Tom O'Sullivan (actor)

Tom O'Sullivan is an Australian television, film and theatre actor. O’Sullivan was born in Perth, Western Australia, and later relocated to Sydney to study at the National Institute of Dramatic Art where he graduated in 2003. His first television role was a guest role on the soap opera Home and Away and was followed by playing Tom Huppatz in the ABC TV mini-series Rain Shadow. In 2010, O'Sullivan played Sean 'Grunter' Sinclair in the crime drama Underbelly: The Golden Mile and joined the main cast of Nine Network drama Cops LAC playing Senior Constable Nathan Holt. He has also portrayed William Chambers in the TVNZ 1 drama When We Go To War and Michael Shrimpton in the Seven Network drama series Molly.

Tom O'Sullivan
Born
Perth, Australia
OccupationActor
Years active2001–present

Aside from his television work, O'Sullivan has appeared in mainstream films and independent short films. The actor has also concentrated on theatre work throughout his career. His involvement at the 2006 Short and Sweet theatre festival helped boost his profile and he gained numerous other stage roles.

Early life

O’Sullivan was born in Perth, Western Australia, and went to Guildford Grammar School.[1] All four of his grandparents served Australia in World War II.[2] When he finished studying he spent one year travelling.[3] O'Sullivan moved from Perth to study acting at the National Institute of Dramatic Art in Sydney.[1] He completed his training and graduated in 2003.[4] He resides in Balmain, New South Wales.[5]

Career

Television and film

O'Sullivan has appeared in numerous television series, films and theatre works. He has also contributed to some as a writer. The actor believed that by gaining experience in all three would be the best way to further his career.[3] O’Sullivan's first television role was playing Keith Harris, a reporter who was punched in the face by the character Alf Stewart (Ray Meagher) following a helicopter crash, on the soap opera Home and Away.[1] He also did voice work on the 2006 animated film Happy Feet.[4][6] O'Sullivan secured the role of Tom Huppatz in the mini-series Rain Shadow, which aired on ABC TV from 7 October 2007.[7][8][9] He also gained small roles in the mainstream films Fool's Gold (2008) and X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009).[10]

In 2010, O'Sullivan took a role on crime drama Underbelly: The Golden Mile playing Sean 'Grunter' Sinclair.[11][7] To prepare for his role in Underbelly, the actor read books written by policemen who were involved with the subject matter of the show.[12] He then secured a role in the main cast of Nine Network drama Cops LAC playing Senior Constable Nathan Holt.[13] The character was described as an officer with ten years of experience in the police force.[14] Nine Network decided not to renew the show for a second season.[15] At the time O'Sullivan stated that Nathan had been his most high-profile role.[12] He felt at ease playing Nathan because of his research into his role in Underbelly and similar characters he played in theatre.[12]

In 2013, he played the role of Craig in the Seven Network drama Packed to the Rafters.[16] He also appeared in the short film Invisible playing Mitch. The film was an official selection at various independent film festivals.[17] He also played Adam Evans in the Network Ten comedy drama series Wonderland.[18] Next came a guest appearance in the drama A Place to Call Home playing Jack Duncan Snr in the episode titled "The Ghosts of Christmas Past", which aired on 8 June 2014.[7][19] O'Sullivan played the role of Connor in The Reckoning.[5] He also appeared in the short film A Man on the Edge, playing the male lead Adam Western. The film was selected for the 2015 Flickerfest International Short Film Festival.[6]

In 2015, the actor secured the role of William Chambers in the TVNZ 1 drama When We Go To War, which aired in New Zealand.[20] The character is a "proud and intelligent" Australian doctor who resides in New Zealand and served in the Gallipoli Campaign.[2] That year he gained more film appearances as Bret Buchanan in Observance and a newscaster in Truth.[10][5] In 2016, O'Sullivan secured the role of Michael Shrimpton in the Seven Network drama series Molly. The show focuses on the Molly Meldrum's rise to fame via the show Countdown, which Shrimpton created.[1]

In 2017, O'Sullivan returned to Home and Away, this time playing Brian Gilbert.[7][21] In addition was a small role in the film Alien: Covenant.[10] The actor secured the supporting role of Nate Sabo in the 2018 Network Ten drama series Playing for Keeps.[22] He also played Michael Gibson in the first episode of Nine Network drama Bite Club and played a doctor in an episode of Preacher.[23][7]

Theatre

O'Sullivan has also concentrated on theatre work gaining roles in various productions.[7] In 2005, he played an officer in the East Coast Theatre Company production, Terminus.[24] He then took part in the 2006 Short and Sweet theatre festival which helped launch his stage career.[7][25] Notable works include playing Ferdinand and Caliban in Harlos Productions 2007 stagings of Shakespeare's The Tempest and Peter in Dying City.[26][27] In 2009, O'Sullivan took the role of Craig in the Black Swan State Theatre Company production of The Dark Room, an original Australian play.[3]

In February 2010, he took a lead role of Mitchell in The Little Dog Laughed at the Cremorne Theatre.[28] That year he took on Freddy Page in The Deep Blue Sea at The Playhouse Theatre.[29] In September 2011, the actor starred in a Cat On A Hot Tin Roof at Perth's State Theatre Centre of Western Australia.[30] From January to February 2012, O'Sullivan appeared as Stanley Saunders in Hillary Bell's The White Divers of Broome at the Heath Ledger Theatre.[7][31]

In September 2015, he starred in the theatre productions Ride and Fourplay which opened at the Eternity Playhouse, Sydney.[32] In November 2018, O'Sullivan appeared in 80 Minutes No Interval at Theatre Works, St. Kilda.[33]

