Julian Dennison

Julian Dennison (born 26 October 2002) is an actor from New Zealand known in Australia and New Zealand for his appearances in TV commercials and cinema. He debuted in the 2013 film Shopping, for which he won the [[English Film and Television Awards for Best Supporting Actor.[2][3] He is best known for his roles as Ricky Baker in Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016), the highest-grossing New Zealand film in history, as Russell "Firefist" Collins in Deadpool 2 (2018), and as Belsnickel in The Christmas Chronicles 2. Dennison has appeared in multiple commercials for companies including Lynx and Air New Zealand. In 2021, Dennison will make his first appearance as Josh Valentine in Godzilla vs. Kong.[4]

Julian Dennison
Dennison in 2016
Born (2002-10-26) 26 October 2002[1]
Lower Hutt, New Zealand
EducationHutt International Boys' School
OccupationActor
Years active2013–present
Notable work

Life and career

Dennison was born and raised in Lower Hutt, New Zealand. He is the third child of a family of four children. He has a twin brother named Christian. Julian is of Māori descent and is a member of the Ngāti Hauā iwi (tribe), part of the Tainui tribal confederation. He attended Naenae Primary School, where he first auditioned, and got his first part in the film Shopping (2013).[5] He was then cast in the Australian film Paper Planes (2015). He later attended Hutt International Boys' School in Upper Hutt.

Dennison continued with acting and was given a role in an advertisement for the NZ Transport Agency to discourage driving under the influence of drugs. The public service announcement, which became an internet sensation in New Zealand and Australia,[6] was directed by Taika Waititi, who later asked Dennison to star in his film Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016) without the need to audition. The film went on to become New Zealand's highest-grossing film to date, and was critically acclaimed.

Dennison played Russell Collins / Firefist in the 2018 film Deadpool 2. He was cast because of his Wilderpeople performance, and the friendship of Waititi with Deadpool's filmmakers.[7][8] In June 2018, Dennison was the first to be cast for Godzilla vs. Kong in a supporting role.[4] Dennison currently lives in Wellington, New Zealand.

In 2020, Dennison worked in The Christmas Chronicles 2 portraying Belsnickel while also voicing his elf form.

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
2013 Shopping Solomon New Zealand Film Award for Best Supporting Actor
2015 Paper Planes Kevin
2016 Hunt for the Wilderpeople Ricky Baker New Zealand film and television awards 2017 for Best Actor
Chronesthesia[9] Beni
2018 Deadpool 2 Russell Collins / Firefist
2020 The Christmas Chronicles 2 Belsnickel
2021 Godzilla vs. Kong Josh Valentine Post-production

Television
Year Title Role Notes
2016 Funny Girls Himself
2019–present The Strange Chores Pierce (voice)

References
  1. Entertainment Tonight (24 May 2018). "'Deadpool 2': Zazie Beetz and Julian Dennison (Full Interview)" – via YouTube.
  2. Barlow, Helen (28 January 2016). "Julian Dennison talks working with Taika Waititi". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  3. "NZ Film Awards: Shopping picks up seven Moas". The New Zealand Herald. 10 December 2013. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  4. Murphy, Charles (1 June 2018). "Exclusive: 'Deadpool 2's' Julian Dennison Joins 'Godzilla vs. Kong'". That Hashtag Show. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
  5. "Meet Julian Dennison, young star of 'Hunt for the Wilderpeople'". Metro US. 27 June 2016. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  6. "Blazed - Drug Driving in Aotearoa | Commercial | NZ On Screen". www.nzonscreen.com. NZ On Screen. Retrieved 18 May 2018.CS1 maint: others (link)
  7. "Ryan Reynolds Reveals Why He Cast Julian Dennison AKA Ricky Baker In Deadpool 2 | MTV". Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  8. "Rave reviews for Deadpool 2's 'fantastic' Julian Dennison". NZ Herald. 15 May 2018. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  9. "Credits | Chronesthesia". NZ On Screen. Retrieved 18 May 2018.


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