Syd Brisbane

Syd Brisbane is an Australian actor.

Early life and education Brisbane undertook his formal training at the Flinders University Drama Centre, in Adelaide, graduating in 1983.

Career In 1990, Brisbane appeared in AFI Award-winning film Struck by Lightning and miniseries Shadows of the Heart with Marcus Graham. He then had a role in 1992 TV sports drama miniseries Tracks of Glory, with Cameron Daddo and Richard Roxburgh. He followed this with a role in 1993 independent film Bad Boy Bubby opposite Nicholas Hope. That same year, he appeared opposite Russell Crowe in one of his early roles, in drama film Hammers Over the Anvil.

In 1995, Brisbane starred as 'The Man' in Australian-Italian sci-fi film Epsilon (aka Alien Visitor) directed by Rolf de Heer. He also featured in 1998 romantic comedy Dead Letter Office with Miranda Otto, before playing a customs official in The Missing the following year.

In 2001, Brisbane co-starred with David Field in comedy drama film Silent Partner, in the role of Bill. He appeared opposite Nathan Phillips in two films in 2004 – comedy adventure Under the Radar and drama One Perfect Day. A role in TV movie Little Oberon followed in 2005, where he played opposite Sigrid Thornton. In 2006, he played the role of Jeff in comedy feature BoyTown, alongside Glenn Robbins and Mick Molloy. The following year he featured in docudrama film Boxing Day.

In 2012, Brisbane played the part of Gavin 'Cheesy' Cheeseman in Beaconsfield, a TV movie based on the true story of Brant Webb and Todd Russell, who were trapped nearly a kilometre below the surface in a mining disaster. The same year, he had a recurring role as Repro in miniseries Conspiracy 365.

Brisbane played the role of Ben in 2014 crime film Cut Snake, alongside Sullivan Stapleton and Jessica De Gouw. That same year, he had a role as Smythe in Fell, with Daniel Henshall and Jacqueline McKenzie. A part in comedy film Sucker with Timothy Spall and Shaun Micallef followed, as well as the recurring role of Mr Norris, school maths teacher and year head, in children's series Worst Year of My Life Again. He then appeared in the 2016 sequel to Red Dog, family film Red Dog: True Blue, with Jason Isaacs, Levi Miller and Bryan Brown.

In 2020, Brisbane acted in a recurring capacity in drama miniseries Stateless, with Yvonne Strahovski, Cate Blanchett and Jai Courtenay. In 2022, Brisbane was announced as part of the cast for season two of ABC comedy series Aftertaste, in which he played the role of Terry, opposite Erik Thomson and Rachel Griffiths. He also played Mark in 2022 Paramount+ drama series More Than This. Most recently, he was named in the cast for the 2026 second season of Amazon Prime black comedy mystery series Deadloch. He is also set to appear in upcoming Stan original series Gnomes, starring Asa Butterfield.

Brisbane has also worked extensively in theatre. In 1998, he performed in a production of The Europeans for Sydney's Wharf Theatre in 1998 and in Blue Remembered Hills for Belvoir Street Theatre in 2001. In 2012 he performed in a staging of Unpack This! at Subiaco Arts Centre, In 2016, he played the role of Manuel in a national touring production of Fawlty Towers, which was adapted for the stage by John Cleese.

Brisbane co-founded theatre production company The Rabble in Melbourne 2006.

Awards YearWorkAwardCategoryResultRef. 2016 Ryan Green Room Awards Best Male Performer – Independent Theatre 2024 Animal Farm Green Room Awards Best Performer

Filmography

Television YearTitleRoleNotesRef. 1990 Shadows of the Heart Johnny 2 episodes 1992 Tracks of Glory Larrikan 2 episodes 1999–2002 Stingers Various characters 4 episodes 2001 Horace and Tina Mr Wilson 1 episode 2002 Shock Jock Chip 1 episode The Secret Life of Us Foreman 1 episode 2003 MDA Scott Watts 1 episode McLeod's Daughters Ben 1 episode 2005 Heartbreak Tour Sergeant Falk TV movie Little Oberon Butcher TV movie 2010 City Homicide Brian Hocking 1 episode 2012 Conspiracy 365 Repro 4 episodes Beaconsfield Gavin 'Cheesy' Cheeseman TV movie Upper Middle Bogan Farmer 1 episode Mr & Mrs Murder Lincoln 1 episode The Doctor Blake Mysteries Stan Egan 1 episode 2014 Worst Year of My Life Again Mr Quinnford Norris 9 episodes 2017 The Ex-PM Loins 1 episode True Story with Hamish & Andy JJ 1 episode2019 Upright Barry 1 episode The Inbestigators Gary 1 episode Glitch Cam 1 episode Bloom Mayor Patrick Nemaric 1 episode 2020 Stateless Teddy 5 episodes Shantaram Foreperson 1 episode Aftertaste Terry 6 episodes 2024 Buried Nigel 3 episodes High Country Scooter 5 episodes 2026 Deadloch Roger 6 episodes BoyTown Jeff 2007 Boxing Day Dave 2009 The Pistachio Effect Kevin Short film 2010 Agency Time Van Short film 2011 Keeper Beggar Short film 2014 Cut Snake Ben 2019 Dirt Music Chugger 2022 Sam and Sophie Yelling Poet Short film 2023 Related Short film 2026 Silent Night Brett (voice) Short film The Busking Adventures of Violet and Sparkles Luke Short film – Completed Tone The Coach Short film – Post-production Who Needs Love Songs? Post-production

Theatre

As actor YearTitleRoleNotesRef. 1982 Happy End Red Shed Theatre, Adelaide 2003 The Government Inspector Arts House Meat Market, Melbourne with Hoist Theatre Group Squizzy Trades Hall New Ballroom, Melbourne with Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne 2014 Night on Bald Mountain Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne Triumph Fortyfivedownstairs, Melbourne 2019 Macbeth Macduff Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne with Australian Shakespeare Co 2020 Hamlet Gravedigger Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne with Australian Shakespeare Co 2021 Because the Night Polonius Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne An Indigenous Trilogy, Part 2: Masterpiece La Mama, Melbourne 2023 Romeo and Juliet Peter Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne with Australian Shakespeare Co Much Ado About Nothing Antonio Australian Shakespeare Co 2024 A Midsummer Night's Dream Puck Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne with Australian Shakespeare Co 2024; 2025 37 The General Bille Brown Theatre, Brisbane with MTC Lazarus Various roles Yirramboi Festival 2026 Pride and Prejudice Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne with Bloomshed Some Secrets Should Be Kept Secret La Mama, Melbourne