Bert LaBonté (born in either 1974 or 1975) is an Australian stage, film and television actor. With a career that has spanned over 20 years, LaBonté's most known roles include Five Bedrooms and The Newsreader.
Early life LaBonté grew up in Melbourne's southeastern suburbs with his parents and two older sisters. His parents migrated from Mauritius in the late 1960s. He discovered a passion for acting at nine when he played Fagin in his school production of Oliver!.
Career At 17 LaBonté enrolled in performing arts at the University of Ballarat.
His extensive theatre credits include Rupert, Birdland, Elling, Lungs, Richard III, A Behanding in Spokane, The Female of the Species and The Mountaintop (Melbourne Theatre Company), Phèdre (Bell Shakespeare), I Am a Miracle and The Good Person of Szechuan (Malthouse Theatre).
His musical theatre credits include The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Melbourne Theatre Company/Sydney Theatre Company), An Officer and a Gentleman, Dream Lover: The Bobby Darin Musical, The Book of Mormon (GFO), Grey Gardens, Chess, and Kismet (The Production Company), Guys and Dolls (Ambassador Theatre Group), Next to Normal (Melbourne Theatre Company), Pippin (Kookaburra), Jesus Christ Superstar (UK tour for Really Useful Group), When I Fall In Love – The Nat King Cole Story, and Let's Get It On – The Life & Music of Marvin Gaye.
His film and television credits include Animal Kingdom, Nightmares and Dreamscapes, Rats and Cats, Salem's Lot, The Newsreader and My Life is Murder.
LaBonté serves on the board of Essential Theatre.
In 2023, LaBonté performed in the musical theatre version of Moulin Rouge.
On 20 November 2025, LaBonte was named in the cast for ABC series Dustfall.
Personal life LaBonté is married to actress Amanda LaBonté.
LaBonte resides in Geelong, Victoria. For a number of years in the late 1990s to the early 2000s he was a lead singer in local Geelong Band called “Madhouse”
Awards LaBonté received the Helpmann Award and Sydney Theatre Award for Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical in 2012 for his performance in An Officer and a Gentleman. He was also nominated in 2005 for Spelling Bee and again in 2017 for The Book of Mormon.
Filmography
Film Year TitleRoleNotes2026ThrashJimmy Feature film2023Teach Me How to CrySol DesmondShort film2020The Very Excellent Mr. DundeeRoland DayFeature film 2012In FantasyAshane Short film2010Animal KingdomPSG SantoFeature film 2007Rats and CatsTeddy TaiwanTV movie2003The Situation RoomShort film2003Evil Never DiesRookie CopsTV movie
Television Year TitleRoleNotesRef2026Last SeenBill McCrackenTV seriesDustfallRemi JolicoeurTV series2023SugarHope RecordsLuketha4 episodes2023-presentNCIS: SydneyNCIS Special Agent Ken Carter8 episodes2023Spooky FilesRobert2 episodesErotic StoriesGeorge1 episode (Philia) Home and Away Samuel Edwards TV series, 3 episodes 2022-23Five Bedrooms Ed Laurent TV series, 7 episodes 2022-24Colin From Accounts Matt TV series, 2 episode2022Surviving Summer Mattias Mercer TV series, 3 episodesPieces of Her Interviewing Reporter TV series, 2 episodesMore Than This Mr E TV series, 6 episodes 2021The Newsreader Gordon TV series, 6 episodes 2021The Power of a Dream Retired Athlete TV series, 1 episodeWith Intent (aka Lie With Me) Phil TV series, 3 episodesJack Irish Det. Dufrense TV series, 1 episodeMs Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries Dirk Wade TV series, 1 episodeFisk William TV series, 1 episode 1996-2020Neighbours James Soloman / Peter Dwyer / Fire Officer TV series, 5 episodes 2020Retrograde Semesa TV series, 1 episode 2019Playing for Keeps Nick Siddiqui TV series, 2 episodes 2019My Life Is Murder Iman Abarr TV series, 1 episode 2019Squinters Lacey TV series, 1 episode 2018-19Wentworth Rodney Gavin TV series, 4 episodes 2019The Letdown Neale TV series, 2 episodesMr Black Mike Edwards TV series, 1 episode 2013-16Upper Middle Bogan Constable Miklis TV series, 3 episodes 2016Tomorrow When the War Began Dr Novak TV miniseries, 3 episodes2015Winners & Losers Snr Constable Singh TV series, 1 episode 2010-12Lowdown Shane McKay / Mike Lavish TV series, 2 episodes 2010Sea Patrol Rudy TV series, 1 episode 2010Wilfred Third AD TV series, 1 episode 2009City Homicide Aban Nasir TV series, 1 episode 2007Pirate Islands: The Lost Treasure of Fiji Sharktooth Pete TV series, 13 episodes 2006 Nightmares & Dreamscapes: From the Stories of Stephen King Otis Redding TV miniseries, 1 episode 1997-04Blue Heelers Karl Tyler / Roy Nicol TV series, 2 episodes 2000Flipper Robie's Friend TV series, 1 episode 1998Good Guys, Bad Guys Constable #1 TV series, 1 episode 1997Simone deBeauvoir's Babies Foreign Man TV miniseries, 2 episodes
Other appearances +YearTitleRoleNotesRef2024The Cook up with Adam LiawSelfTV series2023Thrash and Treasure SelfPodcast 2022BackstageSelfPodcast
Theatre and stage LaBonté has performed across theatre and stage for over 20 years. In 2023, LaBonte appeared in the musical Moulin Rouge!. LaBonté performed as Marvin Gaye in Let's Get It On!. On 1 November 2024, LaBonté would be announced alongside Pamela Rabe for the co-production between Belvoir St and Black Swan Theatre Co for the play August: Osage County.
On 11 August 2026, LaBonté was named for the Australian Tour of Shawshank Redemption in the role of Red Redding. +YearTitleRoleNotesRef2026Shawshank RedemptionRed ReddingAustralian Tour2026RetrogradePlay Director2024-2025August: Osage CountyBillBelvoir / Black Swan2024Top Dog/Under DogPlay director2023FencesTroy MaxonSTCMoulin Rouge!Toulouse LautrecGlobal Creatures2021The TruthPaulMTC2019Kiss of the SpiderWomanWardenMelbourne Theatre Co2017The Book of MormonMafalaWatchtower 2016Dream LoverCharlieLungsMMelbourne Theatre Co2015High SocietyDexter HavenHayes Theatre2014Let's Get It On!Marvin Gaye2012An Officer and a GentlemanOfficer Foley
References
External links Bert La Bonte on IMDb