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{{short description|Australian actor|bot=PearBOT 5}}
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{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2013}}
{{about||the American political scientist|Michael Beckley (political scientist)}}
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{{BLP sources|date=July 2017}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = Michael Beckley
| name = Michael Beckley
| image = michael-beckley-2019-3.jpg
| image = michael-beckley-2019-3.jpg
| caption = Beckley at the opening night of Opera Australia's 'West Side Story' on Sydney Harbour, 2019, in which he appeared as Officer Krupke.
| caption = Beckley at the opening night of Opera Australia's 'West Side Story' in which he appeared as Officer Krupke. 2019.
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1964|11|1}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1963|11|1}}
| occupation = Actor
| occupation = Actor
| birth_place =
| birth_place =
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'''Michael Beckley''' is an [[Australian]] actor. He has worked with major theatre companies in both Australia and the United Kingdom, and appeared on London's [[West End theatre|West End]] in '[[A Few Good Men (play)|A Few Good Men]]'<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.michaelbeckley.net/biography.html|title=michealbeckley.net|last=Beckley|first=Michael|date=2 February 2016|website=Michael Beckley Dot Net|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=}}</ref> (starring [[Rob Lowe]]) and '[[Cabaret (musical)|Cabaret]]'<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.michaelbeckley.net/biography.html|title=biography|website=www.michaelbeckley.net|access-date=2019-01-31}}</ref> (directed by award-winning director [[Rufus Norris]]). He is probably best known for playing [[Rhys Sutherland]], the patriarch of a new family that arrived in the fictional town of [[Summer Bay]] in the internationally-televised series ''[[Home and Away]]'' (2000 - 2004).
'''Michael Beckley''' is an [[Australians|Australian]] actor. He has worked with major theatre companies in both Australia and the United Kingdom, and appeared on London's [[West End theatre|West End]] in ''[[A Few Good Men (play)|A Few Good Men]]''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.michaelbeckley.net/biography.html|title=Michael Beckley Biography|last=Beckley|first=Michael|date=2 February 2016|website=Michael Beckley Dot Net}}</ref><ref>https://playbill.com/article/rob-lowe-opens-in-a-few-good-men-in-londons-west-end-sept-6-com-127853 {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}</ref><ref>https://thisistheatre.com/londonshows/afewgoodmen.html {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}</ref>(starring [[Rob Lowe]]) and [[Cabaret (musical)|''Cabaret'']]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.michaelbeckley.net/biography.html|title=biography|website=michaelbeckley.net|access-date=2019-01-31}}</ref> (directed by award-winning director [[Rufus Norris]]). He is probably best known for playing [[Rhys Sutherland]], the patriarch of a new family that arrived in the fictional town of [[Summer Bay]] in the internationally televised series ''[[Home and Away]]'' (2000 – 2004).


Before and since leaving the soap he has worked extensively in theatre.
Before and since leaving the soap he has worked extensively in theatre.


He moved to London in 2005 where he was based until 2016, appearing on the [[West End theatre|West End]] and with major UK theatre companies. He now resides in Sydney, Australia.
He moved to London in 2005, where he was based until 2016, appearing on the [[West End theatre|West End]] and with major UK theatre companies. He now resides in Sydney, Australia.


==Career==
==Career==
Beckley decided on an acting career just before completing his senior high school studies. Despite protests from teachers he left school one week before his final exams, apparently to force himself onto a certain path. A week later - at 17 years of age - he had landed a permanent position on the Entertainment Staff at [[Old Sydney Town]], an historical theme park near his home town of Gosford, NSW. This was a recreation of Sydney around the year 1800. Here he earned his [[Actors Equity of Australia]] card and officially became a working actor. Within two years he took over the role of Town Crier, the leading player for the park.
Beckley decided on an acting career just before completing his senior high school studies. Despite protests from teachers he left school one week before his final exams. A week later – at 17 years of age – he had landed a permanent position on the Entertainment Staff at [[Old Sydney Town]], an historical theme park near his home town of Gosford, NSW. Here he earned his [[Actors Equity of Australia]] card and officially became a working actor.


