   bruno lawrence (12 february 194110 june 1995) was a new zealand musician and actor. initially notable as a musician and founder of 1970s ensemble blerta, he went on to well-regarded roles in several major films; his television work included starring in 1990s era australian satirical series frontline. ==biography== born david charles lawrence in worthing, west sussex, england, he migrated with his family to new zealand in 1946, settling in new plymouth before moving to wellington in 1948. lawrence spent most of his life in new zealand, but also worked extensively in australia. he was a renowned jazz and rock drummer, playing drums in many bands, including max merritt & the meteors, quincy conserve, blerta, and the crocodiles. his last recording was with bernie mcgann, larry gales and jonathan crayford on "jazz at the st. james" in 1989. in the early 1970s, lawrence founded blerta ("bruno lawrence's electric revelation and travelling apparition"). the multi and theatrical co-operative toured new zealand and in parts of australia. blerta saw him performing alongside many people he would work with later as an actor, including director geoff murphy, and actors martyn sanderson and ian watkin. ==acting roles== lawrence began acting in short films in the late 1960s. he won his first acting award, for television play time out, in 1971, although at this point music took up the majority of his time. by the late 1980s he had become one of new zealand's most recognised actors on his own soil. between 1981 and 1986 he was a much loved feature of many local films; he continued to act in occasional nz productions through until 1993. lawrence's breakthrough movie role was relationship drama smash palace (1981). playing the former race car driver who leaves with his daughter after the breakdown of his marriage, bruno won an award at the manila film festival, and acclaim from american critic pauline kael. further acclaim came with his le
1941_births 1995_deaths Cancer_deaths_in_New_Zealand Deaths_from_lung_cancer English_emigrants_to_New_Zealand New_Zealand_expatriates_in_Australia New_Zealand_male_film_actors New_Zealand_musicians New_Zealand_people_of_English_descent People_from_Worthing