# Geoff Morrell (actor)

Geoff Morrell (born 19 February 1958) is an Australian actor.

## Early life

Morrell was born in Fairfield in Western Sydney, where his father was a schoolteacher. The family moved to Wollongong when Morrell was nine. He finished high school without doing well, academically. He subsequently worked at the Port Kembla Steelworks, but decided to repeat year 12, and after applying himself second time around, topped the HSC.
Morrell received a NSW Teacher's Scholarship and studied a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Wollongong. While studying, he made his stage debut as Algernon in The Importance of Being Earnest. He was also President of the Student Representative Council. He graduated in 1979.

## Career

Morrell began his career in theatre acting, becoming a founding member of the Theatre South organisation. In 1983, he briefly moved to England, featuring in a number of productions there.
In 1985, he branched into film acting, with a minor role in a telemovie version of Oscar Wilde's Lady Windermere's Fan. Over the next few years, he moved between film and theatre, starring in productions such as Macbeth and King Lear, as well as several supporting roles in films, telemovies, miniseries and regular series. These included notable Australian films Blackrock and Oscar and Lucinda. He has had guest roles in the series The Secret Life of Us, Stingers and Farscape.
Morrell starred as Harry in Australia's first production of Michael Gow's play Away, which was performed by the Griffin Theatre Company and premiered at the Stables Theatre in Sydney on 7 January 1986.
After filming Oscar and Lucinda, Morrell won the role of forensic scientist Lance Fisk in the series Murder Call, which screened from 1997 to 1999. In 2000, he won one of his most significant roles to date, as the protagonist of the ABC series Grass Roots. The series was not renewed after the 2001 season, and Morrell followed this with a major role in the ABC telemovie Marking Time, as the father of a boy in love with an asylum seeker.
Morrell won the 2000 AFI Award for Best Actor for Grass Roots, and has been nominated four times, for Fallen Angels (1997), Grass Roots second series, Changi (2001) and Marking Time. He has been nominated for three Silver Logies for Grass Roots (first and second series) and Changi.
In 2004, Morrell made a move into the mainstream when he became one of four new actors to join the long-running police series Blue Heelers, on which he played Sergeant Mark Jacobs. In September 2004, there was speculation that the ABC would commission a third series of Grass Roots. However, Morrell stated that the ABC "may have missed its chance", and as he remained contracted to Blue Heelers, would likely not have been able to participate if the series did return. Due to family commitments, Morrell chose to leave Blue Heelers.
He has also been involved in the film Right Here Right Now. In 2010, Morrell made a return to ABC to star alongside Richard Roxburgh in the first series of Rake. Morrell played the role of Joe Sandilands, a fictional NSW Attorney-General involved in the inside wheeling and dealing of the NSW Labor.
In 2015, he appeared as Inspector Clive Small, in the two-part miniseries Catching Milat.
He appeared in the feature film Rogue, and Anthony Hayes' feature film debut Ten Empty. In 2010, he began work on the set of Cloudstreet, a television miniseries version of Tim Winton's novel. He plays the role of Lester Lamb.
Morrell has since appeared in numerous other productions including The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. In 2023 Morrell was named as part of the cast in Foxtel drama High Country, and Stan series Thou Shalt Not Steal.
In 2024, Morrell was named as part of the cast for the Liam Neeson led The Ice Road 2: Road to the Sky. On 21 November 2024, Morrell was named for the second series of Mystery Road: Origin.

