John Brumpton

Film and television

After starring in his friend, director Lawrence Johnston's debut film Night Out in 1990,^[3] Brumpton's breakthrough role came as Magoo in 1992 drama film Romper Stomper, alongside Russell Crowe and Jacqueline McKenzie. After hearing about the project, he rang writer-director Geoffrey Wright, only to be told that the film was fully cast, but a few weeks later he scored a role.^[3]

In 1995, Brumpton had a recurring role as Officer Gilbert in ABC series Correlli, starring Deborra-Lee Furness and Hugh Jackman in his breakthrough role.^[4] That same year, Brumpton co-wrote and had his first starring role in 1996 feature film Life, an adaptation of his play, Containment.^[1] He was nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role and Best Adapted Screenplay at the 1996 Australian Film Institute Awards.^[5] Life also won the International Critics Prize at the 1996 Toronto International Film Festival^[1] and had its world premiere at the Berlin Film Festival.^[6]

Brumpton's second film in a leading role, Dance Me to My Song (1998) in which he played Eddie,^[7] was screened in competition at the 1998 Cannes Film Festival.^[8] In 1999, he played the lead role of Detective Robbie Walsh in the film Redball.^[9] The film won the Gold Jury Award for Best Narrative Feature Film at the Chicago Underground Film Festival 1999 and was the first digital film produced in Australia.^[10]

In 2003, Brumpton appeared opposite Colin Friels as Andy in the made for television film BlackJack: Murder Archive,^[11] reprising the role in the second of the film series BlackJack: Ace Point Game in 2005.^[12] From 2005 to 2006, he played the recurring role of Ben Wilde in short-lived drama series HeadLand. ^[13] He also had a recurring role as George in 2006 miniseries RAN Remote Area Nurse.^[14]

Brumpton's short film script William (2007) received production co-funding from the Australian Film Commission and Film Victoria's 2005 Short Film Fund. It was the only Australian short film selected to screen at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival.^{[citation needed]} From 2007 to 2008, he had a recurring guest role as Hunt in the first season of East West 101.^[15] In 2008, he played Vince Love in the debut season of underworld crime series Underbelly.^[16] The following year, he played the regular role of Bryan Dougherty in ensemble drama series Tangle, for Showcase.^[17]

Brumpton portrayed sadist, Eric Stone ('Daddy') in 2009 Australian horror film The Loved Ones, alongside Xavier Samuel.^[18] That same year, he played Max in western drama film Last Ride, opposite Hugo Weaving.^[19] Both films screened in competition at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival, where The Loved Ones won the Audience Choice Award that same year.^[20][21] The following year saw him appear opposite Ryan Kwanten and Steve Bisley as Rex in western thriller Red Hill.^[22]

Brumpton played the role of real life serial killer, Peter Dupas in 2011 crime drama series Killing Time, alongside David Wenham and Colin Friels.^[1] In 2014, he played the role of Reuben Fox in crime miniseries Fat Tony & Co.^[23] That same year, he appeared in a prison drama series Wentworth, in the recurring guest role of Malcom Spitz.^[24]

In 2015, Brumpton played the lead role of Les Underwood in the romantic comedy-drama ensemble film Pawno,^[25] earning him Best Actor nominations at both the 2016 AACTA Awards^[26] and the 2017 AFCA Awards.^[27] He then appeared in several miniseries, including Gallipoli (2015),^[28] Catching Milat (2016)^{[citation needed]} and Deep Water (2016),^[29]

Brumpton next reprised the role of Magoo in 2018 Stan miniseries Romper Stomper (25 years after his appearance in the film of the same name), designed to be a sequel to the original.^[3] The following year, he reunited with his Last Ride co-star, Hugo Weaving in Measure for Measure, a modern take on the Shakespeare play set in Melbourne's crime-infested commission flats.^[3]

In 2020, Brumpton appeared in action-thriller High Ground, playing the ill-fated Donovan, opposite Simon Baker and Jack Thompson.^[3] That same year, he had a recurring role opposite Guy Pearce, in Jack Irish.^[30] In 2023, he played the role of Ashtray Frank Amente in the first season of Paramount+ underworld crime thriller series Last King of the Cross for 8 episodes.^[31] The following year, he wrote the screenplay for 2024 sports drama film Kid Snow, featuring Phoebe Tonkin,^[32] also taking on the role of Jack in the film.^[33]

Brumpton has also performed in numerous short films, including the 2006 Tropfest finalist, Silencer.^[34]

Theatre

Brumpton has performed in stage productions for Melbourne Theatre Company, Playbox Theatre and Jigsaw Theatre Company.^[35]

His play It Ain't Rehabilitation It's Containment was staged to sold out audiences at Melbourne's La Mama in 1991.^[36][1][35]

Film

Television