Gyton Grantley

Gyton James Grantley (born 17 July 1980) is an Australian actor and comedian, best known for his portrayal of convicted murderer and drug trafficker Carl Williams in the hit Australian television show Underbelly.

Early life Grantley was born to parents Dick and Sandy and he has a brother. During his school years, he was a rugby union player and a rower. He was also heavily involved in drama and theatre-sports, and won the Headmaster's Prize for Drama in his senior year. He began doing voiceover work at the age of 18, while studying. Soon thereafter, he moved to Sydney, where he secured an agent. Over the next few years, he had several small roles in films including Schoolies week drama Blurred (2002), and legal series Small Claims (2004–2006) with Claudia Karvan and Rebecca Gibney.

From late 2005, Grantley began playing the ongoing role of Dane Pickerstaff in short-lived drama series headLand. In 2006, he had a small role in Foxtel comedy-drama series Supernova, before landing a 10-episode guest role in long-running soap opera Home and Away the following year. His character, nurse James Dalton, was involved in a love triangle with Kit Hunter (Amy Mizzi) who was pregnant to Kim Hyde (Chris Hemsworth). Grantley also appeared in 2007 romantic comedy film All My Friends Are Leaving Brisbane alongside Ryan Johnson. His performance won him the award for 'Most Outstanding Actor' at the Logie Awards. He also starred opposite Don Hany and Susie Porter in the second season of East West 101, as Craig Deakin. He also appeared in the 2009 Tropfest Short Film Festival finalist Being Carl Williams where Grantley, playing himself, is abducted by two criminals who mistake him for Carl Williams after his role in Underbelly. That same year, he had a small role in romantic crime film Prime Mover opposite Michael Dorman In 2015, he left the series after its fourth season, however returned in the fifth-season finale for a brief appearance.

It was announced in late 2013 that Grantley would be reprising his role of Carl Williams in the spin-off series Fat Tony & Co. (which was not placed under the Underbelly franchise, for financing reasons), which focused on the rise and fall of Tony Mokbel, who also featured in the original series, played by Robert Mammone. During this time, Grantley appeared in his first stage musical, portraying comic rogue Luther Billis in Opera Australia's production of South Pacific. After having auditioned for the role, he took over from Eddie Perfect, for the Brisbane season. In 2015, Grantley appeared as Barney McSwiney in comedy-drama film The Dressmaker (2015), alongside Kate Winslet, Judy Davis, Sarah Snook and Liam Hemsworth. continuing for three seasons, until 2018. That same year, he performed in the role of Jason in the theatrical production Hand to God. In 2019, he took on the role of Ron Weasley in the Australian stage production, of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in Melbourne.

Grantley reprised his role of Carl Williams for the third time in Informer 3838, in 2020. He has since said that the role – which had made him famous – led to people calling him 'Carl' almost everyday.

In 2021, Grantley served as narrator on the reality show Space Invaders, That same year, he competed in the second season of reality series The Traitors, alongside reality personality Ash Pollard and Australian Survivor alumnus Luke Toki.

Most recently, Grantley played the character of Wally in 2024 children's film Woody Woodpecker Goes to Camp. Once complete, the Hallmark film was renamed A Melbourne Match.

Grantley has also performed voiceover work in television advertisements for Subway, Starbucks, Bupa, Google and NRL. 2002 Blurred Gavin Feature film

Swimming Upstream Swimmer Feature film Danny Deckchair Stuey Feature film

Under the Radar Trent Feature film A Man's Gotta Do Dominic Feature film 2005 In a Pickle Officer Barry Short film 2007 All My Friends Are Leaving Brisbane Jake Feature film

Beyond Words Guy Short film Being Carl Williams Himself Short film Balibo Gary Cunningham Feature film

Beneath Hill 60 Norman Morris Feature film (Anzac Day release) The Reef Matt Feature film Lucydia James Short film

Everything is Super Shadow Short film The Maestro The Maestro Short film The Forgotten Man Woodcarver Short film Full Catch Ramon Short film My Beautiful Departed Stranger Short film

At the End Wanderer Short film The Dressmaker Barney McSwiney Feature film Spaghetti Principal B.R. Occoli Short film

The Anthesis of Man Victim #1 Short film Don't Tell Kevin Guy Feature film 2023 The Bank Manager Banks Short film

The Nut Farm Farmer Dee Feature film Woody Woodpecker Goes to Camp Wally (Mocap) Feature film Payback Pie Trevor Short film Social Distancing Short film Chucky Short film Television Year Title Role Notes Ref.2003 Fat Cow Motel Gary Warpole 2 episodes 2004 The Cooks Danny 1 episode 2004–2006 Small Claims Brett Michaels / Det Snr Const Brett Michaels 3 episodes 2005–2006 headLand Dane Pickerstaff 11 episodes 30 Seconds Sumo 6 episodes East West 101 Craig Deakin 6 episodes 2014 Fat Tony & Co. Carl Williams Miniseries, 9 episodes Drunk History Australia Ned Kelly The Doctor Blake Mysteries Don Roper 1 episode Orange Is the New Brown Bush Bros / Whatsisname / Competitive Dad 2 episodes Thuggery James March 6 episodes 2020 Informer 3838 Carl Williams Miniseries, 2 episodes 2026 A Melbourne Match Scott TV movie

Other appearances YearTitleRoleNotesRef. 2023 The Traitors Contestant Season 2, 2 episodes

Theatre Year Title Role Notes Ref. 2011 Ruben Guthrie Ruben Guthrie Roundhouse Theatre, Brisbane with La Boite 2013 South Pacific Luther Billis Lyric Theatre, Brisbane / Sydney Opera House with Opera Australia 2018 Hand to God Jason The Alex Theatre, Melbourne

Awards Year Work Award Category Notes Ref 2008 Underbelly AFI Awards Most Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series 2009 Underbelly Logie Awards Logie Award for Most Outstanding Actor Underbelly Logie Awards Most Popular Actor 2014 House Husbands Equity Ensemble Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series Cliffy Equity Ensemble Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Miniseries or Telemovie

Personal life Grantley is married to schoolteacher Alex Ortuso. This was followed by a celebration in Byron Bay in April 2016, officiated by Grantley's House Husbands co-star Julia Morris.

The couple revealed on the day of their wedding that Alex was 17 weeks pregnant with their first child. Their third child, another daughter, was born on 16 February 2021.

Since 2023, Grantley and his family have been living on the Italian island of Sardinia, the ancestral home of his wife, having put their Ivanhoe family home up for lease.

Grantley previously dated comedian Nikki Osborne, after having met at drama school.

Grantley is actively involved with the Australian organisation, 'Polished Man', which helps support and raise awareness for children affected by violence.