Beckley made his first permanent move to the U.K. in 1984. He appeared on the London Fringe in 'All The Way Home' and attended dozens of plays in and around London, including many on the West End starring actors such as [[Anthony Hopkins]] ('[[Pravda (play)|Pravda]]') and [[Glenda Jackson]] ('[[Phaedra (Seneca)|Phaedra]]') and many leading actors of the day. He also took drop-in acting classes at the London Actors' Centre studying Chekhov, Shakespeare, comedy, voice and movement. It was during this time in London that he decided to commit to his decision to be an actor.
Beckley made his first permanent move to the UK in 1984. He appeared on the London Fringe in ''All The Way Home'' and attended dozens of plays in and around London, including many on the West End starring actors such as [[Anthony Hopkins]] (''[[Pravda (play)|Pravda]]'') and [[Glenda Jackson]] (''[[Phaedra (Seneca)|Phaedra]]'') and many leading actors of the day. He also took drop-in acting classes at the London Actors' Centre studying Chekhov, Shakespeare, comedy, voice and movement. It was during this time in London that he decided to commit to his decision to be an actor.


On returning to Australia in late 1986 he auditioned for Australia's leading drama school NIDA ([[National Institute of Dramatic Art]]) but was not accepted. He went and studied part-time under Gillian Owen, a [[Royal Academy of Dramatic Art|RADA]]-trained actor, who ran The Sydney Acting School, and then auditioned for [[National Institute of Dramatic Art|NIDA]] again in late 1987. He was accepted.
On returning to Australia in late 1986 he auditioned for Australia's leading drama school NIDA ([[National Institute of Dramatic Art]]) but was not accepted. He went and studied part-time under Gillian Owen, a [[Royal Academy of Dramatic Art|RADA]]-trained actor, who ran The Sydney Acting School, and then auditioned for [[National Institute of Dramatic Art|NIDA]] again in late 1987. He was accepted.


The next three years saw him studying full-time at NIDA. (Alumni include [[Miranda Otto]], [[Jacqueline McKenzie]], [[Jeremy Sims]] and the writer [[Reg Cribb]].)
The next three years saw him studying full-time at NIDA.<ref>https://www.nida.edu.au/alumni-and-industry/all-alumni/ {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}</ref> (Alumni include [[Miranda Otto]], [[Jacqueline McKenzie]], [[Jeremy Sims]] and the writer [[Reg Cribb]].)


With just one week to go - echoing his departure from high school - Beckley was approached by [[Wayne Harrison (director)|Wayne Harrison]], then Artistic Director of [[Sydney Theatre Company]], to appear as Frid in that company's production of [[Stephen Sondheim|Sondheim]]'s '[[A Little Night Music]]'. (He appeared opposite a then unknown [[Toni Collette]] as Petra.) With the school's blessing, Beckley began his post-student career a week earlier than expected and graduated with his class at the official ceremony in early '91.
With just one week to go – echoing his departure from high school – Beckley was approached by [[Wayne Harrison (director)|Wayne Harrison]], then artistic director of [[Sydney Theatre Company]], to appear as Frid in that company's production of [[Stephen Sondheim|Sondheim]]'s ''[[A Little Night Music]]''.<ref>https://www.tonicollette.org/projects/1990alittlenightmusic/ {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}</ref> (He appeared opposite a then unknown [[Toni Collette]] as Petra.)<ref>https://www.michaelbeckley.net/a-little-night-music-1.html {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}</ref> With the school's blessing, Beckley began his post-student career a week earlier than expected and graduated with his class at the official ceremony in early 1991.


The next few years saw Beckley work for various companies in a range of projects. These included a rigorous T.I.E. (Theatre In Education) tour for the [[Bell Shakespeare|Bell Shakespeare Company]] with Berynn Schwerdt, Colleen Cross and [[Julia Zemiro]] (now a household name on Australian televisions) which Beckley still considers as "earning one's stripes".
The next few years saw Beckley work for various companies in a range of projects. These included a rigorous 6-month T.I.E. (theatre in education) tour for the [[Bell Shakespeare|Bell Shakespeare Company]] which Beckley still considers as "earning one's stripes". Other cast members were Berynn Schwerdt, Colleen Cross and [[Julia Zemiro]] (now a household name on Australian televisions).