## Personal life

Morrell is married to Australian actress and NIDA alumni Caroline Brazier. They met while working on the 2007 Australian thriller Rogue, and were married in 2008.
He has two children together with his ex-wife Megan, whom he had married in the early 1980s.
Since 1995, Morrell has also been an accomplished visual artist, having held several solo exhibitions.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role |
| 1992 | The Girl Who Came Late (aka Daydream Believer) | Brad Hislop |
| 1994 | No Worries | Ben Bell |
| 1996 | Mr. Reliable (aka My Entire Life) | Sergeant Campbell |
| 1997 | Blackrock | Stewart Ackland |
| 1997 | Oscar and Lucinda | Charley Fig |
| 2000 | Looking for Alibrandi | Mr. Barton |
| 2003 | Ned Kelly | Robert Scott |
| 2004 | Right Here Right Now | Paul |
| 2007 | Lucky Miles | Peter Coode |
| 2007 | Rogue | Allen Smith |
| 2008 | Ten Empty | Ross |
| 2008 | The View from Greenhaven | Theodore |
| 2009 | Coffin Rock | George |
| 2010 | Oranges and Sunshine | Walter |
| 2014 | The Mule | John |
| 2017 | Red Christmas | Joe |
| TBA | The Ice Road 2: Road to the Sky | TBA |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1985 | Lady Windemere's Fan | Mr. Hopper | TV film |
| 1986 | The Bill | Rod | 1 episode |
| 1986 | The Monocled Mutineer | Aussie Gas Mask | 2 episodes |
| 1988 | Rafferty's Rules | Alan Tillaman | Season 4, episode 9 |
| 1988 | Captain James Cook | Perry | Miniseries, 3 episodes |
| 1989 | Round the Twist | Porter | 1 episode |
| 1991 | Strangers | Frank | TV movie |
| 1991 | The Flying Doctors | Dr. Rex Waddington | 1 episode |
| 1993 | G.P. | Neil Gordon | 1 episode |
| 1994 | Heartbreak High | Allan Masters | 1 episode |
| 1995 | Bordertown | Bates | Miniseries, 8 episodes |
| 1995 | Blue Murder | Les Knox | Miniseries, 1 episode |
| 1996 | Fallen Angels | Jack Landers | 6 episodes |
| 1997–1999 | Murder Call | Det. Snr. Sgt. Lance Fisk | 56 episodes |
| 1998 | Good Guys, Bad Guys | Beckett | 1 episode |
| 1998 | Never Tell Me Never | Rehab Specialist | TV movie |
| 2001 | My Husband, My Killer | Bob Richardson | TV film |
| 2001 | BackBerner | | 1 episode |
| 2001 | The Secret Life of Us | | 2 episodes |
| 2001 | Changi | Major Dr. Rowdy Lawson | Miniseries, 6 episodes |
| 2000–2003 | Grass Roots | Col Dunkley | 18 episodes |
| 2003 | Farscape | TR Holt | 1 episode |
| 2003 | Stingers | Ron Moore | 1 episode |
| 2003 | Marking Time | Geoff Fleming | Miniseries |
| 2004 | Go Big | Ian Patterson | TV film |
| 2004–2005 | Blue Heelers | Sergeant Mark Jacobs | 59 episodes |
| 2005 | Second Chance | | TV film |
| 2006 | All Saints | Chris Harrison | 1 episode |
| 2007 | Curtin | Ben Chifley | TV film |
| 2007 | Bastard Boys | Chris Corrigan | Miniseries |
| 2008 | Emerald Falls | Jack Donnelly | TV film |
| 2008 | Sea Patrol | Lieutenant Commander Jack Freeman | Season 2, 1 episode |
| 2008 | Bed of Roses | Tibor Havel | 4 episodes |
| 2009 | Rogue Nation | John Macarthur | 2 episodes |
| 2009 | Packed to the Rafters | Tim Connelly | 3 episodes |
| 2010 | Not Available | Remington | TV short film |
| 2010 | Rake | Joe Sandilands | Season 1, 7 episodes |
| 2011 | Small Time Gangster | Les | Miniseries, 8 episodes |
| 2011 | Cloudstreet | Lester Lamb | Miniseries, 3 episodes |
| 2011 | Winners & Losers | Paul Armstrong | 4 episodes |
| 2011–2012 | Home and Away | Geoffrey King | 8 episodes |
| 2012 | Dripping in Chocolate | Stuart Verger | TV film |
| 2013 | Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries | Bob Ryan | 1 episode |
| 2013 | Serangoon Road | Sir Philip Tuckworth | 1 episode |
| 2015 | Catching Milat | Inspector Clive Small | Miniseries, 2 episodes |
| 2015 | 8MMM Aboriginal Radio | Dave Cross | 6 episodes |
| 2015 | Open Slather | Special Guest | 3 episodes |
| 2015–2016 | Please Like Me | Bruce | 2 episodes |
| 2016 | The Code | David Banks | Season 2, 6 episodes |
| 2016 | Deep Water | Don Lustigman | Miniseries, 2 episodes |
| 2017 | Top of the Lake: China Girl | Ray – Pathologist | 3 episodes |
| 2017 | Fucking Adelaide | Geoff | Miniseries, 2 episodes |
| 2018 | Nippers of Dead Bird Bay | Judge | 1 episode |
| 2019 | Blue Water Empire | Government Official | |
| 2019 | Harrow | Dr. Laurie Badcoe | Season 2, 4 episodes |
| 2022–2024 | The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power | Waldreg | 7 episodes |
| 2023 | Wolf Like Me | Peter Stenning | 2 episodes |
| 2023 | Compulsory Entertainment | Uncle Pete | 1 episode |
| 2024 | High Country | Bryan Harris | 7 episodes |
| 2024 | Thou Shalt Not Steal | Dick | Miniseries, 2 episodes |
| 2025 | Mystery Road: Origin | | 6 episodes |

