Gerald Lepkowski

Gerald Lepkowski is a British-Australian television and stage actor, who has had guest roles in Australian and British productions, before landing the lead role in drama series Dirt Game in Australia in 2009.

Early life Born in 1966 the Sighthill area of Glasgow, Scotland, Lepkowski is the second child of Edward Lepkowski, a carpet fitter of Polish descent; and Catherine Lepkowski (née Murray) who is of Irish descent. He has a brother, Edward Jr, and a sister, Carol.

While travelling in Australia in his early twenties, Lepkowski became interested in acting and trained at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts where he met his future wife, fellow British-born thespian, Frances O'Connor.

Career Lepkowski worked extensively in Australia on the stage, including playing Tysefew in The Dutch Courtesan, Claudio in Much Ado About Nothing, Roger & Arthur in The Balcony, Vershinin in Three Sisters, Krogstaad in A Doll's House and Orsino in Twelfth Night, all with the Melbourne Theatre Company.

From 1994, Lepkowski went on to appear in guest roles in several Australian and British TV series, including The Damnation of Harvey McHugh and Neighbours (both 1994), Halifax f.p. (1996), State Coroner (1997), Monarch of the Glen (2001), Two Thousand Acres of Sky (2003) and EastEnders (2005).

In 2002, Lepkowski landed the lead role in the award-winning Scottish romantic comedy film, American Cousins, starring alongside Shirley Henderson, Danny Nucci and Hollywood stars Dan Hedaya and Vincent Pastore. The same year he appeared in British film, Man Dancin', which starred EastEnders actor Alex Ferns.

In 2009, he starred in the lead role of Dirt Game, an Australian drama series that aired on ABC1. He also starred in season 2 of SBS drama series East West 101. It began airing in mid-October 2009. In 2010, Lepkowski appeared in the Australian telemovie Sisters of War as Bishop Leo Scharmach.

In 2016 he appeared as Zanrush, a red priest, in "The Red Woman", the sixth-season premiere episode of HBO series Game of Thrones.

Personal life Lepkowski is married to actor Frances O'Connor, with whom he now has one child, born in 2005. The couple currently reside in the Los Angeles area, in the United States.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 1996 River Street Constable Monroe 2002 Doctor Sleep Journalist 2003 American Cousins Roberto 2003 Man Dancin' Lenny Quinn 2003 16 Years of Alcohol Male Actor 2007 Oh Happy Day Rob 2010 Beneath Hill 60 William Waddell 2017 The Death of Stalin Leonid Brezhnev 2020 Measure for Measure Boyle 2021 RAV1043 Ravi Short film 2022 Emily Mr Linton

As writer / director Year Title Role Notes 2024 Broono Writer / Director Short film

Television Year Title Role Notes 1994 The Damnation of Harvey McHugh Detective Miniseries, 1 episode 1994–1999 Blue Heelers Marcus Jacobs / Paul McLauglin 2 episodes 1995 Correlli Officer Tyler Miniseries 1995 Neighbours Marty Hackman 2 episodes 1996 Mercury Kevin Kinsella Miniseries, 2 episodes 1996 The Genie from Down Under Jeweller 1 episode 1996 Halifax f.p. Ari 3 episodes 1997 The Last of the Ryans Patterson TV movie 1997 State Coroner Dave Warren 1 episode 1998 Good Guys, Bad Guys Tierney 1 episode 1999 Witch Hunt Kisho TV movie 2001 Monarch of the Glen Hugh 1 episode 2001 Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased) Big Gerald 1 episode 2003 Two Thousand Acres of Sky Hamish Raeburn 2 episodes 2005 EastEnders DC Monaghan 3 episodes 2005 Spooks Joe Kennedy 2 episodes 2001–2007 The Bill DCI Alan Lees / Charlie McGann 2 episodes 2007 The IT Crowd Jorg 1 episode 2009 Dirt Game Brian Jardine 6 episodes 2009 East West 101 Agent Richard Skeritt Season 2, 7 episodes 2010 Sisters of War Bishop Leo Scharmach Miniseries 2014 Katie Morag Geordie 1 episode 2016 Game of Thrones Zanrush Season 6, 2 episodes 2016 Harley and the Davidsons William Davidson Miniseries, 4 episodes 2017 Silent Witness Stuart Teller 2 episodes 2024 The Twelve Chris Moore Season 2, 5 episodes

Stage Year Title Role Notes 1990 Memory Rooms Moores Building, Fremantle for Gemellaggio Festival 1991 Pack of Lies Acting Studio, Perth with WAAPA 1991 Whale Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre with WAAPA 1992 The Slab Boys Crossroads Theatre, Sydney with O'Punksky's Theatre Company 1992; 1998 D.A.R.K. The Adventures of Diane Arbus Kaff Theatre, Perth, Universal Theatre, Melbourne (also writer) 1993 The Misanthrope Alceste Napier Street Theatre, Melbourne with Actors and Punters 1993 The Dutch Courtesan Tysefew Russell Street Theatre, Melbourne, with MTC 1993 Much Ado About Nothing Claudio Playhouse, Melbourne, Theatre Royal, Hobart, Princess Theatre, Launceston with MTC 1994 The Sisters Rosensweig Playhouse, Melbourne, Monash University, Melbourne, Theatre Royal, Hobart, Geelong Arts Centre, Wharf Theatre, Sydney, Glen Street Theatre, Sydney, Canberra Theatre, His Majesty's Theatre, Perth with MTC 1997 The Balcony Roger / Arthur Fairfax Studio, Melbourne with MTC 1997 Three Sisters Vershinin Fairfax Studio, Melbourne with MTC 1997 A Doll's House Krogstaad Fairfax Studio, Melbourne with MTC 1998 Twelfth Night Orsino Playhouse, Melbourne with MTC 1999 The Sick Room Mr Hilbert / Priest Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne with Playbox Theatre Company 2000 The Ecstatic Bible Scott Theatre, Adelaide