Filmography
Year Title Role Notes
2001 Cross-Town Traffic Matt Short film
2004 The Lucky Country Nuggett Short film
2005 Boys Grammar Nick Short film
2006 Home and Away Keith Harris Guest role
2007 The Course Ford Film
2007 Rain Shadow Tom Huppatz Regular role
2008 Fool's Gold Precious Gem Crew Member 2 Film
2008 Grey Oldman Short film
2009 The Key to Bravery Angry Boss Short film
2009 X-Men Origins: Wolverine Logging Supervisor Film
2009 Reality Survivor Tommy Bel Castro Short film
2010 Underbelly: The Golden Mile Sean 'Grunter' Sinclair Recurring role
2010 Cops LAC Nathan Holt Regular role
2011 Commercialisms Actor Short film
2012 Portrait of a Zombie Neighbour Film
2013 Packed to the Rafters Craig / Logan Guest role
2013 Invisible Mitch Short film
2013 Wonderland Adam Evans Guest role
2013 Refuge David Short film
2014 A Place to Call Home John 'Jack' Duncan Snr Guest role
2014 The Reckoning Connor Film
2014 A Man on the Edge Adam Western Short film
2015 Observance Bret Buchanan Film
2015 Truth Newscaster Film
2015 When We Go To War William Chambers Regular role
2016 Molly Michael Shrimpton Main role
2017 Home and Away Brian Gilbert Guest role
2017 Alien: Covenant David/Walter Double Film
2017 Outbreak Generation Ben Short film
2018 Bite Club Michael Gibson Guest role
2018 Playing for Keeps Nate Sabo Guest role
2019 The Furies Derek Film
2019 Preacher Doctor Guest role
Sources:[5][7]

References
  1. Yeap, Sue (5 February 2016). "Perth actor jumped at the chance to star in Molly". The West Australian. (Seven West Media). Retrieved 29 January 2019.
  2. "Dr William Chambers". TVNZ. 26 May 2015. Archived from the original on 26 May 2015. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  3. "Behind the scenes – The Dark Room". Black Swan State Theatre Company. Archived from the original on 14 September 2009. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  4. "Tom O'Sullivan". Sue Barnett Management. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
  5. "On the Couch with Tom O'Sullivan". artsreview.com.au. 9 September 2015. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
  6. Heary, Monica (15 January 2015). "A Man on the Edge makes it to Flickerfest". St George and Sutherland Shire Leader. (Fairfax Media). Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  7. "O'Sullivan, Tom" (PDF). Sue Barnett Management. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
  8. "Rain Shadow". Amazon.com. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
  9. "The Audreys – News". The Audreys. 28 September 2007. Archived from the original on 17 October 2007. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
  10. "Tom O'Sullivan". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 28 February 2019. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  11. Shearer, Geoff (16 August 2011). "Underbelly stars in Cat On A Hot Tin Roof". The Courier-Mail. (News Corp Australia). Retrieved 29 January 2019.
  12. Knox, David (1 October 2010). "New rookie on the block". TV Tonight. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  13. Houston, Melinda (31 August 2010). "Cops: LAC". The Sydney Morning Herald. (Fairfax Media). Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  14. "Meet the team". Nine Network. Archived from the original on 31 August 2010. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  15. Knox, David (22 November 2010). "Cops LAC not returning". TV Tonight. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  16. "Today's television, Tuesday May 14". NewsMail via PressReader. 14 May 2013. Retrieved 29 January 2019.icon of an open green padlock
  17. "Invisible". Breathe Films. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  18. Slinn, Adam (30 July 2015). "This August on M3: The Season 6A Finale of Pretty Little Liars, the Series Finale of Chasing Maria Menounos, and New Episodes of Dating Naked, Tattoos After Dark, Wonderland, and Hollywood game night". Bell Media. (BCE Inc.). Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  19. "Australian Television: A Place To Call Home: episode guide: series 2". Australian Television Information Archive. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  20. "TV review: When We Go To War's debut episode". The New Zealand Herald. (NZME). 26 April 2015. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  21. "Episode 6781". Radio Times. (Immediate Media Company). Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  22. "PFK credits Ten 107" (PDF). Tenplay. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  23. "Bite Club: episode guide". Australian Television Archive. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  24. "Cast". East Coast Theatre Company. Archived from the original on 28 July 2010. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  25. Dodds, Troy (7 December 2009). "Short+Sweet headed to NIDA". Aussie Theatre. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
  26. Blake, Jason (20 August 2007). "The Tempest". The Sydney Morning Herald. (Fairfax Media). Retrieved 29 January 2019.
  27. Hallett, Bryce (2 July 2007). "Dying City". The Sydney Morning Herald. (Fairfax Media). Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  28. Munro-Wallis, Nigel (12 February 2010). "The Little Dog Laughed". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
  29. "The Deep Blue Sea". Bocs Ticketing. Archived from the original on 14 November 2010. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  30. Rivers, Beth (15 September 2011). "Cat On A Hot Tin Roof keeps the magic nearly 60 years on". The Sunday Times. (Seven West Media). Retrieved 29 January 2019.
  31. Crabbe, Ashlee (3 November 2011). "The White Divers of Broome". The Sydney Morning Herald. (Fairfax Media). Retrieved 29 January 2019.
  32. Hayes, Samantha (22 September 2015). "Review: Ride and Fourplay, Eternity Playhouse". Megaphone Oz. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
  33. Woodhead, Cameron (25 November 2018). "80 Minutes No Interval: Curses and twists even the critics will love". The Age. (Fairfax Media). Retrieved 29 January 2019.
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