Jeffrey Walker (born 10 July 1982) is an Australian director and former actor, best known to the Australian public for his appearances as a child actor in Ocean Girl and Round the Twist. He moved on to direct episodes of Australian soaps Neighbours, Home and Away, and H2O: Just Add Water, and now directs feature films and TV series in Australia and the US. He is married to American-born Australian actress Brooke Harman-Walker.
Career Walker's first acting credit was a small role in The Flying Doctors in 1989. He also appeared in the 1991 film Proof in flashback sequences of Hugo Weaving's character as a child. In 1992, he took over the role of Bronson Twist in the television series Round the Twist, based on the books by Paul Jennings. In 1994 he received a leading role in Ocean Girl as "Brett Bates". He had another major role as the brother Royce on Mirror, Mirror.
Walker received leading roles in The Wayne Manifesto in 1996 (for which he received a Young Actor's Award from the Australian Film Institute) and Thunderstone (1999), in which he played Wayne and Noah Daniels respectively.
Since his appearance in Thunderstone, Walker has focused his efforts on directing, working on soaps such as Neighbours and Home and Away and series such as Holly's Heroes and children's series Dance Academy, Wicked Science, H2O: Just Add Water, The Elephant Princess and Blue Water High.
Walker has directed episodes of US TV series including Modern Family, Bones, Young Sheldon and Young Rock.
Walker was closely associated with the Dance Academy children's franchise. He was the setup director for the first five episodes of the TV series, and directed eight episodes in total, plus the 2017 spinoff feature film Dance Academy: The Movie.
He made his feature film directorial debut with the romantic comedy Ali's Wedding, adapted from a memoir by Osamah Sami.
He has directed numerous well-received miniseries and limited series for streaming, including the BBC's historical drama Banished; Lambs of God for Foxtel; The Commons for Stan; and The Clearing for Disney+.
Awards
Walker has won two AACTA Awards: in 2019 for Best Television Direction, for Lambs of God; and in 2013 for the telemovie Jack Irish: Bad Debts.
He has also been nominated for AACTA Awards in 2024 for his work on The Clearing; in 2018 for the telemovie Riot; in 2017 for the romantic comedy film Ali's Wedding; in 2015 for the drama series Banished; and in 2012 for Small Time Gangster.
He was also nominated for an Australian Film Institute (AFI) Award for Best TV Direction in 2010 for Dance Academy.
Walker has won three Australian Directors' Guild Awards: in 2015 for Best Direction in a Telemovie, for Jack Irish: Dead Point; in 2012, for Best Direction in a Comedy Series, for Angry Boys; and in 2010, for Best Direction in Children's Television, for Dance Academy.
In 2012 he won the ADG's Esben Storm Award for Best Direction in a Children's TV Program, for Just Add Water.
He has also been nominated for ADG Awards for his work on The Artful Dodger, The Clearing and The Portable Door.
Personal life Walker met future wife Brooke Harman while they worked together on The Wayne Manifesto. They have three sons: Boston Scott Walker (born 24 June 2013), Ace Jackson Walker (born 24 June 2015), and Leo Walker (born 19 October 2018).
Walker appeared in the video clip of the John Butler Trio's song titled 'Something's Gotta Give'.
Walker played guitar in Sydney band Ballet Imperial, which formed in 2006 and released a self-titled EP in 2007.
Filmography
Actor Year Title Role Notes1989Mikey Maguire"Dad's Little Bloke"1990ColinFilm1991ProofYoung MartinFilm1991PugwallBanziel Wall"Christmas Hocking"1992Round the TwistBronson TwistMain role1992Good VibrationsJackTV miniseries1993Police RescueTommy Campbell"Rush Hour"1993–94Halfway Across the Galaxy and Turn LeftQwrkMain role1994Sky TrackersTimothy Bolderwood"Trees a Crowd"1994–97Ocean GirlBrett BatesMain role1995Jamie Ross"The Railroad"1995Mirror, MirrorRoyce TieganMain role1996Blue HeelersRowdy Yates"A Fair Crack of the Whip: Parts 1 & 2"1996-97Wayne WilsonMain role1999Blue HeelersTim Sullivan"Miracle at Rabbit Creek"1999–2000ThunderstoneNoah DanielsMain role2007Spy ShopDale DeakinTV series
Director Year Title Notes2003-04Neighbours32 episodes2004Fergus McPhailTV series2004Blue Heelers"Secrets & Lies", "Bring It On"2005Home and Away3 episodes2005Last Man Standing"1.11", "1.15"2005Holly's Heroes"Double Team", "Rejection"2005–06All Saints"Life's Lottery", "Dead Girl Walking"2006Wicked Science5 episodes2006–10H2O: Just Add Water39 episodes2007–08City Homicide4 episodes2008"Coming of Age"2010Not AvailableTV short2010Dance Academy8 episodes2010–12Rake"R v Chandler", "R v Langhorn", "R v Turner", "R v Alford"2011Small Time Gangster8 episodes2011Angry Boys12 episodes2011Wild Boys"1.1", "1.2"2012Jack Irish: Black TideTV film2012Jack Irish: Bad DebtsTV film2013Don't Trust the B— in Apartment 23"Paris...", "The D..."2013Zach Stone Is Gonna Be Famous3 episodes2013Super Fun Night"Three Men and a Boubier"2013–143 episodes2013–14Bones"The Friend in Need", "The Repo Man in the Septic Tank"2013–19Modern Family7 episodes2014Raising Hope"Hey There, Delilah"2014Rake"Man's Best Friend"2014Jack Irish: Dead PointTV film, also co-producer2014Mixology"Bruce & Maya"2015Banished4 episodes2015Backstrom"Corkscrewed"2015–17Difficult People26 episodes2017Ali's Wedding2017Dance Academy: The Movie2017Fresh Off the Boat1 episode2017Life in Pieces1 episode2018RiotTV film2018LA to Vegas2 episodes2019Lambs of GodTV series2021-22Young Rock2 episodes2023The Portable DoorFilm2023The ClearingMiniseries2025Apple Cider Vinegar6 episodes2026Fing!Film
References
External links Ballet Imperial on MySpace.com
Jeffrey Walker at h2O – Just Add Water