Sullivan Stapleton
Sullivan Stapleton | |
---|---|
![]() Stapleton in 2013 | |
Born | [1] | 14 June 1977
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 1994–present |
Known for | Kurt Weller inBlindspot |
Sullivan Stapleton(born 14 June 1977)[1]is an Australian actor who is best known for his roles in the television seriesThe Secret Life of Us,Strike BackandAnimal Kingdom.He also starred in the NBC crime dramaBlindspot.
Stapleton played the lead role, Greek leaderThemistocles,in the film300: Rise of an Empire(2014).[2]In 2013, he was honoured with a Breakthrough Award at an exclusiveAustralians in FilmBenefit Dinner held in Los Angeles.[3]
Early life
[edit]Stapleton was born in Melbourne, Victoria.[4]He was eight years old when he and his younger sister, actressJacinta Stapleton,six at the time, joined an acting and modelling agency. The idea first came to their aunt who signed her kids with the agency. She then asked her nephew and nieces if they would like to join and their mother signed them in. Stapleton's younger brother Joshua also launched into acting in early childhood; as well as acting, he pursued talents in dance and musical theatre.[5][6]
Stapleton's picture caught the attention of a director who invited him to be in his short film (about high school dropouts at a party where girls were dying, without the graphic violence). Pleased by his performance, the director said he was gifted and encouraged him to pursue acting.[6]
Stapleton received training at Melbourne's St. Martin's Theatre. He studied drama and theatre atSandringham Secondary College(inSandringham, Victoria,Australia).[7]
Career
[edit]Stapleton launched his career in Australia.[7]He got his actors' union card at the age of 9 and at 11 he started working in ads.[8]Stapleton's first onscreen acting performance was in the 1994 Australian TV-movieBaby Bath Massacreas Adrian.[7][9]Between acting jobs, Stapleton did several types of work: modeling, cleaning animal cages in a pet shop, and working as agripin many films and TV productions. In 1995, Sullivan appeared inBlue Heelersfor one episode, and again in 2003 for 3 episodes. (The Elephant Princess,Rush,Tangle)[8]in front and behind the camera, working on building sites, and assisting carpenters.[6][7][8][10][11]
Before landing a role asJosh Hughesin Australian soap operaNeighboursin 1998, he appeared in a string of little-seen features and homegrown dramas.[9]Other notable roles include Justin Davies in the Australian televised serialThe Secret Life of Us(between 2003 and 2005),[12]Fearless in the motion pictureDecember Boys(released in 2007), special agent Wilkins in the mainstream feature,The Condemned(an American action film distributed in 2007).[13]But it was with Stapleton's performance in theAcademy Award-nominated filmAnimal Kingdom,which premiered at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival, that he made an international breakthrough.[6][9][12]
WhenAnimal Kingdomwon the Grand Jury Prize at theSundance Film Festivalinterest in him sparked on two continents[8]and his career has taken him across the globe.[10]He made his second appearance inUnderbelly,an Australian true crime drama television series, this time as the lead character, Colin McLaren inUnderbelly Files: Infiltration.This was an endurance test for Stapleton and the first challenging shoot of his career.[8]Previously he played Pat Barbaro inUnderbelly(episodeSuffer the Children) in 2008.[8][10]
In early 2014, Stapleton was in Thailand for the filming of the TV seriesStrike Back.In February, on a night out in Bangkok after work, he fell off atuk-tukand suffered a head injury that left him in a coma.[14]He was resuscitated by former UFC Middleweight ChampionMichael Bisping,with whom he had been spending his night out.[15]Shooting for the show was paused for six months to allow his full recovery. Airing of the fifth season was also pushed to 2015.[16][17]
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1996 | River Street | Chris | |
1998 | Amy | Wayne Lassiter | |
2000 | Bored Olives | Dom | |
2003 | Darkness Falls | Officer Matt Henry | |
2004 | Everything Goes | Jack | Short movie |
2007 | The Condemned | Special Agent Brad Wilkins | |
2007 | The Bloody Sweet Hit | Carl | Short film |
2007 | December Boys | Fearless | |
2010 | Animal Kingdom | Craig Cody | Nominated—AACTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role |
2010 | Centre Place | James Ballintyne | |
2011 | The Hunter | Doug | |
2013 | Gangster Squad | Jack Whalen | |
2014 | 300: Rise of an Empire | Themistocles | |
2014 | Kill Me Three Times | Nathan Webb | |
