Matt Whelan (born 1985) is a New Zealand actor and comedian. Whelan is known for his roles as Brad Caulfield in the New Zealand television comedy-drama programme Go Girls. He has also played Playboy founder Hugh Hefner in the Amazon Original series American Playboy: The Hugh Hefner Story. Whelan played DEA agent Van Ness in the third season of Netflix original series Narcos.
Early life Whelan was born to a primary school teacher mother and a high school teacher father. He was raised with his three siblings in Christchurch, Canterbury on the South Island of New Zealand. He attended Lincoln High School.Matt Whelan on the ultimate actor’s choice The Press. 22 September 2024 He took up an offer to study at Hagley Theatre Company, fostering a love for acting. He had originally intended to pursue a career in radio production. Whelan is of Irish descent.
Whelan later graduated from Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School, one of New Zealand's most prestigious drama schools located in Wellington. Completing a Bachelor of Performing Arts in acting in 2007, immediately upon graduating he joined the cast of Show of Hands, performing alongside Melanie Lynskey.
Career In 2008, he landed a recurring role as Brad Caulfield in the first season of TVNZ 2 comedy-drama series, Go Girls. He became a series regular from seasons 2-4. He won the Best Supporting Actor award for his performance at the 2010 New Zealand film and television awards.Matt Whelan CBC. Retrieved on 30 November 2024
In 2011, he starred alongside Michelle Ang in My Wedding and Other Secrets, a New Zealand romantic comedy film. In 2014, he starred as Zach, the male lead in a Silo Theatre production of Amy Herzog's Belleville.A play for a generation The New Zealand Herald. 24 August 2014
In April 2017, it was revealed Whelan would be playing the role as Playboy founder, Hugh Hefner, in the 2017 Amazon original docu-series, American Playboy: The Hugh Hefner Story. The ten-episode series, chronicles the Playboy founder's life, the rise of the magazine and unveils never-before-seen footage from his private archives. Whelan met with Hefner during the filming of the show. It was released just before Hefner's 91st birthday and was partly filmed in Auckland.
After featuring in larger acting roles and gaining popularity playing Hefner in 2017, Whelan landed a role in the third season of Netflix original series, Narcos. Whelan played Daniel van Ness, a young DEA agent partnered with Chris Feistl (played by Michael Stahl-David), who go to Cali, Colombia after the death of Pablo Escobar under the order of Javier Peña (played by Pedro Pascal) in hopes of taking down the Cali Cartel.
In 2020, he starred alongside Rachel Lefevre in the New Zealand-Canadian television mystery drama series, The Sounds.Rachelle Lefevre, Matt Whelan Starring in ‘The Sounds’ for Acorn TV, Sky NZ, CBC Variety. 25 September 2019 In the same year he appeared in The Luminaries, a miniseries based on the Eleanor Catton novel of the same name.The Sounds and Luminaries actor Matt Whelan - a life in Travel The New Zealand Herald. 24 September 2020
In 2024, he began starring in A Remarkable Place to Die alongside Rebecca Gibney and Chelsie Preston Crayford. The Queenstown-set crime drama series, is a co-production between TVNZ and Australia's Nine Network.The many mysteries of A Remarkable Place to Die The Spinoff. 8 November 2024A Remarkable Place To Die: new crime drama on 9 Screen Hub. 31 October 2024 In the same year he starred in the Australian survival thriller film, We Bury the Dead.Kym Jackson, Matt Whelan and Deanna Cooney Join Daisy Ridley in We Bury the Dead filmink.com.au. February 2024 The Tasmania-set film premiered at the Adelaide Film Festival in November 2024.Film Festival review: We Bury The Dead InDaily. 4 November 2024
Personal life He currently lives in Taranaki, in the west of New Zealand's North Island.
Filmography Film YearTitleRole Notes 2007 Eagle vs Shark Kissing Boy 2008 Show of Hands Matt 2011 My Wedding and Other Secrets James 2012 The Most Fun You Can Have Dying Michael 2014 3 Mile Limit Richard 2015 25 April John Persson Narrated documentary2017 Pork Pie Noah Gary of the Pacific Nelson 2023 The Tank Ben 2025 We Bury the Dead Mitch 2026 Pizza Movie Producer onlyApexHunter
Television YearTitleRole Notes 2007–2008 My Story Regan 2009–2012 Go Girls Brad Caulfield 49 episodes 2013 Top of the Lake Little Shane Episode: "No Goodbyes Thanks" 2014 Coverband Alex 6 episodes2016 Of Kings and Prophets Mattiyahu Episode: "Offerings of Blood" Stake Out Salesman Episode: "Salesmans"2017 American Playboy: The Hugh Hefner Story Hugh Hefner 10 episodes Narcos Daniel van Ness 9 episodes 2018 Wanted Alistair Poussin 2 episodes 2019 The Brokenwood Mysteries Jack Rudd Episode: "A Real Page Turner"2020 The Luminaries Cowell Devlin 6 episodes The Sounds Tom Cabbott Main role 2021 My Life Is Murder Connor Farrow Episode: "Wild Life" 2021–2023 Under the Vines Ben 5 episodes 2023 The Gone Mayor Ken Armstrong 6 episodes 2024–present A Remarkable Place to Die Simon Delaney Series regular
Theatre YearTitleRoleNotes 2014 Belleville Zach Silo Theatre production by Amy Herzog
Awards 2010 New Zealand film and television awards – Best Performance by a Supporting Actor – Go Girls
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