Bryan Brown

Bryan Neathway Brown,[1] AM (born 23 June 1947) is an Australian actor.[2] He has performed in over eighty film and television projects since the late 1970s, both in his native Australia and abroad. Notable films include Breaker Morant (1980), Give My Regards to Broad Street (1984), F/X (1986), Cocktail (1988), Gorillas in the Mist (1988), F/X2 (1991), Along Came Polly (2004), Australia (2008), Kill Me Three Times (2014) and Gods of Egypt (2016). He was nominated for a Golden Globe Award and an Emmy Award for his performance in the television miniseries The Thorn Birds (1983).

Bryan Brown

Born (1947-06-23) 23 June 1947
OccupationActor
Years active1977–present
Spouse(s)Rachel Ward (1983–present)
Children3

Early life

Brown was born in Panania, in southwest Sydney, the son of John "Jack" Brown and Molly Brown, a pianist in the early days of the Langshaw School of Ballet, who also worked as a house cleaner.[3] He grew up with his younger sister, Kristine, in the south-western Sydney suburb of Panania, and began working at AMP as an actuarial student. He started to act in amateur theatre performances,[4] where he discovered a passion for acting.

Career

Theatre

Brown went to Britain in 1972 and eventually won minor roles at the Old Vic. He returned to Australia and became a member of the Genesian Theatre, Sydney. He appeared in Colleen Clifford's production of A Man for All Seasons, before joining the Queensland Theatre Company in 1975 for a tour of The Rainmaker.[5]

Early films

He made his cinema debut in Scobie Malone (1975) as a policeman. He delivered two lines and was listed last in the credits as "Brian Bronn".

In 1977, he had the lead in a short feature, The Love Letters from Teralba Road (1977), which was written and directed by Stephen Wallace.[6]

Brown had small roles in The Irishman (1978), which was directed by Donald Crombie, Weekend of Shadows (1978) from Tom Jeffrey, and The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith (1978), which was directed by Fred Schepisi.

He had a bigger part in Newsfront (1978), which was directed by Phil Noyce, the mini series Against the Wind (1978), which was directed by Simon Wincer, and Money Movers (1978), which was directed by Bruce Beresford.

Brown had the lead in the low budget film Third Person Plural (1979) from James Ricketson and a key role in Jeffrey's The Odd Angry Shot (1979) and Crombie's Cathy's Child (1979).[7] He played the lead in a short for Wallace, Conman Harry and the Others (1979), and had a leading role in Albie Thoms' Palm Beach (1980).[8][9]

In 1980, Brown became known to international audiences for his performance in Breaker Morant, directed by Beresford.[2][10]

Stardom

Brown played the leading role in Wallace's Stir (1980). He had starring roles in Blood Money (1980), a thriller, and Winter of Our Dreams (1981), a relationship drama with Judy Davis written and directed by John Duigan.

Brown had a huge international success playing the lead role in the TV mini-series, "A Town Like Alice" (1981), which won popularity in the United States. This co-starred Helen Morse and the two of them were reteamed in Far East (1982), written and directed by Duigan.

Brown had another big success internationally with his role as Luke O'Neil in The Thorn Birds (1983), starring Richard Chamberlain and Rachel Ward (whom he later married).[11] Brown was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film and the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor – Miniseries or a Movie for his work.

This led to a number of international offers for Brown. He had the lead in a British TV film, Kim (1984) (playing a British agent in Imperial India) and supported Paul McCartney in Give My Regards to Broad Street (1984).

Brown returned to Australia for another mini series from the makers of Alice, Eureka Stockade (1984), but it was not as popular.[12]

In England, Brown played an Australian hitman in Parker (1985) and he returned home to play Cliff Hardy in The Empty Beach (1985). He supported Matt Dillon and Debra Byrne in Rebel (1985).

US career

Brown was given the lead role in the US action film F/X (1986), which was a hit. However Tai-Pan (1986), directed by Daryl Duke from The Thorn Birds, was a huge flop, despite being based on a best seller by James Clavell.

Brown returned to Australia to make The Umbrella Woman (1987) with Ward and then a new version of The Shiralee (1987). He supported Tom Cruise in Cocktail (1988) and Sigourney Weaver in Gorillas in the Mist (1989).

In Australia he played the lead in a World War Two drama, Blood Oath (1990), directed by Wallace[13] and did a romantic comedy based on a story by him and Tony Morphett, Sweet Talker (1991), directed by Mike Jenkins.[14]

In the US he did F/X2 (1991), a sequel to FX, where he was also executive producer, and the TV film Dead in the Water (1991).

He did a comedy with Dudley Moore, Blame It on the Bellboy (1992), followed by some thrillers: Devlin (1992), The Last Hit (1993), and Age of Treason (1994); in the latter he was a detective in Ancient Rome.

Brown had the lead in a short lived British TV series The Wanderer (1994) and starred in the popular cable film Full Body Massage (1995).

