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Steve Bisley

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Steve Bisley
Bisley in February 2012
Born (1951-12-26) 26 December 1951 (age 72)
Lake Munmorah, New South Wales, Australia
Occupation(s)Actor, writer
Years active1968-present
Spouse
Sally Burleigh
​
​
(m. 2000; div. 2006)​
Children6

Steve Bisley (born 26 December 1951) is an Australian writer, film and television actor. He is best known for his roles in the films Mad Max (1979) and The Great Gatsby (2013). On television, some of his better-known roles include Detective Sergeant Jack Christey in Water Rats and Jim Knight in Doctor Doctor.

Early life

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Bisley was born at Lake Munmorah, New South Wales and grew up on a small farm called Stillways.[1] The son of schoolteachers, he moved to Sydney just after his seventeenth birthday. After a few years of working in various jobs, he enrolled in the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA), graduating with a degree in acting in 1977. Other actors in his class included Mel Gibson, Judy Davis, Debra Lawrance and Sally McKenzie.[2]

Career

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While still training at NIDA, Bisley and his friend Mel Gibson made their film debuts in Summer City (1977). Towards the end of the course, they were approached by director George Miller and asked to audition for parts in Mad Max (1979). Both were successful and Bisley went on to play "Jim Goose", the best friend and partner to Gibson's titular character. Mad Max has since become a cult classic and it launched Mel Gibson to mainstream stardom. After this, Bisley played the lead role in the thriller The Chain Reaction (1980), with Mel Gibson making a brief appearance. His other early film credits include roles in The Highest Honor (1983), The Winds of Jarrah (1983), Fast Talking (1984) and Silver City (1984).

In 1980, Bisley played Joe Byrne in The Last Outlaw, a critically acclaimed TV mini-series about Ned Kelly. He was also seen in A Town Like Alice, The Boy in the Bush and the original 1985 miniseries of the medical drama The Flying Doctors.

In 1986, he and his family temporarily relocated to London where he took the lead role in the BBC series Call Me Mister.[3]

Back in Australia, he played the lead role in the 1988 TV movie The Clean Machine. For his role as Inspector Ed Riordan, he won the Best Actor in a One-off Drama accolade at the 1988 Penguin Awards.[4] In 1990 he co-starred with Ben Mendelsohn in the cult teen comedy The Big Steal. His performance as shonky car salesman Gordon Farkas remains one of his most remembered roles.

In 1992, Bisley joined the cast of Police Rescue, playing Senior Sergeant Kevin 'Nipper' Harris. He appeared in 29 episodes, leaving in 1995. He was next seen as Dr Henry King in the ABC-TV series G.P. After this, he became a regular in the third and final season of the critically acclaimed satirical television series Frontline.

In 1998, he began to appear as a guest in Nine’s police drama series Water Rats, playing Detective Jack Christey. The following year, he became one of the lead actors on the show, replacing Colin Friels who had quit due to ill health. Bisley left the show in 2001 but it turned out that his final episode was also the series’ swansong.

Also a stage actor, Bisley has appeared in drama productions. His stage roles include parts in Ray Lawler's Summer of the Seventeenth Doll (1985/1995) and as Banjo Paterson in the musical theatre production of The Man from Snowy River: Arena Spectacular (August–October 2002). In July 2003, he presented a season of television documentaries on the National Geographic Channel.

From 2007-2009, he played CMDR Steve Marshall in Sea Patrol. From 2016-2018. he was seen in the first two series of Doctor Doctor, playing the father of the lead character. In 2016, Bisley appeared as Harry Firth in the two-part Australian miniseries Brock on Network Ten. The miniseries was based on the life of Australian motor racing legend Peter Brock.[5]

In 2013, he appeared as Dan Cody in Baz Luhrmann's adaptation of The Great Gatsby. He was also seen in the Australian films Red Hill (2010) and Boar (2017). He has revealed that he turned down a role in Baz Luhrmann's 1996 film Romeo + Juliet because he read the script and thought "this is going nowhere".[6] In 2022 he appeared in Mystery Road:Origins.