2014 | Cut Snake | Pommie | Nominated—AACTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role Nominated—Australian Film Critics AssociationAward for Best Actor Nominated—FCCA Awardfor Best Actor |
2017 | Renegades | Matt Barnes | [18] |
2019 | Ride Like a Girl | Darren Weir | |
2020 | A Sunburnt Christmas | Dingo |
Television
[edit]Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1994 | Baby Bath Massacre | Adrian | Television film |
1995, 2003 | Blue Heelers | Ian Shannon, Gethin Fox, Anthony Hood | Episodes: "Second Innings" (as Ian Shannon); "Father's Day: Part 1&2" (as Gethin Fox); "Victims" (as Anthony Hood) |
1997 | Good Guys Bad Guys | Paul Morello | Episode: "A Bilby in Rat's Clothing" |
1998 | Raw FM | Bucky | Episode: "Raw'n'Sore" |
1998 | Neighbours | Josh Hughes | Recurring role; 10 episodes |
1998 | The Genie from Down Under 2 | Surfer #2 | Episode: "The Cold Shoulder" |
1998 | Halifax f.p. | Hamish | Episode: "Afraid of the Dark" |
1997–1998 | State Coroner | 'Bullbar' Benson/Darren Pyke | Episodes: "Sunday in the Country" (as 'Bullbar' Benson), "Final Approach" (as Darren Pyke) |
1999 | Witch Hunt | Craig Thomas | Television film |
1999 | Pigs Breakfast | Television series | |
1999 | Stingers | Matt Wilmott | Episode: "Dance With the Dragon" |
2000 | Something in the Air | Wayne Taylor | Episodes: "The Best Man", "The Things We Do", "The Big Match", "Return of the Prodigal" |
2000 | Green Sails | Infante | Television film |
2001 | My Brother Jack | Young Joe | Television film |
2002 | MDA | Ben Quilty | Episodes: "Rites of Passage", "One Small Step" |
2003–2005 | The Secret Life of Us | Justin Davies | Main role; 24 episodes |
2005 | Little Oberon | Martin | Television film |
2006 | McLeod's Daughters | Drew Cornwell | Episode: "Winners & Losers" |
2007–2009 | Satisfaction | Josh | Recurring role; 13 episodes |
2008 | Underbelly | Pat Barbaro | Episode: "Suffer the Children" |
2008 | Canal Road | Jack Logan | Episodes: "Episode 2", "Episode 5", "Episode 10" |
2008 | Rush | Yuri | Episode: "Episode 12" |
2009 | Carla Cametti PD | Matt Brodie | Recurring role; 6 episodes |
2009 | Sea Patrol | Geoff Kershaw | Episode: "Guns" |
2010 | The Odds | Wade | TV film |
2010 | Lowdown | Oliver Barry | Episode: "Bonk Bonk, Who's There?" |
2011 | Underbelly Files: Infiltration | Colin McLaren | Main role; television film |
2011–2018 | Strike Back | Sgt. Damien Scott | Main role; 42 episodes |
2015–2020 | Blindspot | Kurt Weller | Main role; 100 episodes |
2022 | After the Verdict | Daniel | Main role; 6 episodes |
References
[edit]- ^ab"Facebook".Facebook.Retrieved12 November2015.
- ^Douglas, Edward (6 March 2014)."300: Rise of an Empire -2014".ComingSoon.net.Retrieved12 November2015.
- ^"'Next big thing' Sullivan Stapleton and Jacki Weaver to be honoured at Australians in Film reception ".News.com.au. 28 August 2013.Retrieved12 November2015.
- ^"Jacinta Stapleton with mother Jackie and brother Sullivan at DECEMBER BOYS - Melbourne Premiere photos by".Titomedia.com.Retrieved12 November2015.
- ^"Jacinta Stapleton article: She'll Never Eat a Custard Pie Again".Ramsay-street.co.uk. 19 June 1999.Retrieved12 November2015.
- ^abcd"Sullivan Stapleton: Strike Back features lots and lots of flesh | Metro News".Metro.co.uk. 12 August 2011.Retrieved12 November2015.
- ^abcd"Sullivan Stapleton Biography.".TV Guide.CBS Interactive Inc.Retrieved3 March2014.
- ^abcdefEnker, Debi (10 February 2011)."How a little LA interest goes a long way".The Sydney Morning Herald.Retrieved3 March2014.
- ^abc"Sullivan Stapleton Biography".Yahoo! Movies.Yahoo!.Retrieved3 March2014.
- ^abcGroves, Don (5 November 2012)."Stapleton breaks out after Animal Kingdom".Special Broadcasting Service.Retrieved3 March2014.
- ^Dennehy, Luke (18 September 2011)."A chance to build his career".Herald Sun.Retrieved3 March2014.
- ^ab"Sullivan Stapleton | Biography and Filmography | 1977".Hollywood.com. 6 November 2015.Retrieved12 November2015.
- ^"Sullivan Stapleton Biography".Starpulse.com.Retrieved12 November2015.
- ^"'Strike Back' Alum Reveals Details Behind Final Season Delay: Sullivan Stapleton Was in a Coma ".The Hollywood Reporter.18 January 2016.
- ^Bisping, Michael (22 August 2019).Quitters Never Win: My Life in UFC.London: Ebury Press.ISBN978-1529104448.
- ^Andreeva, Nellie (26 February 2014)."Cinemax's 'Strike Back' To Go on Hiatus After Sullivan Stapleton Off-Set Injury".Deadline.Retrieved12 November2015.
- ^"Sullivan Stapleton fell from tuk-tuk in Thailand | Celebrity News | Showbiz & TV | Daily Express".Express.co.uk. 18 March 2014.Retrieved12 November2015.
- ^"Luc Besson Finds New Action Hero? EuropaCorp Sets Sullivan Stapleton For 'The Lake'".Deadline.com. 2 March 2015.Retrieved12 November2015.