Small television roles started to appear on his CV between theatre jobs. He had guest roles on the Australian police series '[[Water Rats (TV series)|Water Rats]]' and the Australian/American sci-fi series '[[Farscape]]'.
He had guest roles on the Australian police series ''[[Water Rats (TV series)|Water Rats]]'' and the Australian/American sci-fi series ''[[Farscape]]''.


[[Wayne Harrison (director)|Wayne Harrison]] invited him back to the [[Sydney Theatre Company|STC]] to appear in '[[Antony and Cleopatra]]' starring theatre stars [[Sandy Gore]] and [[John Stanton (actor)|John Stanton]]. The prestigious [[Griffin Theatre Company]] cast him in 'Clark in Sarajevo' and then as the leading role of 'Dave' in Neil Cole's play 'Alive at Williamstown Pier', the true story of a politician's fight with bipolar disorder and his consequent 'outing' by the Australian media. Beckley received strong praise for his portrayal from national critics. The Australian Jewish News called his work 'virtuoso'. Lydia Clifford of The Daily Telegraph writing "I felt privileged to be a spectator of emerging talent".
[[Wayne Harrison (director)|Wayne Harrison]] invited him back to the [[Sydney Theatre Company|STC]] to appear in ''[[Antony and Cleopatra]]'' starring theatre stars [[Sandy Gore]] and [[John Stanton (actor)|John Stanton]]. The prestigious [[Griffin Theatre Company]] cast him in ''Clark in Sarajevo''<ref>https://www.michaelbeckley.net/clark-in-sarajevo-gallery.html {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}</ref> and then as the leading role of Dave in Neil Cole's play ''Alive at Williamstown Pier'', the true story of a politician's fight with bipolar disorder and his consequent "outing" by the Australian media.<ref>https://www.ausstage.edu.au/pages/event/74623 {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}</ref> Beckley received strong praise for his portrayal from national critics. The Australian Jewish News called his work "virtuoso". Lydia Clifford of ''The Daily Telegraph'' writing "I felt privileged to be a spectator of emerging talent".


It was shortly after this that Beckley was cast as [[Rhys Sutherland]] in the long-running television program '[[Home and Away]]', where he stayed for just over four years (2000 - 2004). His character arrived with a wife and three daughters. The Sutherlands went on to be one of the most popular families to ever appear on the program. While on the show, the production company made two specials for release on DVD: [[Home and Away: Hearts Divided|'Hearts Divided]]' and [[Home and Away: Secrets and the City|'Secrets and the City]]', the latter film concerning Rhys's disappearance after the revelation of a previous affair. Each special contained not-to-be-televised footage, a new concept that proved a success.
It was shortly after this that Beckley was cast as [[Rhys Sutherland]] in the long-running television program ''[[Home and Away]]'', where he stayed for just over four years (2000–2004). His character arrived with a wife and three daughters. The Sutherlands went on to be one of the most popular families to ever appear on the program. While on the show, the production company made two specials for release on DVD: [[Home and Away: Hearts Divided|''Hearts Divided'']] and [[Home and Away: Secrets and the City|''Secrets and the City'']], the latter film concerning Rhys's disappearance after the revelation of a previous affair. Each special contained not-to-be-televised footage, a new concept that proved a success.


Upon leaving '[[Home and Away: Hearts Divided|Home and Away]]' Beckley returned to England in 2005. Signing with a London agent, he landed his first audition which found him playing Capt. Roger Wittaker at the [[Theatre Royal Haymarket]] on London's [[West End theatre|West End]]. The play starred [[Rob Lowe]] in the role made famous by [[Tom Cruise]] in the film version, which was also written by [[Aaron Sorkin]]. Sorkin was very much involved in the casting process. The play ran for several months and was a great success.
Upon leaving ''[[Home and Away: Hearts Divided|Home and Away]]'' Beckley returned to England in 2005. Signing with a London agent, he booked his first audition, which found him playing Capt. Roger Wittaker at the [[Theatre Royal Haymarket]] on London's [[West End theatre|West End]]. The play starred [[Rob Lowe]] in the role made famous by [[Tom Cruise]] in the film version, which was also written by [[Aaron Sorkin]]. Sorkin was very much involved in the casting process. The play ran for several months and was a major success in that year's West End calendar.