In 2013, Bisley published his first book, Stillways: A Memoir. The book recounted his life growing up in Lake Munmorah, finishing when he was in his mid-teens. The book was well received and was subsequently shortlisted for the 2014 Douglas Stewart Prize for Non-Fiction in the NSW Premier's Literary Awards, the Queensland Literary Awards, and the 2014 National Biography Award. In 2017, Bisley published his second book, a memoir called All the Burning Bridges. Picking up where Stillways had left off, it covered his adult life. He has said he does not plan to write any more memoirs. Instead, he is concentrating on writing his first novel.

Personal life

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Steve Bisley has been married once. Prior to his marriage, he had four children with long-time partner Shauna Forrest.[7] During the 1980s Forrest was a costume designer for models and actresses.[8]

He married Sally Burleigh, a media publicist, in 2000. They had two children before divorcing in 2006.[9] In September 2009 Bisley was charged with assaulting Burleigh and, on 15 September 2010, he was found guilty and sentenced to 300 hours of community service.[10][11] Bisley lodged an appeal against the conviction.[11] In July 2013 while promoting his autobiography, Stillways: A Memoir, he described the assault as "a push and shove incident with high emotion displayed on both sides".[7]

Awards

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Bisley's plaque at the Australian Film Walk of Fame, Ritz Cinema, Randwick, Sydney

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2020 The Stranger John Short film
2017 Boar Bob
2013 The Great Gatsby Dan Cody Feature film
2012 Jack Irish: Bad Debts Kevin Pixley TV movie
2010 The Wedding Party Roger Feature film
I Love You Too Bill Feature film
Red Hill Old Bill Feature film
2009 Subdivision Harry Film
2008 The View from Greenhaven Lach Feature film
Actingclassof1977.com Himself Documentary film
2007 Shotgun Tommy Short film
The King Harry Miller TV movie
2005 Hell Has Harbour Views Bruce Kent TV movie
2004 Big Reef Reilly TV movie
The Brush-Off Eastlake TV movie
1999 In the Red Sparky Feature film
1995 Sanctuary Bob King Film
1994 Hell, Texas and Home Short film
1992 Over the Hill Benedict Feature film
1990 The Big Steal Gordon Farkas Feature film
1988 Hard Knuckle Harry TV movie
The Clean Machine Ed Riordan TV movie
1986 2 Friends Kevin TV movie
1984 Silver City Victor Feature film
Fast Talking Redback Feature film
1983 The Winds of Jarrah Clem Film
1982 The Little Feller Frank Blair TV movie
Squizzy Taylor Snowy Cutmore Film
The Highest Honor AB WG Falls TV movie
1980 The Chain Reaction Larry Feature film
1979 Taxi Terry Dean TV movie
The Last of the Knucklemen Mad Dog Feature film
Mad Max Jim Goose Feature film
1978 Newsfront Iceman Feature film
1977 Summer City Boo Feature film