## Theatre

| Year | Title | Role | Type |
| | Macbeth | | Classical Theatre Co |
| | The Importance of Being Earnest | Algernon | University of Wollongong |
| 1979 | The Common Room | | Teachers Federation Auditorium with Southern Cross Theatre Company for Sydney Festival |
| 1980 | The Con Man | David | Wollongong with Theatre South |
| 1980 | Man of La Mancha | Dr. Carrasco | Wollongong Conservatorium Theatre Company |
| 1981 | First People | | NSW |
| 1981 | Norse Saga | Thorhall Hunter / Kol | NSW with Seagull Theatre-in-Education |
| 1981 | Travelling North | Freddy | Wollongong Technical College with Theatre South |
| 1981; 1983 | Might as Well Talk to Yourself (or Confusions) | Waiter / Others | Wollongong Technical College with Theatre South |
| 1981 | The Playboy of the Western World | Shawn Keogh | Wollongong Technical College with Theatre South |
| 1982 | Can't Pay? Won't Pay! | | Wollongong Technical College with Theatre South |
| 1982 | Diggers' Darling | | Wollongong Technical College, Clubbe Hall, Mittagong with Theatre South |
| 1983 | The Glass Menagerie | | Wollongong Technical College with Theatre South |
| 1983 | What the Butler Saw | | Wollongong Technical College with Theatre South |
| 1983 | On Our Selection | | Wollongong Town Hall with Theatre South |
| 1986 | Away | Harry | Stables Theatre, Sydney with Griffin Theatre Company |
| 1986 | The Madras House | | Sydney Opera House with STC |
| 1986 | The Seagull | | Sydney Opera House with STC |
| 1986 | Don't Pay! Don't Pay! | | Playhouse, Newcastle with Hunter Valley Theatre Company |
| 1987 | Trumpets and Raspberries | | Wharf Theatre, Sydney with Theatre South for Sydney Festival |
| 1987 | Tom and Viv | | Wharf Theatre, Sydney with STC |
| 1987 | Blood Relations | Das | Sydney Opera House, Playhouse Adelaide with STCSA & STC |
| 1987 | The Department | John | Seymour Centre, Sydney with Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust |
| 1988 | King Lear | Edgar | Playhouse Adelaide |
| 1988 | Big and Little | Guitar Player / A Young Man / Man | Sydney Opera House with STC |
| 1989 | Top Silk | Trevor Fredericks | Seymour Centre, Sydney, Melbourne Athenaeum, Canberra Theatre, Playhouse Adelaide with MTC |
| 1989 | Hedda Gabler | Jörgen Tesman | Playhouse Adelaide with STCSA |
| 1990 | Other Times | Roo | Playhouse, Newcastle with Hunter Valley Theatre Company |
| 1990 | The Tempest | | Belvoir Street Theatre, Sydney |
| 1990 | Hot Fudge and Icecream | | Wharf Theatre, Sydney with STC |
| 1991 | Racing Demon | | Wharf Theatre, Sydney with STC |
| 1992 | The Boy Who Climbed Windmills | | Riverside Theatres Parramatta, Wharf Theatre, Sydney, Zenith Theatre, Sydney for Sydney Festival |
| 1992 | Time and the Room | | Wharf Theatre, Sydney with STC |
| 1993 | Scenes from an Execution | | Belvoir Street Theatre, Sydney |