Beckley was soon cast in [[David Pownall]]'s play 'Masterclass' for [[Derby Theatre]] playing Joseph Stalin's right-hand man [[Andrei Zhdanov|Andrei]] [[Andrei Zhdanov|Zhdanov]], alongside [[Christian McKay|Christopher McKay]] ([[Me and Orson Welles]]), Russell Dixon and Terry Mortimer. McKay and Mortimer, also accomplished pianists, played a real grand piano in their respective roles of Shostakovich and Prokofiev. Beckley was also required to play some Chopin while seemingly drunk on vodka, a moment in the play that terrified him each night. Although a pianist, he was not as accomplished as McKay and Mortimer. Nonetheless, reviews were exceptional, with most of the London papers including it in their must-see lists.
Beckley was soon cast in [[David Pownall]]'s play ''Masterclass'' for [[Derby Theatre]] playing Joseph Stalin's right-hand man [[Andrei Zhdanov]], alongside [[Christian McKay|Christopher McKay]] (''[[Me and Orson Welles]]''), Russell Dixon and Terry Mortimer. McKay and Mortimer, accomplished pianists, played a real grand piano in their respective roles of Shostakovich and Prokofiev. Beckley was also required to play some Chopin while seemingly drunk on vodka, a moment in the play that terrified him each night. Although a pianist, he was not as accomplished as McKay and Mortimer. Nonetheless, reviews were exceptional, with most of the London papers including it in their must-see lists.


Beckley continued to enjoy a run of successful and critical theatre roles. He returned to the [[West End theatre|West End]] for nearly a year to play Ernst Ludwig in [[Rufus Norris]]' wildly successful '[[Cabaret (musical)|Cabaret]]' at the [[Lyric Theatre, London|Lyric Theatre]] on [[Shaftesbury Avenue]]. He played leading man Matt Holden in [[Chris England]]'s play 'Breakfast With Jonny Wilkinson' for the (then newly-successful) [[Menier Chocolate Factory]] and would reprise the role in the film version in 2012.
Beckley continued to enjoy a run of successful and critical theatre roles. He returned to the [[West End theatre|West End]] for nearly a year to play Ernst Ludwig in [[Rufus Norris]]' wildly successful ''[[Cabaret (musical)|Cabaret]]'' at the [[Lyric Theatre, London|Lyric Theatre]] on [[Shaftesbury Avenue]].<ref>https://ovrtur.com/production/role-profile/1114942 {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}</ref> He played leading man Matt Holden in [[Chris England]]'s play ''Breakfast With Jonny Wilkinson'' for the (then newly successful) [[Menier Chocolate Factory]] and would reprise the role in the film version in 2012.


One of Beckley's major roles was that of [[Randle McMurphy|Randle P McMurphy]] in '[[One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (play)|One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest]]' based on the novel by [[Ken Kesey]], made particularly famous by the film version starring [[Jack Nicholson]] (as [[Randle McMurphy|Randle P McMurphy]]). The production was staged by [[Curve (theatre)|Curve]] in Leicester, with [[Catherine Russell (actress)|Catherine Russell]] as Nurse Ratched. Beckley did not even audition for McMurphy but for the role of Dale Harding. However, after the casting process director [[Michael Buffong]] decided Beckley was the right man for the part and offered it to him. During the run of 'Cuckoo's Nest', Curve's artistic director Paul Kerryson offered Beckley the role of Bradley in [[Sam Shepard|Sam Shephard]]'s [[Pulitzer Prize for Drama|Pulitzer Prize]]-winning '[[Buried Child]]'. It starred [[Laurence Olivier Award|Olivier Award]]-winner [[Matthew Kelly]] as Dodge. Bradley, the semi-psychotic, one-and-a-half-legged amputee remains one of Beckley's favourite roles.
One of Beckley's major roles was that of [[Randle McMurphy|Randle P McMurphy]] in ''[[One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (play)|One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest]]'', based on the novel by [[Ken Kesey]], made particularly famous by the film version starring [[Jack Nicholson]] (as [[Randle McMurphy|Randle P McMurphy]]). The production was staged by [[Curve (theatre)|Curve]] in Leicester, with [[Catherine Russell (British actress)|Catherine Russell]] as Nurse Ratched. Beckley did not even audition for McMurphy but for the role of Dale Harding. However, after the casting process director [[Michael Buffong]] decided Beckley was the right man for the part and offered it to him. During the run of ''Cuckoo's Nest'', Curve's artistic director Paul Kerryson offered Beckley the role of Bradley in [[Sam Shepard|Sam Shephard]]'s [[Pulitzer Prize for Drama|Pulitzer Prize]]-winning ''[[Buried Child]]''. It starred [[Laurence Olivier Award|Olivier Award]]-winner [[Matthew Kelly]] as Dodge. Bradley, the semi-psychotic, one-and-a-half-legged amputee' remains one of Beckley's favourite roles.


