John Brumpton

John Brumpton (born 28 July 1958) is an Australian actor who has appeared in a large number of local productions.

Early life Brumpton grew up in Sydney, attending Blacktown High School. He graduated from the University of New South Wales in 1982, before relocating to Darwin to work as a surveyor. He then took a surveying job in the Australian Capital Territory in 1984.

In 1985, Brumpton was the Australian (full contact) Kung Fu Champion as well as representing Australia in Amateur Boxing at the prestigious Kings Cup tournament in Thailand.

Brumpton studied at Theatre ACT when he lived in Canberra. He then moved to Melbourne in 1986 and Brumpton was accepted into the Victorian College of the Arts to train as an actor, but several weeks was invited him to come back. He completed the course, graduating in December 1988.

Career

Film and television After starring in his friend, director Lawrence Johnston's debut film Night Out in 1990, Brumpton's breakthrough role came as Magoo in 1992 drama film Romper Stomper, alongside Russell Crowe and Jacqueline McKenzie. After hearing about the project, he rang writer-director Geoffrey Wright, only to be told that the film was fully cast, but a few weeks later he scored a role.

In 1995, Brumpton had a recurring role as Officer Gilbert in ABC series Correlli, starring Deborra-Lee Furness and Hugh Jackman in his breakthrough role. That same year, Brumpton co-wrote and had his first starring role in 1996 feature film Life, an adaptation of his play, Containment. He was nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role and Best Adapted Screenplay at the 1996 Australian Film Institute Awards. Life also won the International Critics Prize at the 1996 Toronto International Film Festival and had its world premiere at the Berlin Film Festival.

Brumpton's second film in a leading role, Dance Me to My Song (1998) in which he played Eddie, was screened in competition at the 1998 Cannes Film Festival. In 1999, he played the lead role of Detective Robbie Walsh in the film Redball. The film won the Gold Jury Award for Best Narrative Feature Film at the Chicago Underground Film Festival 1999 and was the first digital film produced in Australia.

In 2003, Brumpton appeared opposite Colin Friels as Andy in the made for television film BlackJack: Murder Archive, reprising the role in the second of the film series BlackJack: Ace Point Game in 2005. From 2005 to 2006, he played the recurring role of Ben Wilde in short-lived drama series HeadLand. He also had a recurring role as George in 2006 miniseries RAN Remote Area Nurse.

Brumpton's short film script William (2007) received production co-funding from the Australian Film Commission and Film Victoria's 2005 Short Film Fund. It was the only Australian short film selected to screen at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival. From 2007 to 2008, he had a recurring guest role as Hunt in the first season of East West 101. In 2008, he played Vince Love in the debut season of underworld crime series Underbelly. The following year, he played the regular role of Bryan Dougherty in ensemble drama series Tangle, for Showcase.

Brumpton portrayed sadist, Eric Stone ('Daddy') in 2009 Australian horror film The Loved Ones, alongside Xavier Samuel. That same year, he played Max in western drama film Last Ride, opposite Hugo Weaving. Both films screened in competition at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival, where The Loved Ones won the Audience Choice Award that same year. The following year saw him appear opposite Ryan Kwanten and Steve Bisley as Rex in western thriller Red Hill.

Brumpton played the role of real life serial killer, Peter Dupas in 2011 crime drama series Killing Time, alongside David Wenham and Colin Friels. In 2014, he played the role of Reuben Fox in crime miniseries Fat Tony & Co. That same year, he appeared in a prison drama series Wentworth, in the recurring guest role of Malcom Spitz.

In 2015, Brumpton played the lead role of Les Underwood in the romantic comedy-drama ensemble film Pawno, earning him Best Actor nominations at both the 2016 AACTA Awards and the 2017 AFCA Awards. He then appeared in several miniseries, including Gallipoli (2015), Catching Milat (2016) and Deep Water (2016),

Brumpton next reprised the role of Magoo in 2018 Stan miniseries Romper Stomper (25 years after his appearance in the film of the same name), designed to be a sequel to the original. The following year, he reunited with his Last Ride co-star, Hugo Weaving in Measure for Measure, a modern take on the Shakespeare play set in Melbourne's crime-infested commission flats.

