# 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

| Title | Year | Role | Notes |
| 1999 | Paperback Hero | Stage Hand | Feature film |
| 1999 | Soft Fruit | Bo | Feature film AFI Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role (1999) Film Critics’ Circle Award nomination (1999) |
| 2001 | Lantana | Neil Toohey (Mystery Man) | Feature film |
| 2001 | Beach Story | Frank | Short film |
| 2001 | Garage Days | Bruno | Feature film |
| 2002 | Stuffed Bunny | Man | Short film |
| 2001 | Versus | Jay | Short film |
| 2002 | BlackJack: Murder Archive | Buchanan | TV film |
| 2002 | Ned Kelly | Wild Wright | Feature film |
| 2002 | The Wannabes | Marcus | Feature film |
| 2004 | Loot | Bruno Batelli | TV movie |
| 2004 | BlackJack: Sweet Science | Buchanan | TV film |
| 2004 | Amorality Tale | Brian Chappell | Short film |
| 2005 | BlackJack: In the Money | Buchanan | TV film |
| 2005 | BlackJack: Ace Point Game | Buchanan | TV film |
| 2005 | The Water Diary | Rog (Father) | Short film |
| 2007 | Clubland | Shane | Feature film |
| 2007 | Romulus, My Father | Mitru | Feature film AFI Award Nomination for Best Supporting Actor (2007) |
| 2007 | BlackJack: Ghosts | Buchanan | TV film |
| 2007 | Hey Hey It's Esther Blueburger | Osmond Blueburger | Feature film |
| 2008 | Scorched | Keith | TV film |
| 2008 | The View from Greenhaven | Tim | Feature film |
| 2008 | The Adventures of Charlotte and Henry | Henry's Dad / Tough Guy | TV movie |
| 2009 | Nightwalking | Voices | Short film |
| 2010 | Oranges and Sunshine | Dan | Feature film |
| 2013 | Maiden | Mick | Short film |
| 2018 | Slam | Paul Koustakidis | Film |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 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 |
| 2003 | White 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 episodes Equity 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 | Nominated | Children of the Devil |
| Matilda Award | 1998 | Best Male Actor | Won | Children of the Devil |
| Film Critics’ Circle Award | 1999 | Best Male Actor | Nominated | Soft Fruit |
| Australian Film Institute Award | 1999 | Best Actor in a Leading Role | Won | Soft Fruit |
| Helpmann Award | 2006 | Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play | Won | Stuff Happens |
| Australian Film Institute Award (AFI) | 2007 | Best Supporting Actor | Nominated | Romulus, My Father |
| Critics' Circle Theatre Award | 2007 | Best Actor in a Supporting Role | Won | Toy Symphony |
| Helpmann Award | 2008 | Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play | Won | Toy Symphony |
| Equity Award | 2011 | Most Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama Series | Won | RAKE Series 1 |
| USQ Alumnus Awards | 2013 | Outstanding Alumnus of the Year | Won | Outstanding Achievement |
| Helpmann Award | 2013 | Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical | Won | The Addams Family |
| Critics' Circle Theatre Award | 2013 | Best Performance by an Actor in a Musical | Nominated | The Lion King |
| Canberra Film Festival Award | 2013 | Best Performance | Won | Maiden |
| Helpmann Award | 2014 | Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical | Nominated | The Lion King |
| Equity Ensemble Award | 2015 | Most Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama Series | Won | RAKE Series 3 |
| Australian Film Institute Award (AFI) | 2016 | Best Supporting Actor in a Television Drama | Nominated | RAKE Series 4 |