Mike Bishop, also credited as Michael Bishop, is an Australian actor, director and drama coach.
Career Bishop's television appearances include recurring roles in cult prison series Prisoner playing Harry Grosvenor (1986), R.F.D.S. playing Evelyn Whaley (1993–1994) and Something in the Air as Sergeant Geoff Collins / Clive (2000–2001). He also featured in long-running soap opera Neighbours in 1996, in which he played the recurring guest role of Mick Anderson. He later worked as a drama coach on the series from 2005 to 2008.
He portrayed Uncle Dan in the second and third miniseries of Fields of Fire, in 1988 and 1989 respectively. In 1990, he appeared in the second miniseries of All the Rivers Run, based on the 1958 Australian novel of the same name by Nancy Cato. He also appeared in the 1992 political miniseries Bastard Boys as Peter Reith. He later played English cricketer Doug Insole in the 2012 miniseries Howzat! Kerry Packer's War.
Additionally, Bishop has made guest appearances in numerous television series including Cop Shop, Carson's Law, The Henderson Kids, The Flying Doctors, Col'n Carpenter, All Together Now, Boys from the Bush, Acropolis Now, Law of the Land, Snowy, Blue Heelers, Good Guys, Bad Guys, Stingers, City Homicide, the first season of Underbelly, Killing Time, The Doctor Blake Mysteries, Fat Tony & Co. and Wentworth.
Bishop's film credits include 1985 comedy Malcolm, and 1987 action thriller Ground Zero (alongside Colin Friels in both), and 1992 film A Slow Night at the Kuwaiti Cafe. For his performance in the 1988 prison drama-suspense film Ghosts… of the Civil Dead, he was nominated for the 1989 Australian Film Institute Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role.
His other film credits include medical comedy drama The Clinic (1982), Ozploitation film Future Schlock (1984), thriller Dead Sleep (1990) opposite Linda Blair, comedy A Kink in the Picasso (1990), gritty drama thriller Metal Skin (1994) alongside Ben Mendelsohn and Aden Young, and River Street (1996) opposite Bill Hunter, Essie Davis and Aden Young. He also appeared in several made-for-tv movies and short films.
Bishop has also worked extensively in theatre since 1982. He appeared in a touring production of The Hobbit puppet show as Gandalf in 1997, Dirty Dancing as Max Kellerman from 2014 to 2015, and Singin' in the Rain as R.F. Simpson in 2016. His most recent stage credit was Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at Melbourne's Princess Theatre, in which he was part of the original cast from 2019 to 2022.
Bishop directed Dr. Cade at La Mama in Melbourne as part of the 2002 Melbourne Fringe Festival, before it moved to Beckett Theatre, and then Sydney's Stables Theatre in 2003. His other stage credits as director include a 1993 touring production of The Wind in the Willows with the Australian Shakespeare Company, a 1996 Melbourne production of Snow White and Little Red Riding Hood at Melbourne Concert Hall and a 2009 Melbourne production of The Show Must Go On with La Mama.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes 1982 The Clinic 1984 Future Schlock Bear 1985 Malcolm Armed Guard 1987 Ground Zero TV News Cameraman 1988 Ghosts… of the Civil Dead David Yale 1990 Breakaway De Silva Dead Sleep Policeman A Kink in the Picasso Tony 1992 A Slow Night at the Kuwaiti Cafe Aftermath: Restoring the Workplace Short film 1994 Metal Skin Dazey's father 1995 Sticktoitiveness Short film 1996 River Street Constable Mark Rogers 1999 Dead End Interview Room Police 2009 Remembering Nigel Michael Bishop 2011 Talkback Bill Pointer – The Virus Short film 2012 Planes Malachi Short film 2013 Hard Cases The Judge Short film 2015 I Am Evangeline Mr Black 2018 Hoarder Control Rob Short film Bloody Christmas Prime Minister Desmond Humphrey 2024 Good Neighbour David Short film 2025 Average Bloke Terrie Jones