In 2020, Brumpton appeared in action-thriller High Ground, playing the ill-fated Donovan, opposite Simon Baker and Jack Thompson. That same year, he had a recurring role opposite Guy Pearce, in Jack Irish. In 2023, he played the role of Ashtray Frank Amente in the first season of Paramount+ underworld crime thriller series Last King of the Cross for 8 episodes. The following year, he wrote the screenplay for 2024 sports drama film Kid Snow, featuring Phoebe Tonkin, also taking on the role of Jack in the film.

Brumpton has also performed in numerous short films, including the 2006 Tropfest finalist, Silencer.

Theatre Brumpton has performed in stage productions for Melbourne Theatre Company, Playbox Theatre and Jigsaw Theatre Company.

His play It Ain't Rehabilitation It's Containment was staged to sold out audiences at Melbourne's La Mama in 1991.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes Ref.1990 Night Out State of Mind Short film The Man in the Blue and White Holden Short film 1991 Holidays on the River Yarra Mercenary On the Border of Hopetown Short film 1992 Garbo Troy Romper Stomper Magoo Wednesday Helmut Short film 1993 Flynn (aka My Forgotten Man) Jarvis Silent Number Man at Door Short film 1994 Trumpet Short film Only the Brave Paul Everynight ... Everynight Prisoner My Mother Practises Drowning Short film 1995 Angel Baby Clubhouse Client Queeny Short film Maidenhead Mailman Short film 1996 Life Des Thump Mick Short film 1998 Dance Me to My Song Eddie Deep Knuckles Short film 1999 Redball Det. Robbie Walsh Dogwatch Heckle 2002 Trojan Warrior (aka Kick to the Head) Saunders 2003 Gettin' Square Lenny Morrison 2004 All the Kings Horses Jarrod Short film Tom White Plain Clothes Officer The Message Short film 2005 Whole Heart Short film 2006 Silencer Slim Short film Welcome Stranger Stan William Short film 2007 Storm Warning Poppy 2008 Long Weekend (aka Nature's Grave) Old Timer 2009 The Combination Mr. Roberts Last Ride Max The Loved Ones Daddy Stone 2010 Red Hill Rex Tethered Foreman Short film 2011 The Father Walter Short film The Hunter Publican 2012 Crawlspace Elvis V for Vienetta Desmond Stewart Short film Ricochet Short film Tethered Short film 2013 We Keep on Dancing Danny Short film Without Warrant (aka The Line) William Kemp Felony Garbo / Street Sweeper Charlie's Country Policeman Brum Kings Short film Going Up Driver Short film 2014 The Boy Who Had No Thumbs The Father Short film Fell Bob 2015 Rigor Mortis John Short film Pawno Les Underwood 2016 Sucker Elmsley Scare Campaign George Muffin Short film The Menkoff Method Security Guard Wills 2017 Australia Day Les Yebery Akoni Lost Gully Road Shop Keeper 2018 The Body Corporate Douglas Short film 2019 Measure for Measure Percy The Diver Malcolm Short film The Fall Older Aydin Short film 2020 Tough Mick Short film High Ground Donovan Widowers Vic Short film Father Jack Short film 2022 The Debt Collector Vaughan 2024 Kid Snow Jack

