Richard Roxburgh

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Richard Roxburgh
Roxburgh in 2013
Born (1962-01-23) 23 January 1962 (age 62)
EducationAustralian National University (BEc)
National Institute of Dramatic Art (BFA)
Occupations
  • Actor
  • filmmaker
Years active1987–present
Spouse
(m. 2004)
Children3

Richard Roxburgh (born 23 January 1962)[1] is an Australian actor and filmmaker. He is the recipient of a number of accolades across film, television, and theatre, including four AACTA Awards (including AFI), three Logie Awards, and two Helpmann Awards.

He began his career working with the Sydney Theatre Company. He went on to appear in Australian and international productions such as Baz Luhrmann's films Moulin Rouge! (2001) and Elvis (2022), the ABC series Rake (2010–2018), and the action films Mission: Impossible 2 (2000), The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003), and Van Helsing (2004).

Early life

Roxburgh was born at the Mercy Hospital in Albury, New South Wales, to John (d. July 2011) and Mary Roxburgh; he is the youngest of six children. John was a successful accountant. Roxburgh played Willy Loman in the Albury High School production of Death of a Salesman in 1978.[citation needed]

Roxburgh studied economics at the Australian National University in Canberra,[2] where he resided at Garran Hall and graduated with a B.Ec. in 1984.[3][4] After graduating from ANU, he decided to become an actor and was admitted to the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) on his second audition attempt.[5]

Career

Roxburgh began working with the Sydney Theatre Company as soon as he graduated from NIDA.[6] He came to public attention for his portrayal of New South Wales Police Force detective Roger Rogerson in the 1995 television miniseries Blue Murder. Through the 1990s, he appeared in several Australian film and stage productions including a critically acclaimed turn as Hamlet alongside Geoffrey Rush, Jacqueline McKenzie and David Wenham in the 1994 Company B production at the Belvoir St Theatre in Sydney. In December 2007, he played the lead character, Roland Henning, who suffered writer's block in Michael Gow's play, Toy Symphony, at the Belvoir St Theatre, winning the 2008 Helpmann Award for best male actor in a play.

In 2000, Roxburgh appeared in the first of several international blockbuster films as the main villain's henchman Hugh Stamp in the John Woo-directed Mission: Impossible 2, which was filmed in Sydney. Also filmed in Sydney was Baz Luhrmann's Moulin Rouge! (2001), in which Roxburgh played the Duke of Monroth.

Roxburgh appeared as three iconic characters over the next three years: he played Sherlock Holmes in 2002's The Hound of the Baskervilles, Holmes's nemesis Professor Moriarty in 2003's The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen and Count Dracula in 2004's Van Helsing. He is one of only two actors to have played all three of these characters, the other being Orson Welles, who played them in separate radio programs.

Roxburgh directed his first film, Romulus, My Father starring Eric Bana, released in 2007. This film won the AFI Award in December 2007 and was nominated for several more. In 2008 and 2009, he played the lead role of Art Watkins in the ABC drama series East of Everything.[7]

In July 2010, Roxburgh played former Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke in a telemovie based on Hawke's life.[7] He reprised the role in the 2020 episode "Terra Nullius" of the Netflix series The Crown.[8]

In November 2010, Roxburgh co-created and began starring in the critically acclaimed ABC1 television comedy-drama series Rake as the brilliant but self-destructive Sydney criminal barrister Cleaver Greene, a role for which he won the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Award for Best Lead Actor in a Television Drama in 2012. He stars in Matching Jack, which was released in August 2010, and Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole, released in September 2010.

Returning to the stage, Roxburgh played Vanya opposite Cate Blanchett, Hugo Weaving and John Bell in Sydney Theatre Company's 2010 production of Anton Chekhov's Uncle Vanya.[9] In 2013, he again performed at the STC with Weaving as the protagonists in Samuel Beckett's play Waiting for Godot, Weaving as Vladimir and Roxburgh as Estragon.[10] In 2014, Roxburgh played the title role in Edmond Rostand's 1897 play Cyrano de Bergerac at the STC.[11] In 2015, Roxburgh appeared in Andrew Upton's adaptation of Chekhov's play Platonov, titled The Present, for the STC. It was directed by John Crowley and featured Cate Blanchett, Jacqueline McKenzie, Marshall Napier, and Toby Schmitz.[12] That production moved in 2016/17 to the Ethel Barrymore Theatre in New York City for the Broadway debut of Roxburgh and the rest of the cast.[13]

Roxburgh appeared in Aunty Donna's Coffee Cafe as a parody of his previous role in Rake in 2023.[14]

Children's literature

Roxburgh wrote and illustrated the well-received, 240-page children's adventure fiction title, Artie and the Grime Wave, published by Allen & Unwin in October 2016 (ISBN 9781760292140).

