Sullivan Stapleton

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Sullivan Stapleton
Sullivan Stapleton by Gage Skidmore.jpg
Stapleton in 2013
Born (1977-06-14) 14 June 1977 (age 47) [1]
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
OccupationActor
Years active1994–present
Known forKurt Weller in Blindspot

Sullivan Stapleton (born 14 June 1977) [1] is an Australian actor who is best known for his roles in the television series The Secret Life of Us , Strike Back and Animal Kingdom . He also starred in the NBC crime drama Blindspot .

Contents

Stapleton played the lead role, Greek leader Themistocles, in the film 300: Rise of an Empire (2014). [2] In 2013, he was honoured with a Breakthrough Award at an exclusive Australians in Film Benefit Dinner held in Los Angeles. [3]

Early life

Stapleton was born in Melbourne, Victoria. [4] He was eight years old when he and his younger sister, actress Jacinta Stapleton, six at the time, joined an acting and modelling agency. The idea first came to their aunt who signed her kids with the agency. She then asked her nephew and nieces if they would like to join and their mother signed them in. Stapleton's younger brother Joshua also launched into acting in early childhood; as well as acting, he pursued talents in dance and musical theatre. [5] [6]

Stapleton's picture caught the attention of a director who invited him to be in his short film (about high school dropouts at a party where girls were dying, without the graphic violence). Pleased by his performance, the director said he was gifted and encouraged him to pursue acting. [6]

Stapleton received training at Melbourne's St. Martin's Theatre. He studied drama and theatre at Sandringham Secondary College (in Sandringham, Victoria, Australia). [7]

Career

Stapleton launched his career in Australia. [7] He got his actors' union card at the age of 9 and at 11 he started working in ads. [8] Stapleton's first onscreen acting performance was in the 1994 Australian TV-movie Baby Bath Massacre as Adrian. [7] [9] Between acting jobs, Stapleton did several types of work: modeling, cleaning animal cages in a pet shop, and working as a grip in many films and TV productions. In 1995, Sullivan appeared in Blue Heelers for one episode, and again in 2003 for 3 episodes. ( The Elephant Princess , Rush , Tangle ) [8] in front and behind the camera, working on building sites, and assisting carpenters. [6] [7] [8] [10] [11]

Before landing a role as Josh Hughes in Australian soap opera Neighbours in 1998, he appeared in a string of little-seen features and homegrown dramas. [9] Other notable roles include Justin Davies in the Australian televised serial The Secret Life of Us (between 2003 and 2005), [12] Fearless in the motion picture December Boys (released in 2007), special agent Wilkins in the mainstream feature, The Condemned (an American action film distributed in 2007). [13] But it was with Stapleton's performance in the Academy Award-nominated film Animal Kingdom , which premiered at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival, that he made an international breakthrough. [6] [9] [12]

When Animal Kingdom won the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival interest in him sparked on two continents [8] and his career has taken him across the globe. [10] He made his second appearance in Underbelly , an Australian true crime drama television series, this time as the lead character, Colin McLaren in Underbelly Files: Infiltration . This was an endurance test for Stapleton and the first challenging shoot of his career. [8] Previously he played Pat Barbaro in Underbelly (episode Suffer the Children) in 2008. [8] [10]

In early 2014, Stapleton was in Thailand for the filming of the TV series Strike Back. In February, on a night out in Bangkok after work, he fell off a tuk-tuk and suffered a head injury that left him in a coma. [14] He was resuscitated by former UFC Middleweight Champion Michael Bisping, with whom he had been spending his night out. [15] Shooting for the show was paused for six months to allow his full recovery. Airing of the fifth season was also pushed to 2015. [16] [17]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1996 River Street Chris
1998 Amy Wayne Lassiter
2000Bored OlivesDom
2003 Darkness Falls Officer Matt Henry
2004 Everything Goes JackShort movie
2007 The Condemned Special Agent Brad Wilkins
2007The Bloody Sweet HitCarlShort film
2007 December Boys Fearless
2010 Animal Kingdom Craig CodyNominated—AACTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role
2010Centre PlaceJames Ballintyne
2011 The Hunter Doug
2013 Gangster Squad Jack Whalen
2014 300: Rise of an Empire Themistocles
2014 Kill Me Three Times Nathan Webb
2014 Cut Snake PommieNominated—AACTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role
Nominated—Australian Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor
Nominated—FCCA Award for Best Actor
2017 Renegades Matt Barnes [18]
2019 Ride Like a Girl Darren Weir
2020 A Sunburnt Christmas Dingo

