Russell Dykstra

Russell Dykstra (born 31 December 1966) is an Australian actor of screen, stage and TV.

Early life Dykstra grew up in the Brisbane suburb of Calamvale.

Dykstra first appeared on stage at age 10 in a theatre production of Toad of Toad Hall. He later studied acting at the University of Southern Queensland, graduating with a Diploma of Creative Arts in 1987, and in his early career worked alongside fellow actor Geoffrey Rush with the Grin and Tonic theatre troupe. Dykstra also studied at the school of Jacques Lecoq in Paris and Philippe Gaulier in London.

Career Dykstra made his feature film debut in the critically acclaimed Soft Fruit, directed by Christina Andreef, for which he received an AFI Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role (1999) and a Film Critics’ Circle Award nomination (2000).

Dykstra's one-man show Children of the Devil had previously toured nationally in 1996–98 with funding from the Australia Council, earning him a Matilda Award and a Victorian Green Room Award nomination for Best Actor.

In 2007 Dykstra was nominated for an AFI Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Romulus, My Father directed by Richard Roxburgh. Other film appearances include Oranges and Sunshine, Clubland, Lantana, Garage Days, Ned Kelly, The View from Greenhaven, The Wannabes and Hey, Hey, It's Esther Blueburger.

Dykstra's theatre credits are extensive, including God of Carnage, The Wonderful World of Dissocia, The Unlikely Prospect of Happiness, for the Sydney Theatre Company and Babyteeth, Ray’s Tempest, The Underpants, The Laramie Project, Yibiyung and The Ham Funeral for Company B. His performances in Toy Symphony and Stuff Happens earning him national theatre Helpmann Awards for Best Supporting Actor in 2006 and 2008 and a Sydney Theatre Award (2007). Dykstra has also worked with the Malthouse Theatre, Theatre of Image, Griffin Theatre, Ensemble, La Boite Theatre and Queensland Theatre Company.

Television credits include the Australian TV series Spirited, Wild Boys, My Place, Scorched, BlackJack (film series), Loot, All Saints and White Collar Blue.

Dykstra is perhaps most well known for his portrayal of the character Barney, in the award-winning ABC TV series Rake.

In 2013 Dykstra appeared as Uncle Fester in the Australian production of the Broadway musical The Addams Family. For this performance Dykstra was honored with his third Helpmann Award, for Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical (2013).

Dykstra played Pumbaa in the Australian tour of Disney's The Lion King. For this performance Dykstra received a Sydney Theatre Award nomination for Best Performance by an Actor in a Musical (2013) and was nominated Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical at the 14th Annual Helpmann Awards.

In 2015 Dykstra won his second Equity Award, for Most Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama Series, for his portrayal of Barney in the ABC TV series Rake.

In 2016 Dykstra received an AACTA Award Nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a Television Drama for his performance as Barney in season 4 of Rake.

More recently Dykstra portrayed Lester in the Matchbox Pictures production Irreverent streaming on Peacock in the US and Netflix Australia. He also appeared in the ABC TV series Fires and In Limbo produced by Bunya Productions.

In 2024 Dykstra appeared in the ABC TV production of Ladies in Black.

Dykstra was honoured as a Fellow of the University at University of Southern Queensland (USQ)on September 26, 2024.

Filmography

Film

Television YearTitleRoleNotes 1996 Medivac Fitzpatrick TV series, episode 12 2000 Bondi Banquet Rufus TV series 2001 Water Rats Tino TV series, season 6, 2 episodes 2001 Grass Roots Bill Hooks TV series, season 2, episode 8: "Cars" 2002 BackBerner Mr Dennis McCauley TV series 2003White Collar Blue Dale Trindle TV series, season 2, episode 15 2003 All Saints Grant Jenkins TV series, season 7, episode 4: "Wolf" 2009 My Place Mr. Merry TV series, 2 episodes 2009 Spirited Adam One TV series, season 1, 8 episodes 2010–16 Rake Barney 'Barnyard' Meagher TV series, seasons 1–4, 32 episodesEquity Award for Most Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series 2011 Wild Boys Winston TV series, 2 episodes 2021 Why Are You Like This Secret Boy TV series, episode 2: "The Pressures of Late Capitalism" 2021 Fires David Jasic TV miniseries, 2 episodes 2022 Irreverent Lester TV series, 10 episodes 2023 Last King of the Cross Bartuccio TV series, episode 3 2023 In Limbo Frank TV miniseries, 6 episodes 2024 Ladies in Black Stefan Szombathelyi TV series, 6 episodes