Television Year Title Role Notes 1981 Cop Shop Ben Higgins 1 episode 1983–1984 Carson's Law Defence Counsel / Williams / Const. Reg Lewis / Frederick Walsh 4 episodes 1984 Every Move She Makes Bob TV movie 1985 The Henderson Kids Desk Clerk 2 episodes 1986 Prisoner Harry Grosvenor 11 episodes 1988 Fields of Fire II Uncle Dan Miniseries, 1 episode 1989 Fields of Fire III Uncle Dan Miniseries, 1 episode 1989–1991 The Flying Doctors Harold Jacobs / Charlie 2 episodes1990 Col'n Carpenter Brian 1 episode All the Rivers Run II Grainger Miniseries, 2 episodes1991 All Together Now Mr Reid 1 episode Boys from the Bush Bruce 1 episode 1992 Acropolis Now Kevin 1 episode The Aftermath TV movie1993 Law of the Land Ray Richmond 1 episode Snowy Les Tremain 4 episodes Mercy Mission: The Rescue of Flight 771 First Officer Russ Mann TV movie 1993–1994 R.F.D.S. Evelyn Whaley 7 episodes 1994–2006 Blue Heelers Mick Pearce O'Connor / Davies Davidson / Charles Fenwick 3 episodes 1996 Neighbours Mick Anderson 5 episodes 1997 Good Guys, Bad Guys Frank Little 1 episode Get a Life Ken Fleiss 1998 Driven Crazy Tom 1 episode Blabbermouth & Stickybeak Kenny Batts TV movie 2000 Stingers Simon Hall 1 episode 2000–2001 Something in the Air Sgt. Geoff Collins / Clive 9 episodes 2002 Short Cuts Sophie's Dad 1 episode 2007 Bastard Boys Peter Reith Miniseries City Homicide David Statesman 1 episode 2008 Underbelly Detective Lowe Miniseries, 1 episode 2011 Killing Time Judge Colti 1 episode 2012 Howzat! Kerry Packer's War Doug Insole Miniseries, 2 episodes 2013 The Doctor Blake Mysteries Charles Griffith 1 episode 2014 Fat Tony & Co. Judge / Justice Gillard Miniseries, 2 episodes 2015 Wentworth Roland Henderson 1 episode
Theatre Source: As actor Year Title Role Notes 1981 Nightshift Musician in Residence Rusden State College, Melbourne 1982 Skids Melbourne Comedy Cafe1984 Odyssey of a Prostitute Count Coolgardie / Henri Suave / Zeek / Judge Church Theatre, Melbourne with Australian Contemporary Theatre Company Unsuitable for Adults Studio Theatre, Melbourne with Playbox Theatre Company1985 Cyrano de Bergerac Bellerose / Gascon Cadet Playhouse, Melbourne with MTC Victoria Bitter Lord Melbourne / Chairman / Judge / Gossip / Narrator / Palmer / Dying Man / George / Alastair the Thug / Masters of Ceremonies Playhouse, Melbourne with MTC The Sentimental Bloke Ginger Mick Playhouse, Melbourne with MTC 1986 Nothing Like a Dame Kinselas, Sydney 1987–1988 Sweeney Todd Birdseller Playhouse, Melbourne, Riverstage, Brisbane, Her Majesty's Theatre, Sydney with MTC1988 Summer of the Seventeenth Doll Roo Australian Nouveau Theatre, Melbourne, Singapore Molière One Eye Key Studios, Melbourne with Australian Nouveau Theatre for Spoleto Melbourne Festival of the Arts 1989 Joan of Arc at the Stake Melbourne Concert Hall with MTC & Victorian State Opera 1989; 1991 A Royal Commission into the Australian Economy Police Auditorium, Melbourne, Universal Theatre, Melbourne for MICF1990 Siren Paul Melbourne Athenaeum, Lyric Theatre, Brisbane, Canberra Theatre with Australian Shakespeare Company Alice's Adventures in Wonderland Dodo / Caterpillar / March Hare Werribee Mansion Gardens with Australian Shakespeare Company A Hard Act to Follow MICF The Adman Eric Sterling Playbox Theatre, Melbourne 1991 The Gigolo from the Congo La Mama, Melbourne, Universal Two, Melbourne 1992 Naso Bello Naso Bruto Victorian Arts Centre 1992–1993 Twelfth Night Malvolio Adelaide Botanic Garden, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne, Adelaide Festival of Arts with Australian Shakespeare Company 1993–1995 Blabbermouth Kenny Batts Russell Street Theatre, Melbourne with MTC 1994 Amadeus Von Strack / Citizen of Vienna / Salieri understudy Melbourne Athenaeum with Griffin Entertainment 1995 Good Works Brother Clement / Barry / Alan / Mr Donovan Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne, Monash University, Melbourne