Simon Burke

Simon Burke AO
Burke at The Way Way Back Australian Movie Premiere, State Theatre, Sydney, Australia, 6 June 2013
Born	(1961-10-08) 8 October 1961
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1976–present

Simon Gareth Burke AO (born 8 October 1961) is an Australian actor, active in films, television and theatre.

Biography

Burke began his career at the age of 13 when he starred in Fred Schepisi's acclaimed feature film The Devil's Playground for which he won the AFI Award for Best Actor at the Australian Film Institute Awards. He remains the youngest person ever to be honoured with this award. Since then he has enjoyed great success both in Australia and internationally in film, television, stage, concert appearances and cabaret.

In 2014, Simon starred in Matchbox Pictures/NBC-Universal’s highly acclaimed mini-series Devil’s Playground in which he reprised the role of Tom Allen that he created as a 13 year old. He is the co-creator and executive producer of the project, which this year won both the AACTA and Logie Awards for Most Outstanding Telefeature or Mini-Series.

He has since starred in numerous film, television and theatre productions in Australia and the UK. He starred as Captain Georg von Trapp in The Sound of Music at the London Palladium alongside Connie Fisher and then Summer Strallen. He also played the role of Mr Banks in Mary Poppins in Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and Auckland.

Burke was Federal President of Actors Equity Australia 2004–2014. He is currently a Vice President of the International Federation of Actors (FIA), a global federation of performers’ trade unions, guilds and professional associations.

On 10 September 2015, at the Queens Birthday Honours ceremony presided over by the Governor of New South Wales, General David Hurley, Burke was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) with the following citation:

"For distinguished service to the performing arts as an actor, singer and producer, and through senior advocacy roles for performers' rights and access to professional development and education programs".

In 2016 he publicly identified himself as a member of the LGBTIQ community.

Television

• Devil's Playground (2014) as Tom Allen.
• Hustle (2009) as Nick
• All Saints (2007) as Brad Douglas
• Studio A with Simon Burke Variety/Chat Show (2006)
• Play School (1988–2007 & 2013)
• The Helpmann Awards Host/Co-Writer (2001–2006)
• Small Claims: The Reunion (2006) as Jon
• Thank God You're Here (2006) as a one-off member of the ensemble cast (host of That Was Your Life)
• The Alice as Patrick (2005–2006)
• After the Deluge (2003) as Michael
• The Postcard Bandit (2003) as Thomas
• Grass Roots (2003) as Tony Ludovic
• Young Lions (2002) as Rob Watson
• Heroes' Mountain (2002) as Euan Diver
• Blue Heelers (2001) as Mick Boyce
• South Pacific (2001) as Harbison
• Murder Call (1998) as Guy Searle
• Water Rats (1997) as Detective Sergeant 'Mac' Phillips
• The One That Got Away (1996) as Stan
• Heroes II: The Return (1992) as Captain Ellis
• Brides of Christ (1991) as Jack Delahunty
• Always Afternoon (1988) as Tom
• Melba (1987 mini-series) as John McCormack
• The Flying Doctors (1987) as Daryl Stokes
• Scales of Justice (1983) as Len Webber
• A Country Practice (1982) as Roger Morrison
• A Hard God (1981) as Jack
• Slippery Slide (1980)
• The Restless Years (1979–1980) as Stephen Moran
• Slippery Slide (1979)
• The Sullivans (1976) as Peter Robinson

Film

• Travelling Light (2003) as Ray Sugars
• Preservation (2003) as Mr. Crewe
• Pitch Black (2000) as Greg Owens
• Passion (1999) as Hermann Sandby
• Slate, Wyn & Me (1987) as Wyn Jackson
• The Clinic (1982) as Paul
• The Irishman (1978) as Michael Doolan
• The Devil's Playground (1976) as Tom Allen

Theatre

• Mary Poppins (Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Auckland) (2010, 2011, 2012) as Mr Banks
• The Sound of Music (2010) as Captain Georg von Trapp (Toronto)
• Holding the Man (2010)
• La Cage aux Folles (2009) as Georges
• The Sound of Music (2007–2008) as Captain Georg von Trapp
• Company (2007) as Harry
• October (2007) as Dick
• The Adventures of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie and Little Ragged Blossom (2007) as Mr Lizard directed by Neil Armfield
• Three Furies – Scenes from the Life of Francis Bacon (2005–2006) as Francis Bacon directed by Jim Sharman
• High Society (2004) as CK Dexter Haven
• Up for Grabs (2001) as Gerry – World Premiere Sydney Opera House
• Chicago (1999–2000) as Billy Flynn (Sydney/Perth/Brisbane/Singapore/Hong Kong
• A Little Night Music (1996) as Carl-Magnus – Royal National Theatre with Dame Judi Dench
• Nosferatu the Vampire (1994), a concept cast recording of Bernard J. Taylor's musical, as The Innkeeper
• Jeffrey (1994) as Steve – London Premiere
• Falsettos (1993) as Whizzer – Sydney Opera House
• The Phantom of the Opera (1992) as Raoul – Her Majesty's Theatre London
• Anything Goes (1989–1990) as Billy Crocker – Australia and New Zealand opposite Geraldine Turner
• Les Misérables (1987–1988) as Marius – Original Australian Cast directed by Trevor Nunn

Bibliography

• Holmstrom, John. The Moving Picture Boy: An International Encyclopaedia from 1895 to 1995. Norwich, Michael Russell, 1996, p. 338.

External links

• Simon Burke at IMDb
• Official website