Theatre

As actor Year Title Role Venue / Co. 1981 Peter Rabbit Tommy Brock Arts Theatre, Brisbane 1988 Macbeth Macbeth Grin and Tonic 1988 A Midsummer Night’s Dream Helena Grin and Tonic 1988; 1989 Hamlet Hamlet Grin and Tonic 1989 Gilgamesh Enkidu Grin and Tonic 1989 Macbeth Porter / Defence Lawyer Grin and Tonic 1989 Our Country’s Good Various roles Grin and Tonic 1989 Troilus and Cressida Priam the King Old Museum Building, Brisbane with Grin and Tonic 1990 Little Wings Baby Grin and Tonic 1990 Dreamworld Various roles Natural Theatre Company 1990 Playing for Time La Boite Theatre, Brisbane 1990 Shimada Billy Cremorne Theatre, Brisbane with Queensland Theatre 1990 The Ring Cycle Alberich Cremorne Theatre, Brisbane with QPAC 1992 Motor Bill and the Lovely Caroline Queensland Arts Council 1992; 1993; 1994 Body Slam Circus Style Performer La Boite Theatre, Brisbane, Wharf Theatre, Sydney, Princess Theatre, Brisbane, Space Theatre, Adelaide, Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne with Rock 'n' Roll Circus 1993 Knock 'Em Dead Queensland Arts Council 1993 And a Nightingale Sang Cremorne Theatre, Brisbane 1994 Top Pops Queensland Philharmonic Orchestra 1994 Greek Theatre Project University of Southern Queensland 1994 Worlds Apart Queensland Theatre 1994 The Winter’s Tale Archidamus, a lord of Bohemia / Norman Suncorp Theatre, Brisbane with Queensland Theatre 1994 The Gift of the Gorgon Attendant Spirit / Guard / Soldier Suncorp Theatre, Brisbane with Queensland Theatre 1995 Gigi Queensland Theatre 1995 Carmen Lillias Pastia Lyric Opera of Queensland 1995 Miss Bosnia Boris / Lidija La Boite Theatre, Brisbane 1996 Glamalot Sir Galahad Queensland with ToadShow 1996 Snapshots from Home The Paint Factory for Brisbane Festival & Queensland tour 1996; 1998 Children of the Devil One man show (various characters) Canberra, La Boite Theatre, Brisbane, Majestic Cinemas, Sydney, Metro Arts, Brisbane, Carlton Courthouse, Melbourne 1998 A Beautiful Life Ahmad La Boite Theatre, Brisbane with Matrix Theatre for Brisbane Festival 1999 The Taming of the Shrew Wandering Minstrel 1999 The Imaginary Invalid Beralde / Dr Krahper Ensemble Theatre, Sydney 1999 The Milemonium Project Glen Street Theatre, Sydney 2000 Below John Stables Theatre, Sydney with Griffin Theatre Company 2000 The Ham Funeral Second Relative Belvoir Street Theatre, Sydney 2001 The Gypsy Boy Zazel Seymour Centre, Sydney 2001 The Laramie Project Andy Paris / Phillip Dubois / Matt Galloway / Stephen Mead Johnson / Jonas Slanaker / Jeffrey Belvoir Street Theatre, Sydney 2003 The Underpants Versati Belvoir Street Theatre, Sydney 2004 The Odyssey Company B workshop, Perth 2004 The Unlikely Prospect of Happiness Ben O'Sullivan Sydney Theatre with STC 2005 Ray's Tempest Boris / Doctor / TV Presenter Belvoir Street Theatre, Sydney 2005 Stuff Happens Donald Rumsfeld Seymour Centre, Sydney, Comedy Theatre, Melbourne 2006 Not Like Beckett Walter Walloon Beckett Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne 2007 Toy Symphony Various roles Belvoir Street Theatre, Sydney 2008 Violet Time Liam National Playwrighting Festival 2008 Rock, Paper, Scissors Ronnie National Playwrighting Festival 2008 Yibiyung Doctor Belvoir Street Theatre, Sydney, Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne 2009 The Wonderful World of Dissocia Passenger 3 / Oath Taker / Attendant / Goat / Biffer / Nurse 2 Wharf Theatre with STC & MTC 2009 God of Carnage Michael Sydney Opera House with STC 2012 Babyteeth Gideon Belvoir Street Theatre, Sydney 2013 The Addams Family Uncle Fester Capitol Theatre, Sydney with Newtheatricals 2013–2015 The Lion King Pumbaa Capitol Theatre, Sydney, Lyric Theatre, Brisbane, Regent Theatre, Melbourne, Crown Theatre, Sydney with Disney Theatrical Productions 2017 Born Yesterday Harry Brock Southbank Theatre, Melbourne with MTC 2018 Twelfth Night Malvolio Southbank Theatre, Melbourne with MTC 2024 Holding the Man Neil Armstrong / various roles Belvoir Street Theatre, Sydney

As devisor / director Year Title Role Venue / Co. 1991 Playing for Time Playwright / Director La Boite Theatre, Brisbane 1996 Caca Courage Director Cremorne Theatre, Brisbane with D'Arts Program 1996; 1998 Children of the Devil Playwright / Devisor Canberra, La Boite Theatre, Brisbane, Majestic Cinemas, Sydney, Metro Arts, Brisbane, Carlton Courthouse, Melbourne 1997 Who Nose Romeo and Juliet? Director Queensland University of Technology with Vena Cava Theatre Company 1998 The Marriage of Figaro Director Stage X Festival & Zen Zen Do 1998 Kakos Director Queensland University of Technology 1999 The Milemonium Project Writer / Devisor Glen Street Theatre, Sydney 2003 Frocking Fantastic Devisor Visy Theatre, Brisbane

Awards and nominations

Award Year Category Result Work Green Room Award 1998 Best Male Actor Children of the Devil Matilda Award 1998 Best Male Actor Children of the Devil Film Critics’ Circle Award 1999 Best Male Actor Soft Fruit Australian Film Institute Award 1999 Best Actor in a Leading Role Soft Fruit Helpmann Award 2006 Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play Stuff Happens Australian Film Institute Award (AFI) 2007 Best Supporting Actor Romulus, My Father Critics' Circle Theatre Award 2007 Best Actor in a Supporting Role Toy Symphony Helpmann Award 2008 Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play Toy Symphony Equity Award 2011 Most Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama Series RAKE Series 1 USQ Alumnus Awards 2013 Outstanding Alumnus of the Year Outstanding Achievement Helpmann Award 2013 Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical The Addams Family Critics' Circle Theatre Award 2013 Best Performance by an Actor in a Musical The Lion King Canberra Film Festival Award 2013 Best Performance Maiden Helpmann Award 2014 Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical The Lion King Equity Ensemble Award 2015 Most Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama Series RAKE Series 3 Australian Film Institute Award (AFI) 2016 Best Supporting Actor in a Television Drama RAKE Series 4