with Playbox Theatre Company1996 Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs The Jockey Melbourne Concert Hall with Magpie Theatre Company Red Riding Hood The Wolf Melbourne Concert Hall with Magpie Theatre Company 1997 The Hobbit Gandalf Canberra Theatre, Sydney Opera House, Victorian Arts Centre, Monash University, Melbourne 1998 Bodysongs – the Fatman tour The Fatman Theatre Works, Melbourne 1998–1999 Much Ado About Nothing Antonio / Friar EHJ Productions2000 The Dam Carlton Courthouse, Melbourne Wind in the Willows Badger 2001 Romeo and Juliet Capulet Go in Tight Dickins La Mama, Melbourne 2002 Twelfth Night Malvolio Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne with Australian Shakespeare Company 2003 Dirty Laundry Lenny Carlton Courthouse, Melbourne with La Mama 2004 The Campaign Michael Murphy Carlton Courthouse, Melbourne with La Mama, Melbourne with MICF 2005 The Trial of Adolf Eichmann General Heydrich Courthouse Theatre, Melbourne2006 Dizney on Dry Ice Ned Carlton Courthouse, Melbourne with La Mama for MICF Mrs Petrov's Shoe Various characters Fortyfivedownstairs, Melbourne with theatre@risk The Reunion The Admiral 2007 Sideshow Alley Tiny McKenzie Playhouse, Brisbane2008 Richard III Unhinged Hastings Melbourne Athenaeum with Australian Shakespeare Company The Dinner Fairfax Studio, Melbourne for Short+Sweet 2009 AvaTära – The Opera Space 28, Melbourne with Malthouse Theatre & The Opera Project2010 Lawyers, Drugs and Money Alan Clowes Carlton Courthouse, Melbourne with La Mama for MICF MelBorn Carlton Courthouse, Melbourne with La Mama & Melbourne Writers' Theatre Love Your Poison Mick Carlton Courthouse, Melbourne with La Mama & Melbourne Writers' Theatre Squizzy Trades Hall, Melbourne with Australian Shakespeare Company & Think Big Productions 2011 Kismet Jawan, the Master Brigand State Theatre, Melbourne with The Production Company & The Arts Centre 2014 Guys and Dolls Big Jule State Theatre, Melbourne with The Production Company & The Arts Centre 2014–2015 Dirty Dancing: The Classic Story on Stage Max Kellerman Sydney Lyric Theatre, Princess Theatre, Melbourne, Lyric Theatre, Brisbane, Crown Theatre, Perth, Adelaide Festival Centre with The Gordon Frost Organisation 2016 Singin' in the Rain R.F. Simpson Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne, Sydney Lyric Theatre, Lyric Theatre, Brisbane 2019–2022 Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Understudy for Amos Diggory, Albus Dumbledore, Severus Snape, Vernon Dursley and Tom Riddle Princess Theatre, Melbourne
As director Year Title Role Notes 1982 Hoopla – Opposite Waves Director Rusden State College, Melbourne 1983 Hell on Earth Director Rusden State College, Melbourne 1984 Good Things Come in Glass Supervisor Rusden State College, Melbourne 1992 Lillian Director / Playwright USQ Concert Hall, Toowoomba 1993 The Wind in the Willows Director Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne with Australian Shakespeare Company 1994 See You in Heaven Director Carlton Courthouse, Melbourne with Chiron Productions 1995 A Midsummer Night's Dream Director Adelaide Botanic Garden with Australian Shakespeare Company1996 From Figaro to Phantom II Consultant Melbourne Town Hall for MICF Figaro! Figaro! Figaro! Director / Dramaturge Monash University, Melbourne & VIC regional tour Snow White and Little Red Riding Hood Director Melbourne Concert Hall with Magpie Theatre Company 2002–2003 Dr. Cade Director La Mama, Melbourne for Melbourne Fringe Festival, Beckett Theatre, Melbourne, Stables Theatre, Sydney 2004 Personality Games Director Wharf Theatre, Sydney, La Mama, Melbourne 2007 Topo Director Seymour Centre, Sydney The Devil in Me Director Carlton Courthouse, Melbourne with La Mama 2009 The Show Must Go On Director Carlton Courthouse, Melbourne with La Mama
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