Return to Australia

Brown returned to Australia to star in Dead Heart (1996), which he also produced.[15] He produced and starred in Twisted Tales (1996) which led to an anthology TV series.

He played Ned Land in a mini series version of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1998) with Michael Caine, then did a TV film for Ken Russell, Dogboys (1998) and a thriller On the Border (1998).

Back in Australia Brown starred in the romantic comedy Dear Claudia (1999) and had a support role in Two Hands (1999) with Heath Ledger and Rose Byrne.

Brown starred in Grizzly Falls (1999), and Journey to the Center of the Earth (1999). In Australia he had a support role in Risk (2000) and the lead in On the Beach (2000) and Dirty Deeds (2002) which he also produced. He produced a short film by his wife, The Big House (2001).

Brown had support roles in Footsteps (2003), Along Came Polly (2004), Revenge of the Middle-Aged Woman (2005), Spring Break Shark Attack (2005), and The Poseidon Adventure (2005). He produced a short feature directed by his wife, Martha's New Coat (2005) and made Two Twisted (2005).

Back in Australia Brown was in Murder in the Outback (2007), and Cactus (2008), which he also co produced.

He was in My Talks with Dean Spanley (2008), and had a small role in Australia (2008).

Brown produced and had a small role in Beautiful Kate (2009), directed by his wife. He was in Limbo (2010) and Love Birds (2011) and guest starred on The Good Wife. He had the lead in Better Man (2013) and appeared in An Accidental Soldier (2013) also directed by his wife. He and his daughter did a short, Lessons from the Grave (2013).

He starred in the ghost film The Darkside (2013) and had the lead in a TV series Old School (2013). In 2014 appeared for the Sydney Theatre Company at the Wharf Theatre with Alison Whyte in David Williamson's play Travelling North.[16]

He was in Kill Me Three Times (2013), Cocktails & Dreams (2015), Deadline Gallipoli (2015), Gods of Egypt (2015), The Light Between Oceans (2016), and Red Dog: True Blue (2016).

He had roles in Australia Day (2017), and Sweet Country (2017) and is in Palm Beach directed by his wife, and the 2019 TV series Bloom.

Brown appeared in the opening ceremony of the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.

Production work

Brown's production company made the series Twisted Tales and Two Twisted (similar to Alfred Hitchcock Presents). The second series had an additional twist: both stories in each episode were connected in some way, and the audience was invited to try to spot the connection.

Honours and awards

Brown was inducted into the Logie Hall of Fame in 1989. He received the Australian Film Institute Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Breaker Morant (1980) and for Two Hands (1999).

In June 2005, Brown was made a Member of the Order of Australia "for service to the community through a range of charitable organisations committed to providing assistance and support to families and young people and to the Australian film and television industry."[17]

The Bryan Brown Theatre & Function Centre in Bankstown, Sydney, was named after him in 2013.[18] He won Longford Lyell Award at the AACTA Awards in 2018.[19]

Personal life

When Bryan Brown was first introduced to Rachel Ward on the set of the TV miniseries The Thorn Birds in 1983, he read her palm and predicted she would have three children. They married a few months after filming wrapped.[20] They have three children, Rosie, Matilda and Joe.[20]

He is a strong supporter of Australian republicanism.[21]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1977The Love Letters from Teralba RoadLenShort Film
1978Third Person PluralMark
1978The IrishmanEric Haywood
1978Weekend of ShadowsBennett
1978The Chant of Jimmie BlacksmithShearer
1978NewsfrontGeoff
1978Money MoversBrian Jackson
1979Cathy's ChildPaul Nicholson
1979The Odd Angry ShotRogers
1980Palm BeachPaul Kite
1980Breaker MorantLt. Peter HandcockAACTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role
1980StirChina JacksonNominated—AACTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role
1980Blood MoneyBrian Shields
1981Winter of Our DreamsRob
1982Far EastMorgan Keefe
1984Give My Regards to Broad StreetSteve
1984KimMahbub AliTelevision film
1985ParkerDavid Parker
1985The Empty BeachCliff Hardy
1985RebelTigerNominated—AACTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role
1986F/XRoland 'Rollie' Tyler
1986Tai-PanDirk Struan
1987The Good WifeSonny Hills
1987The ShiraleeMacauleyTelevision film
1988CocktailDoug Coughlin
1988Gorillas in the MistBob Campbell
1990Blood OathCaptain Cooperaka Prisoners of the Sun
1991Sweet TalkerHarry Reynolds
1991Dead in the WaterCharlie DeeganTelevision film
1991F/X2Rollie Tyler
1992Blame It on the BellboyMike Lawton/Charlton Black
1992DevlinFrank DevlinTelevision film
1993Age of TreasonMarcus Didius FalcoTelevision film
1993The Last HitMichael GrantTelevision film
1995Full Body MassageFitchTelevision film
1996Dead HeartRay Lorkin
199720,000 Leagues Under the SeaNed LandTelevision film
1998DogboysCaptain Robert BrownTelevision film
1998On the BorderBarry MontanaTelevision film
1999Dear ClaudiaWalter Burton
1999Two HandsPandoAACTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role
1999Grizzly FallsTyrone Bankston
2000On the BeachDr. Julian OsborneTelevision film
2001RiskJohn Kriesky
2001MulletPublican (voice)
2001StyxArt
2002Dirty DeedsBarry Ryan
2003FootstepsEddie BrunoTelevision film
2004Revenge of the Middle-Aged WomanHal ThorneTelevision film
2004Along Came PollyLeland Van Lew
2005Spring Break Shark AttackJoel GatelyTelevision film
2005The Poseidon AdventureJeffrey Eric AndersonTelevision film
2006Two TwistedDetective Vincent WestlerTelevision film
2007Joanne Lees: Murder in the OutbackRex Wild QCTelevision film
2008Dean SpanleyWrather
2008CactusRosco
2008AustraliaKing Carney
2009Beautiful KateBruce KendallNominated—AACTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role
2010LimboDaniel
2011Love BirdsDr. Buster
2014Kill Me Three TimesBruce Jones
2016The Light Between OceansSeptimus Potts
2016Gods of EgyptOsiris
2016Red Dog: True BlueGrandpa
2017Sweet CountrySergeant Fletcher
2017Australia DayTerry Friedman
2018Peter RabbitPeter Rabbit's father
2019Palm BeachFrankAlso producer