Personal life

Roxburgh with his wife, Silvia Colloca, at the AACTA Awards 2012, Sydney, Australia

Roxburgh married Italian-born opera singer, actress, blogger, cookbook author, and television cookery show personality Silvia Colloca in 2004. They met on the set of Van Helsing, playing Count Dracula and his bride, respectively. They have three children, sons Raphael and Miro, and daughter Luna.[15][16]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1991 Dead to the World Johnny
1994 Talk Jack/Harry
1995 Lessons in the Language of Love Harry Short film
Billy's Holiday Rob McSpedden
Hayride to Hell George Weygate Short film
1996 Children of the Revolution Joe
1997 Doing Time for Patsy Cline Boyd
Thank God He Met Lizzie Guy Jamieson
1998 Oscar and Lucinda Mr. Jeffries
A Little Bit of Soul Sir Samuel Michael Voice
In the Winter Dark Murray Jacob
1999 The Last September Captain Daventry
Passion Percy Grainger
2000 Mission: Impossible 2 Hugh Stamp
2001 Moulin Rouge! The Duke
2002 The Touch Karl
The One and Only Neil
2003 The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen The Fantom / "M" / Professor Moriarty
2004 Van Helsing Count Dracula
2005 Stealth Dr. Keith Orbit
Fragiles Robert Kerry
2006 Like Minds Martin McKenzie
2007 Romulus, My Father Director and producer
2010 Matching Jack David
Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole Boron Voice
2011 Sanctum Frank McGuire
2013 The Turning Vic Lang
2014 Maya the Bee Flip Voice
2015 Blinky Bill the Movie Blinky's dad Voice
Looking for Grace Dan
2016 Hacksaw Ridge Colonel Stelzer
2017 Breath Mr. Pike
2018 Swinging Safari Adult Jeff Marsh Narrator only
Maya the Bee: The Honey Games Flip Voice
2019 Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan Brigadier David Jackson
H Is for Happiness Jim Phee
Angel of Mine Bernard
2020 Go Karts Patrick
2022 Elvis Vernon Presley
2023 Force of Nature: The Dry 2 Daniel Bailey
TBA Eden TBA Filming

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1987 The Riddle of the Stinson Proud TV film
1989 The Saint: Fear in Fun Park Justin TV film
1990 The Paper Man 'Gracie' Fields TV miniseries
1992 Tracks of Glory Hugh Mcintosh TV miniseries
1993 Seven Deadly Sins Gluttony / Mark TV miniseries
Crimebroker Harrison TV film
Police Rescue Tim Warne TV series, 1 episode
1995 Halifax f.p. Sergeant Paul Santos TV series, 1 episode
Blue Murder Roger Rogerson TV miniseries
1996 Twisted Tales Ben TV series, 1 episode
1997 The Last of the Ryans Ronald Ryan TV film
Frontier Superintendent William Hobbs
2001 Blonde Mr. R TV film
2002 The Road from Coorain Bill TV film
The Hound of the Baskervilles Sherlock Holmes TV film
2006 The Silence Richard Trealoar TV film
2008–09 East of Everything Art Watkins TV series
2009 False Witness Charles Van Koors TV film
2010 Hawke Bob Hawke TV film
2010–18 Rake Cleaver Greene TV series. Also co-creator / producer
2011 Ice Thom Archer
2015 Australia: The Story of Us Narrator TV docudrama
2017 Blue Murder: Killer Cop Roger Rogerson TV series
2019 The Hunting Nick TV miniseries
The Pool Narrator TV series, 1 episode
Catherine the Great Grigory Orlov TV miniseries
Lovestruck Nigel Valentine TV film
2020 The Crown Bob Hawke TV series, episodes: "Terra Nullius" & "48:1"
2021 Fires Duncan Simpson TV series, 2 episodes
2022 Bali 2002 Graham Ashton TV miniseries
2023 Aunty Donna's Coffee Cafe Rake TV series
The PM's Daughter H.A.N.C. TV series, 3 episodes
2024 Prosper (2024) Cal Quinn TV series[17][18][19]

Theatre

Year Title Role Notes
1978 Death of a Salesman Willy Loman Albury High School
1992 The Homecoming
1994 That Eye, the Sky Henry Warburton Burning House Theatre Company, Sydney & Playhouse, Melbourne
1994 Hamlet Hamlet Company B at Belvoir St Theatre
2007-08 Toy Symphony Roland Henning Belvoir St Theatre
2010 Uncle Vanya Vanya Sydney Theatre Company for Bell Shakespeare
2013 Waiting for Godot Estragon Sydney Theatre Company
2014 Cyrano de Bergerac Cyrano de Bergerac Sydney Theatre Company
2015 The Present Sydney Theatre Company
2016/17 The Present Ethel Barrymore Theatre on Broadway