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1994 Baby Bath Massacre AdrianTelevision film
1995, 2003 Blue Heelers Ian Shannon, Gethin Fox, Anthony HoodEpisodes: "Second Innings" (as Ian Shannon); "Father's Day: Part 1&2" (as Gethin Fox); "Victims" (as Anthony Hood)
1997 Good Guys Bad Guys Paul MorelloEpisode: "A Bilby in Rat's Clothing"
1998 Raw FM BuckyEpisode: "Raw'n'Sore"
1998 Neighbours Josh HughesRecurring role; 10 episodes
1998The Genie from Down Under 2Surfer #2Episode: "The Cold Shoulder"
1998 Halifax f.p. HamishEpisode: "Afraid of the Dark"
1997–1998 State Coroner 'Bullbar' Benson/Darren PykeEpisodes: "Sunday in the Country" (as 'Bullbar' Benson), "Final Approach" (as Darren Pyke)
1999 Witch Hunt Craig ThomasTelevision film
1999Pigs BreakfastTelevision series
1999 Stingers Matt WilmottEpisode: "Dance With the Dragon"
2000 Something in the Air Wayne TaylorEpisodes: "The Best Man", "The Things We Do", "The Big Match", "Return of the Prodigal"
2000Green SailsInfanteTelevision film
2001 My Brother Jack Young JoeTelevision film
2002 MDA Ben QuiltyEpisodes: "Rites of Passage", "One Small Step"
2003–2005 The Secret Life of Us Justin DaviesMain role; 24 episodes
2005 Little Oberon MartinTelevision film
2006 McLeod's Daughters Drew CornwellEpisode: "Winners & Losers"
2007–2009 Satisfaction JoshRecurring role; 13 episodes
2008 Underbelly Pat BarbaroEpisode: "Suffer the Children"
2008 Canal Road Jack LoganEpisodes: "Episode 2", "Episode 5", "Episode 10"
2008 Rush YuriEpisode: "Episode 12"
2009 Carla Cametti PD Matt BrodieRecurring role; 6 episodes
2009 Sea Patrol Geoff KershawEpisode: "Guns"
2010The OddsWadeTV film
2010 Lowdown Oliver BarryEpisode: "Bonk Bonk, Who's There?"
2011 Underbelly Files: Infiltration Colin McLarenMain role; television film
2011–2018 Strike Back Sgt. Damien ScottMain role; 42 episodes
2015–2020 Blindspot Kurt WellerMain role; 100 episodes
2022 After the Verdict DanielMain role; 6 episodes

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References

  1. 1 2 "Facebook". Facebook. Retrieved 12 November 2015.
  2. ↑ Douglas, Edward (6 March 2014). "300: Rise of an Empire -2014". ComingSoon.net. Retrieved 12 November 2015.
  3. ↑ "'Next big thing' Sullivan Stapleton and Jacki Weaver to be honoured at Australians in Film reception". News.com.au. 28 August 2013. Retrieved 12 November 2015.
  4. ↑ "Jacinta Stapleton with mother Jackie and brother Sullivan at DECEMBER BOYS - Melbourne Premiere photos by". Titomedia.com. Retrieved 12 November 2015.
  5. ↑ "Jacinta Stapleton article: She'll Never Eat a Custard Pie Again". Ramsay-street.co.uk. 19 June 1999. Retrieved 12 November 2015.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Sullivan Stapleton: Strike Back features lots and lots of flesh | Metro News". Metro.co.uk. 12 August 2011. Retrieved 12 November 2015.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "Sullivan Stapleton Biography. ". TV Guide . CBS Interactive Inc. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Enker, Debi (10 February 2011). "How a little LA interest goes a long way". The Sydney Morning Herald . Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  9. 1 2 3 "Sullivan Stapleton Biography". Yahoo! Movies . Yahoo!. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  10. 1 2 3 Groves, Don (5 November 2012). "Stapleton breaks out after Animal Kingdom". Special Broadcasting Service . Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  11. ↑ Dennehy, Luke (18 September 2011). "A chance to build his career". Herald Sun . Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  12. 1 2 "Sullivan Stapleton | Biography and Filmography | 1977". Hollywood.com. 6 November 2015. Retrieved 12 November 2015.
  13. ↑ "Sullivan Stapleton Biography". Starpulse.com. Retrieved 12 November 2015.
  14. ↑ "'Strike Back' Alum Reveals Details Behind Final Season Delay: Sullivan Stapleton Was in a Coma". The Hollywood Reporter . 18 January 2016.
  15. ↑ Bisping, Michael (22 August 2019). Quitters Never Win: My Life in UFC. London: Ebury Press. ISBN   978-1529104448.
  16. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (26 February 2014). "Cinemax's 'Strike Back' To Go on Hiatus After Sullivan Stapleton Off-Set Injury". Deadline. Retrieved 12 November 2015.
  17. ↑ "Sullivan Stapleton fell from tuk-tuk in Thailand | Celebrity News | Showbiz & TV | Daily Express". Express.co.uk. 18 March 2014. Retrieved 12 November 2015.
  18. ↑ "Luc Besson Finds New Action Hero? EuropaCorp Sets Sullivan Stapleton For 'The Lake'". Deadline.com. 2 March 2015. Retrieved 12 November 2015.
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