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1978Against the WindMichael Connor2 episodes
1981A Town Like AliceJoe Harmon3 episodes
1983The Thorn BirdsLuke O'Neill3 episodes
Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film
Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie
1984Eureka StockadePeter Lalor3 episodes
1994The WandererAdam3 episodes
1996Twisted TalesJack JohnsonEpisode: "The Confident Man"
1999Journey to the Center of the EarthCasper Hastings2 episodes
2012The Good WifeJack Copeland2 episodes
2013Better ManLex Lasry4 episodes
2014Old SchoolLennie Cahill8 episodes
2019Halal GurlsGordonReleased on ABC iView October 2019
2019Hungry GhostsNeil StocktonCompleted
2019/20BloomRay ReedStan original series, 12 episodes

References

  1. "Rachel Ward: Not just a glamour girl". The Sydney Morning Herald. 13 June 2005.
  2. "Bryan Brown". The New York Times. 19 December 2019. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016.
  3. Bryan Brown Biography – Film Reference
  4. Brown, Bryan (7 February 2005). "Opening speech: Bryan Brown". Art Gallery of New South Wales. Archived from the original on 30 July 2008. Retrieved 30 December 2008.
  5. "Five places that made me: Bryan Brown" by Julietta Jameson, The Border Mail, 8 October 2016
  6. "The Love Letters from Teralba Road". Filmnews. 7 (7). New South Wales, Australia. 1 August 1977. p. 8. Retrieved 6 September 2018 via National Library of Australia.
  7. "First big starring role in films is no joke for Graham Kennedy". The Australian Women's Weekly. 46 (20). Australia. 18 October 1978. p. 18. Retrieved 6 September 2018 via National Library of Australia.
  8. "Palm Beach..." Filmnews. 10 (1). New South Wales, Australia. 1 January 1980. p. 6. Retrieved 6 September 2018 via National Library of Australia.
  9. "Talking to Albie Thoms". Filmnews. 9 (5). New South Wales, Australia. 1 May 1979. p. 7. Retrieved 6 September 2018 via National Library of Australia.
  10. "Bryan Brown a fair dinkum sta[?]". The Australian Women's Weekly. 48 (19). 8 October 1980. p. 58. Retrieved 6 September 2018 via National Library of Australia.
  11. "Bryan Brown to wed". The Canberra Times. 57 (17, 355). Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 5 April 1983. p. 14. Retrieved 6 September 2018 via National Library of Australia.
  12. Ed. Scott Murray, Australia on the Small Screen 1970-1995, Oxford Uni Press, 1996 p192
  13. "Hey dude! We're numero uno". The Canberra Times. 64 (20, 210). Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 11 August 1990. p. 3. Retrieved 6 September 2018 via National Library of Australia.
  14. "Bryan Brown stars opposite Indi's girl". The Canberra Times. 63 (19, 517). Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 16 March 1989. p. 25. Retrieved 6 September 2018 via National Library of Australia.
  15. "Three Films selected for 1995 Film Fund". Filmnews. 25 (5). New South Wales, Australia. 1 July 1995. p. 3. Retrieved 6 September 2018 via National Library of Australia.
  16. "Travelling North, Sydney Theatre Company – review" by Jessica Keath, The Guardian, 30 January 2014
  17. "It's an Honour website". Australian Government. Retrieved 29 March 2008.
  18. The Man behind the name, Bryan Brown Theatre & Function Centre
  19. "Winners & Nominees". aacta.org. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
  20. Lehmann, Megan (14 September 2013). "Rachel Ward is calling the shots". The Australian. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  21. "Mountain-top republicans". ABC.net.au. 8 October 1999. Archived from the original on 26 August 2014. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
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