Dean Lance O'Gorman (born 1 December 1976) is a New Zealand actor, artist, and photographer. He played the dwarf Fíli in the Hobbit trilogy and the Norse god Bragi/Anders Johnson in the fantasy series The Almighty Johnsons. He also portrayed Kirk Douglas in Trumbo (2015).

Early life O'Gorman was born in Auckland to parents Lance, a landscape painter, and Vicky O'Gorman. His younger brother, Brett, is also an actor as well as a comedian. He has Irish and English ancestry; his maternal grandfather was a British paratrooper in the Second World War.

O'Gorman earned a black belt in karate by the age of ten, and attended Rangitoto College in Auckland. He initially planned to study graphic design.

Career

Film At 12 years old O'Gorman was discovered by a casting agent during a school speech competition."Dean O'Gorman Biography", Tribute Movie After acting in a number of television roles and the Australian film The Rogue Stallion, he got a starring role in 1995 teen romance Bonjour Timothy, a performance which earned him a nomination for Best Actor at the Giffoni Film Festival in Italy."Dean O'Gorman", NZONSCREEN

Subsequent roles included co-starring as Mark in the ensemble drama When Love Comes and playing opposite Melanie Lynskey in the road movie Snakeskin, the latter of which received five awards at the 2001 New Zealand Film and Television Awards.

In April 2011 O'Gorman was cast as the Dwarf Fili in Peter Jackson's three-part film adaptation of The Hobbit. He later made a cameo appearance in an advertisement for Air New Zealand.

In Jay Roach's 2015 film Trumbo O'Gorman plays the part of Kirk Douglas,Kit, Borys (22 September 2014). "'Hobbit' Actor to Play Kirk Douglas in Bryan Cranston's 'Trumbo' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 21 January 2016.Mandell, Andrea (20 November 2015) Kirk Douglas reviews 'Trumbo', USA Today. Retrieved 21 January 2016 including a re-creation of filming the movie Spartacus. He plays a demoralized writer in the 2017 film Pork Pie, winning praise at Cannes.Pork Pie remake triumphs at Cannes Film Festival The New Zealand Herald, 20 July 2017, by Ophelia Buckleton. Retrieved 2017-08-05

Television O'Gorman began acting in television in the early 1990s. His career took off in the middle of the decade, when he won the role of Harry Martin in popular New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street and appeared in locally-shot shows Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and Xena: Warrior Princess multiple times. O'Gorman also held a regular role as Iolaus in the short-lived Young Hercules opposite Ryan Gosling, and in Australian hit McLeod's Daughters, as Luke Morgan, a love interest of Jodi Fountain McLeod.

He has made multiple guest appearances on several television shows including The Cult, Go Girls and Legend of the Seeker. From 2011 to 2013, O'Gorman played the role of Anders Johnson in New Zealand fantasy series The Almighty Johnsons. He played mountaineer George Lowe in 2016 mini-series Hillary.

Art and photography In addition to acting, O'Gorman is also a photographer and artist. In an interview with Tom Cardy, he confessed to difficult times finding work during his first year in Los Angeles. He was almost broke, but was soon discovered by his friend's agent and thus began to receive more work, dividing his time among painting, photography and acting.

In June 2012, he held his first exhibition at the Page Blackie Gallery in Wellington, New Zealand.reviews of Dean O'Gorman in 2012 The theme of the exhibition focused on the Vietnam War. To obtain accuracy in his work, O'Gorman sought the advice of a New Zealand Vietnam veteran. Preferring to dress and set up shoots himself, the models for this gallery included other cast members from The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and The Almighty Johnsons. O'Gorman's photographs were also displayed at the 2015 Berlin B3 Biennial.B3 Biennial 2015 News. Retrieved 2016-01-19

Personal life O'Gorman married his long-time girlfriend Sarah Wilson in January 2016.A magic year for Dean O'Gorman The New Zealand Herald, by Ricardo Simich, 30 April 2016. Retrieved 2017-08-05

Their daughter was born in May 2019.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes1995Bonjour TimothyTimothy Taylor1996SirenSirenShort film1998Young HerculesYoung IolausVideoWhen Love Comes AlongMark2001SnakeskinJohnny2002Toy LoveBen2004PiggyConfuciusShort film2008Rev. Whittaker2009SabotageBobby2010KawaChris2012Fíli201320142015TrumboKirk Douglas2017Pork PieJon 2023The ConvertKedgley2025Forgive Us AllSupporting cast

Television Year Title Role Notes1990Tony GarrettTV filmRaider of the South SeasBobby MorrisonTV series, main character1995Hercules: The Legendary JourneysIloranEpisode: "The Gauntlet"1995–96Shortland StreetNurse Harry MartinTV series, major reoccurring character1996Return to Treasure IslandJim HawkinsTV filmXena: Warrior PrincessHomer / OrionEpisode: "Athens City Academy of the Performing Bards"1997Doom RunnersDeekTV filmHercules: The Legendary JourneysYoung Iolaus / RuunEpisodes: "Regrets... I've Had a Few", "Prodigal Sister"1998Hercules: The Legendary JourneysYoung IolausEpisodes: "Medea Culpa", "Twilight"DarekEpisode: "The Tomb of the Unknown Warrior"Andrew ScottTV film1998–99Young HerculesIolausMain role (45 episodes)1999Big SkyDeanEpisode: "A Family Affair"DugganFergus MacLllwaineEpisode: "Going Overboard"FearlessCliffTV film2000Xena: Warrior PrincessWiglafEpisode: "Return of the Valkyrie"2001Lawless: Beyond JusticeNatTV filmAll SaintsEvan CoenEpisode: "The Other Side of Perfection"2003FarscapeZukashEpisodes: "We're So Screwed: Parts 2 & 3"MDAPeter JarmanEpisodes: "Judgement Day", "St. Crispin's Day"2004Serial KillersDr. Gilligan / AndrewRegular role (7 episodes)2004–05McLeod's DaughtersLuke MorganRecurring role (25 episodes)2007MoonlightDanielEpisode "No Such Thing as Vampires"2007–08AnimaliaTyrannicus / Harry (voice)Recurring role (4 episodes)2009Legend of the SeekerCarver DunnEpisode: "Deception"Go GirlsMarcoEpisodes: "Signs and Obstacles", "Do the Right Thing"LiamEpisode: "The Other Woman "2011Tangiwai: A Love StoryBert SutcliffeTelevision film2011–13Anders JohnsonMain role (36 episodes)2016HillaryGeorge LoweMain role2016–17WestsideEvan LaceRecurring role (9 episodes)2017WantedWill JohnsonRecurring role (5 episodes, series 2)2018The Brokenwood MysteriesBarnaby BuchananEpisode: "The Dark Angel"2019The Bad Seed Ford LamptonMain role2019–presentGolden BoyAussie DaveRecurring role (9 episodes)2020One Lane BridgeAndrew "Grub" RyderMain role2021–presentUnder the VinesGriffinRecurring role (5 episodes)

Video game Year Title Role Notes2014Lego the HobbitFíli (voice)Video game

References

External links Dean O'Gorman's official photography website