑ Sharlto and Neill sitdown interview Part 1 on YouTube
  9. ↑ "District 9 director Neill Blomkamp". A.V. Club. 12 August 2009. Archived from the original on 25 February 2020. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
  10. ↑ IGN Summer Movie Awards Favorite Hero. IGN Retrieved on 22 September 2013
  11. ↑ IGN Movies Best Performance of 2009. IGN Retrieved on 22 September 2013.
  12. ↑ "Wikus From District 9 Hunting Down a Different Beast – Charlize Theron!". DreadCentral. 5 September 2012. Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  13. ↑ The A-Team starring Liam Neeson, Bradley Cooper, Jessica Biel, Patrick Wilson, Sharlto Copley & Quinton Rampage Jackson. Zimbio.com (3 December 2010)
  14. ↑ Schultz, Dwight (22 June 2010). "Dwight's opinion about the A-team movie". Archived from the original on 27 July 2010. Retrieved 10 August 2010.
  15. ↑ Child, Ben (13 December 2010). "Matt Damon in talks to star in Neill Blomkamp's Elysium". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 22 March 2017. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
  16. ↑ Rosenberg, Adam (6 January 2010). "'District 9' Director Neill Blomkamp Drops A Few Hints About His Next Project". MTV. Archived from the original on 25 February 2020. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
  17. ↑ Wales, George. (2 May 2012) Sharlto Copley will play Oldboy villain Archived 8 November 2014 at the Wayback Machine . Totalfilm.com. Retrieved on 22 September 2013.
  18. ↑ Frei, Vincent (18 March 2015). "CHAPPIE: Chris Harvey - VFX Supervisor - Image Engine". The Art of VFX (in French). Archived from the original on 14 February 2021. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  19. ↑ "Sharlto Copley Set As Lead Christian Walker In 'Powers', Michelle Forbes Is Retro Girl". Deadline. 18 August 2014. Archived from the original on 22 October 2021. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
  20. ↑ "The Power of a Sports Car | Audi Sport". Audi Sport Official on YouTube .[ dead YouTube link ]
  21. ↑ Tartaglione, Nancy (11 May 2016). "STX Partners With Amazon On Nash Edgerton Action Comedy; Will Sell In Cannes". Deadline Hollywood . Penske Business Media. Archived from the original on 17 April 2021. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  22. ↑ "Sharlto Copley on 'Gringo' and Why 'The A-Team' Tank Sequence Is Possible - Collider". Collider . Archived from the original on 10 April 2021. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  23. ↑ Tanit, A-Team star set up home in US – Independent on Saturday |News Archived 9 December 2015 at the Wayback Machine . IOL.co.za (1 July 2013). Retrieved on 22 September 2013.
  24. ↑ "Exciting news for Sharlto Copley and Tanit Phoenix!". Archived from the original on 3 August 2017. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  25. ↑ Edmunds, Gayle (20 August 2010). "A-Team's Sharlto Copley soars". City Press. Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 21 February 2011.
  26. ↑ "Chappie cameo surprise!". Facebook.
  27. ↑ "Hardcore Henry (2016)". British Film Institute . Archived from the original on 27 September 2020. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  28. ↑ Overkill Software (24 March 2016). "PAYDAY 2: Hardcore Henry Packs Trailer". Archived from the original on 20 December 2021 – via YouTube.
  29. ↑ "Christoph Waltz + Mo'Nique: Critics Awards' Clean Sweep". Archived from the original on 11 March 2021. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  30. ↑ "Favorite Hero - Summer Movie Awards 2009 Wiki Guide - IGN". 27 January 2013. Archived from the original on 17 February 2022. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  31. ↑ "Golden Schmoes Winners and Nominees (2009)". Archived from the original on 11 November 2019. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  32. ↑ "Best Newcomer". Archived from the original on 30 October 2013. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  33. ↑ "2010 ICS Award Nominees - International Cinephile Society". 14 June 2010. Archived from the original on 19 December 2014. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  34. ↑ "Amanda Seyfried Leads Best Scared-As-Sh-- Nominees at Movie Awards - MTV". MTV . Archived from the original on 16 February 2022. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  35. ↑ "Precursor: Online Film & Television Association Nominations". 31 January 2010. Archived from the original on 16 February 2022. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  36. ↑ "2009 Online Film Critics Society Award nominees". 31 December 2009. Archived from the original on 6 January 2010. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  37. ↑ "2010 Scream Award Nominations - Screen Rant". Screen Rant . 2 September 2010. Archived from the original on 27 December 2016. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  38. ↑ "Teen Choice Awards 2010: First Round Of Nominees Announced". Archived from the original on 16 June 2010. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.