Television

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Year Title Role Notes Ref
TBA Deadloch TV series [13]
2024 Human Error Bear O'Rourke TV series, 6 episodes [14]
2022 Darby and Joan Declan Kemp TV series, 1 episode
Mystery Road: Origin Peter Lovric TV series, 6 episodes [15]
2020 How to Stay Married Stuart TV series, 1 episode
Grey Nomads Ernie TV series, 6 episodes
2019 SeaChange Gavin Taylor TV series, 1 episode
2016-18 Doctor Doctor Jim Knight TV series, 21 episodes [16]
2016 Brock Harry Firth TV miniseries, 2 episodes [17]
2014 Plonk Ian Tyler TV series, 1 episode [18]
2013 Redfern Now Richard TV series, 1 episode
2010 Lowdown Jack Copper TV series, 1 episode
2008-09 East of Everything Terry Adams TV series, 11 episodes
2007-09 Sea Patrol Commander Steve Marshall TV series, 25 episodes
2006 Two Twisted Frank TV series, 1 episode
2004 Stingers Donald TV series, 1 episode
1998-2001 Water Rats Detective Sgt Jack Christy TV series, 97 episodes
1997 Frontline Graeme Prowse TV series, 13 episodes
1996-95 G.P. Henry King TV series, 52 episodes
1996-95 Halifax f.p. Jonah Cole TV series, 2 episodes
1995-92 Police Rescue Snr Sgt Kevin Harris TV series, 29 episodes
1994 Escape from Jupiter Duffy TV series, 13 episodes
1993 Seven Deadly Sins Supervisor TV miniseries, 1 episode
1991 Eggshells Lester TV series
Boys from the Bush Bill TV series, 1 episode
1990 EARTH Force Wooster TV series, 1 episode
1988 Emma: Queen of the South Seas Tom Farrell TV miniseries, 2 episodes
1986 Call Me Mister Jack TV series, 10 episodes
Studio 86 Peter Faulkner TV series, 1 episode
1985 The Flying Doctors Andy McGregor TV series, 3 episodes
1984 Special Squad TV series, 1 episode
The Boy in the Bush Esau TV series, 4 episodes
1984-78 Cop Shop Rod / Bob TV series, 6 episodes
1984 A Country Practice Jim Dawson TV series, 2 episodes
1982 Jonah Cook TV series, 4 episodes
1981 A Town Like Alice Tim Whelan TV miniseries, 1 episode
The Patchwork Hero Barnaby TV series, 6 episodes
1980 The Last Outlaw Joe Byrne TV miniseries, 4 episodes
Spring & Fall Ray TV series, 1 episode
Lawson's Mates TV series, 1 episode
1979 The Sullivans Richard Granger TV series, 1 episode

Theatre

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Year Title Role Notes
2003 Inheritance Playhouse, Arts Centre Melbourne for Melbourne Theatre Company & Sydney Opera House's Drama Theatre for the Sydney Theatre Company
2002 The Man from Snowy River: Arena Spectacular Banjo Paterson Australian tour
1985/1995 Summer of the Seventeenth Doll

References

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  1. ^ Bisley, Steve (2013). Stillways. Fourth Estate. ISBN 9780732297848.
  2. ^ "NIDA - All alumni".
  3. ^ Bisley, Steve (2017). All the Burning Bridges - A Memoir. Bonnier Echo. ISBN 9781760400842.
  4. ^ Hook, Barbara (21 November 1988). "Doogue aside, Penguins look good". The Age. Retrieved 4 February 2021 – via Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  5. ^ Brock at the Internet Movie Data Base
  6. ^ "Steve Bisley Reveals The Roles He's Turned Down".
  7. ^ a b "Home Truths". The Australian. News Corp Australia. 13 July 2013. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
  8. ^ Flynn, Greg (7 April 1982). "Costume Play for Kim". The Australian Women's Weekly. Supplement: TV & Entertainment World. National Library of Australia. p. 146. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
  9. ^ "Actor Steve Bisley charged with assaulting ex-wife Sally Burleigh". The Australian. News Corp Australia. 9 September 2009. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
  10. ^ "Actor Steve Bisley found guilty of assaulting Sally Burleigh". The Daily Telegraph. 15 September 2010. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
  11. ^ a b Davies, Lisa (22 September 2010). "'Just don't judge me', says actor Steve Bisley". The Herald Sun. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
  12. ^ "Australian Film Festival Walk of Fame". Chic Traveller. Retrieved 23 June 2011.
  13. ^ Knox, David (13 September 2024). "Filming underway on Deadloch S2 | TV Tonight". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  14. ^ Knox, David (2 February 2023). "Production begins on Human Error for Nine". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  15. ^ Knox, David (12 October 2021). "Filming underway on Mystery Road: Origin". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  16. ^ Knox, David (29 August 2016). "Airdate: Doctor Doctor". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  17. ^ Knox, David (27 September 2016). "Airdate: Brock". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  18. ^ Knox, David (8 March 2014). "Airdate: Plonk". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  • "The Dictionary of Performing Arts in Australia – Theatre . Film . Radio . Television – Volume 1" – Ann Atkinson, Linsay Knight, Margaret McPhee – Allen & Unwin Pty. Ltd., 1996
  • "The Australian Film and Television Companion" – compiled by Tony Harrison – Simon & Schuster Australia, 1994
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