Television Year Title Role Notes Ref. 1989 The Flying Doctors Nipper Episode: "Word & Deed" 1990 Skirts Robert 1 episode 1991 Boys from the Bush Joe 1 episode Ratbag Hero Carter Miniseries Rose Against the Odds Drinker #2 TV movie Neighbours Vince McCann 4 episodes Chances Sleaze 1 episode 1992 Phoenix Gonzo Episode: "Shaking the Tree" A Country Practice Michael Perry 2 episodes: "Heaven's Gate: Parts 1 & 2" 1994 Law of the Land Roger Halliday Episode: "Win, Lose and Draw" 1994–2005 Blue Heelers Greg Duncan / Tim Merrett / Harvey McManus / Shane Kelly 4 episodes 1995 Correlli Officer Gilbert Main role, 8 episodes 1997 The Adventures of Lano and Woodley Sound Guy 1 episode 1997–1998 Wildside Tony Pellucci 4 episodes 1998 State Coroner Clint the Hirer Episode: "Three's a Crowd" 1998; 2000 Stingers Ronnie Gallagher / Steve Devlin 2 episodes 1998–2008 All Saints Steve Casey / Charlie Ellis 4 episodes 2000 Home and Away Mick Dwyer 1 episode Grass Roots Mr. Bain 2 episodes: "Late July, Friday 4pm to 10.30pm", "The Whole Year" Water Rats Joe Slaven Episode: "Tribes" 2000; 2003 Farscape Katoya / B'Sogg 2 episodes 2003 Roy Hollsdotter Live Bouncer 1 TV movie BlackJack: Murder Archive Andy Margate TV movie White Collar Blue Slater Episode: "1.22" 2005 BlackJack: Ace Point Game Andy TV movie 2005–2006 headLand Ben Wilde 8 episodes 2006 RAN Remote Area Nurse George Miniseries, 5 episodes 2007–2008 East West 101 John Hunt 3 episodes 2008 Underbelly Vince Love 3 episodes Rush Charlie Thomas Episode: "1.3" City Homicide Scott Hurley Episode: "Spoils of War" 2009 Rogue Nation William Charles Wentworth Documentary miniseries, episode: "Rights of Passage" Tangle Bryan Dougherty 10 episodes 2010 Sea Patrol Malachi Episode: "Crocodile Tears" Rake Leon Episode: "R vs Tanner" 2011 Killing Time Peter Dupas Main role, 9 episodes 2013 Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries Finlay Ellis Episode 3: "Dead Man's Chest" 2014 Fat Tony & Co. Reuben Fox 2 episodes Wentworth Malcom Spitz 3 episodes 2015 Gallipoli Sergeant Major Miniseries, 2 episodes Catching Milat Artie Bigman Miniseries, 2 episodes 2016 Deep Water Eddie Mac Miniseries, 4 episodes 2018 Jack Irish Dyson 3 episodes Romper Stomper Magoo 6 episodes (reprised role from 1992 film) 2020 Mystery Road Hegarty 2 episodes 2023 Last King of the Cross Ashtray Frank Amente 8 episodes

Theatre Year Title Role Notes Ref 1985 The Big Apple Playhouse, Canberra 1988 Concepts Inc Studio Theatre, Melbourne with Victorian Arts Centre 1989 New Short Works – Spoleto Fringe Program 2 Universal Theatre, Melbourne with Spoleto Fringe Festival 1990 Grass Chris Theatre Works, Melbourne Hunger Universal Theatre, Melbourne 1991 It Ain't Rehabilitation It's Containment La Mama, Melbourne (also devisor) Everynight, Everynight Carlton Courthouse, Melbourne 1992 Knockabouts: The Dominator Carlton Courthouse, Melbourne with La Mama Three Vignettes – Schools Out La Mama, Melbourne A View from the Bridge Mike Playhouse, Melbourne with MTC 1993 The Chocolate Frog Gorman House Arts Centre, Canberra with Jigsaw Theatre Company 1994 The Lady from the Sea A Stranger Russell St Theatre, Melbourne with MTC Remember Ronald Ryan Peter Walker / Hangman Merlyn Theatre, Melbourne with Playbox Theatre Company Low Currong Theatre, Canberra with Grit Theatre 1996 The Truth Game Carlton Courthouse, Melbourne (also choreographer) 1998 The Drover's Boy Melbourne Athenaeum 2002 Under the Weather Video Designer Gasworks, Melbourne 2012 Silent Partner John Frank Theatre

Accolades Year Award Category Film Result Ref.1996 AACTA Awards Best Adapted Screenplay Life Best Actor in a Leading Role 2012 Fright Meter Awards Best Supporting Actor The Loved Ones Equity Ensemble Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Miniseries or Telemovie Killing Time 2016 AACTA Awards Best Actor in a Leading Role Pawno Cannes Antipodes Film Festival Best Male New Talent 2017 Australian Film Critics Association Awards Best Actor

References

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