| 1994 | Short Circuit | | Seymour Centre, Sydney for Sydney Festival |
| 1994 | A Cheery Soul | Mr Wakeman / Furniture Removal Man 2 | Her Majesty's Theatre, Adelaide with Queensland Theatre for Adelaide Festival of Arts |
| 1994 | Away | | Riverside Theatres Parramatta with STC |
| 1994 | Oleanna | John | Wharf Theatre, Sydney, Geelong Arts Centre, Monash University, Melbourne, Fairfax Studio, Melbourne with STC & MTC |
| 1995 | The Malevolence | | Belvoir Street Theatre, Sydney |
| 1996 | Pentecost | | Wharf Theatre, Sydney with STC |
| 1996-99 | Speaking in Tongues | Pete / Neil / John | Stables Theatre, Sydney, Marian Street Theatre, Sydney with Griffin Theatre Company |
| 1999 | Things We Do For Love | | Marian Street Theatre, Sydney |
| 1999 | Art | Serge | Theatre Royal, Sydney with Gordon Frost Organisation |
| 2000 | A Month in the Country | Arkady Sergyevich Islayev | Sydney Opera House with STC |
| 2000 | Life After George | George | Wharf Theatre with STC |
| 2000 | A Cheery Soul | Mr Wakeham | Sydney Opera House with STC & Company B Belvoir for Sydney Festival |
| 2002 | Man of La Mancha | Dr Sanson Carrasco / Duke | Regent Theatre, Melbourne, Capitol Theatre, Sydney |
| 2004 | Blithe Spirit | Charles | Sydney Opera House with MTC & STC |
| 2005 | Love Letters | Andrew Makepeace Ladd III | NIDA Parade Theatre, Sydney |
| 2008 | Rabbit | Father | Wharf Theatre with Sydney Theatre Company |
| 2009 | Ruben Guthrie | Peter | Belvoir Street Theatre, Sydney |
| 2009 | God of Carnage | Michel Vallon | Playhouse, Melbourne with MTC |
| 2012 | Australia Day | Brian | Playhouse Melbourne, Riverside Theatres Parramatta, Canberra Theatre Centre, Sydney Opera House with MTC & STC |
| 2013 | Vere (Faith) | Ralph / Roger | Dunstan Playhouse, Adelaide, Sydney Opera House with STCSA & STC |
| 2016 | The Blind Giant is Dancing | Michael Wells | Belvoir Street Theatre, Sydney |
| 2016 | The Great Fire | Patrick | Belvoir Street Theatre, Sydney |
| 2017–19 | Black is the New White | Dennison Smith | Wharf Theatre, Sydney, Playhouse Brisbane, IMB Theatre Wollongong, Roslyn Packer Theatre Sydney, Riverside Theatres Parramatta, Southbank Theatre, Melbourne, Dunstan Playhouse, Adelaide with STCSA & STC |

## Awards

| Year | Work | Award | Category | Result |
| 2000 | Grass Roots | AFI Awards | Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Television Drama | Won |
| 1997 | Fallen Angels | AFI Awards | Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Television Drama | Nominated |
| 2001 | Changi | AFI Awards | Best Performance by an Actor in a Telefeature or Miniseries | Nominated |
| 2003 | Grass Roots | AFI Awards | Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Television Drama or Comedy | Nominated |
| 2004 | Marking Time | AFI Awards | Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Television Drama or Comedy | Nominated |