Awards & nominations

Year Award Category Work Result Ref
1992 Sydney Theatre Awards Best Performance in a Supporting Role The Homecoming Won [20]
1994 Freelance Director That Eye, the Sky Won
Best New Play or Musical Won
Best Performance by an Actor Hamlet Nominated [21]
1995 Green Room Awards Best Actor Nominated
Australian Film Institute Television Awards Best Lead Actor in a Television Drama Halifax f.p. Nominated
1996 Australian Film Institute Television Awards Blue Murder Nominated
Logie Awards Most Outstanding Actor Won
1997 Verona International Film Festival Best Actor Thank God He Met Lizzie Won
Australian Film Institute Awards Best Actor in a Leading Role Doing Time for Patsy Cline Won
1998 Film Critics Circle of Australia Best Actor – Male Won
1999 Australian Film Institute Awards Best Actor in a Leading Role Passion Nominated
2001 Australian Film Institute Awards Best Actor in a Supporting Role Moulin Rouge! Nominated
Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Nominated
2004 Stinkers Bad Movie Awards Worst Fake Accent – Male Van Helsing Won [22]
2006 Australian Film Institute Awards Best Lead Actor in a Television Drama The Silence Nominated
2007 Logie Awards Most Outstanding Actor Nominated
Sydney Theatre Awards Best Actor in a Lead Role Toy Symphony Won
Australian Film Institute Awards Best Direction Romulus, My Father Nominated
2008 Film Critics Circle of Australia Best Director Nominated
Helpmann Awards Best Male Actor in a Play Toy Symphony Won
2010 Equity Ensemble Awards Rake Won
Sydney Theatre Awards Best Actor Uncle Vanya Won [23]
Australian Film Institute Awards Best Lead Actor in a Television Drama Hawke Won
2011 Seoul International Drama Awards Best Actor Nominated
Logie Awards Most Outstanding Actor Nominated
Rake Won
Festival International de Programmes Audiovisuels Actor – TV Series Won
Helpmann Awards Best Male Actor in a Play Uncle Vanya Nominated
2012 Equity Ensemble Awards Rake Nominated
AACTA Awards Best Television Drama Series Nominated
2013 Nominated
Best Lead Actor in a Television Drama Won
Sydney Theatre Awards Best Actor Waiting for Godot Nominated
2014 Cyrano de Bergerac Won
Helpmann Awards Best Male Actor in a Play Waiting for Godot Won
AACTA Awards Best Television Drama Series Rake Nominated
Best Lead Actor in a Television Drama Nominated
2015 Logie Awards Most Outstanding Actor Nominated
2016 Helpmann Awards Best Male Actor in a Play The Present Nominated
2017 Logie Awards Most Outstanding Actor Rake Nominated
2019 AACTA Awards Best Guest or Supporting Actor in a Television Drama The Hunting Won
2020 AACTA Awards Best Actor in a Leading Role H is for Happiness Nominated
2021 AACTA Awards Best Lead Actor in a Television Drama Fires Nominated
2022 Logie Awards Most Outstanding Actor Won
2023 Logie Awards Most Outstanding Actor Bali 2002 Nominated

References

  1. ^ "Australian Actor Richard Roxburgh" Archived 16 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine by Shaun Doherty, London Academy of Media Film & TV (24 March 2011)
  2. ^ Harvey, Shannon (19 May 2007). "Richard Roxburgh". The Sunday Times.
  3. ^ "Richard Roxburgh". Talking Heads. ABC.
  4. ^ ANU Alumni. "ANU Alumni – Congratulations to alumnus Richard Roxburgh". Facebook. Archived from the original on 26 February 2022.
  5. ^ Lehmann, Megan (1 February 2014). "Richard Roxburgh plays Cleave Greene with conspicuous conviction". The Australian.
  6. ^ "Archive: Richard Roxburgh". Sydney Theatre Company Magazine. 15 October 2014. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  7. ^ a b "Richard Roxburgh in East of Everything, and Bob Hawke". Herald Sun. 26 August 2009.
  8. ^ Idato, Michael (15 November 2020). "Bringing the drama down under, The Crown breaks the spell of a royal moment in time". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  9. ^ Uncle Vanya at the Sydney Theatre Company
  10. ^ Roxburgh, Richard (9 November 2013). "Waiting for Tamas". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
  11. ^ Cyrano de Bergerac, performance details, Sydney Theatre Company
  12. ^ The Present, production details, Sydney Theatre Company
  13. ^ "Broadway season gives Cate Blanchett her shot at a Tony" by Michaela Boland, The Australian, 10 December 2016
  14. ^ Buckmaster, Luke (11 April 2023). "Aunty Donna's Coffee Cafe review – sketch comedy trio scramble for laughs in new show". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  15. ^ Maddox, Gary (19 May 2007). "Proud father". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  16. ^ "Meet Miro Roxburgh and Raphael Roxburgh - See How Richard Roxburgh's Children Are Growing up". 2 December 2021.
  17. ^ Prosper at IMDb
  18. ^ Buckmaster, Luke (17 January 2024). "Prosper review – Richard Roxburgh leads a sizzling and sharp megachurch thriller". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
  19. ^ "New drama series Prosper announced for Stan".
  20. ^ "Richard Roxburgh - Actor" (PDF). Shanahan. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  21. ^ "Richard Roxburgh". The Kennedy Centre. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  22. ^ "Stinkers Bad Movie Awards - 2004". The Stinkers. Archived from the original on 4 May 2007. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
  23. ^ "2010". Sydney Theatre Awards. Retrieved 18 March 2022.

External links