Kelly and Beckley would work together again in the hit production of Chekhov's 'The Seagull' for [[Southwark Playhouse|Southward Playhouse]] in London in 2012. Beckley credits a student production of this play at NIDA, seen in 1979, as being his catalyst for thinking about acting as a career. The Southwark Playhouse production also featured a then-unknown [[Lily James]] as Nina. (Lily went on to play Cinderella in the 2015 Disney live-action film version of '[[Cinderella (2015 Disney film)|Cinderella]]').
Kelly and Beckley would work together again in the 5-star hit production of Chekhov's ''The Seagull'' for [[Southwark Playhouse|Southward Playhouse]] in London in 2012. (Beckley credits a student production of this play at NIDA, seen in 1979, as being his catalyst for thinking about acting as a career.) The Southwark Playhouse production also featured a then-unknown [[Lily James]] as Nina. (Lily went on to play Cinderella in the 2015 Disney live-action film version of ''[[Cinderella (2015 Disney film)|Cinderella]]''). The season was a sell-out.


Derby Theatre asked him back to play Joe Josephson in Sondheim's '[[Merrily We Roll Along (musical)|Merrily We Roll Along]]'. Menier Chocolate Factory also cast him again in '[[The Invisible Man]]'. The prestigious [[York Theatre Royal]] cast him as leading character Dr Robert Smith in the highly-acclaimed play '[[Blue/Orange]]'.
Derby Theatre asked him back to play Joe Josephson in Sondheim's ''[[Merrily We Roll Along (musical)|Merrily We Roll Along]]''. Menier Chocolate Factory also cast him again in ''[[The Invisible Man]]''. The prestigious [[York Theatre Royal]] cast him as leading character Dr Robert Smith in the highly acclaimed play ''[[Blue/Orange]]''.


Beckley also spent three years (2009, 2014, 2015) travelling to 30 countries in the role of Bill Austin in the world-wide hit musical '[[Mamma Mia!]]'. It was at the end of his last year with that show that he decided to return to Australia, where he has been since early 2016.
Beckley also spent three years (2009, 2014, 2015) travelling to 30 countries in the role of Bill Austin in the world-wide hit musical '[[Mamma Mia! (musical)|Mamma Mia!]]'. It was at the end of his last year with that show that he decided to return to Australia, where he has been since early 2016.


Since returning to his native country Beckley has appeared on the television programs 'Here Come The Habibs', 'Doctor Doctor', 'The Secret Daughter' and 'House of Bond', as well as the new Australian musical 'Melba' based on the life of opera star Dame Nellie Melba (played by international opera star [[Emma Matthews]]).
Since returning to his native country Beckley has appeared on the television programs ''Here Come The Habibs'', ''Doctor Doctor'', ''The Secret Daughter'' and ''House of Bond'', as well as the new Australian musical ''Melba'' based on the life of opera star Dame Nellie Melba (played by international opera star [[Emma Matthews]]).


In 2019, Beckley appeared in the Opera Australia/Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour production of 'West Side Story' as Officer Krupke ... the titular character of that show's famous comedy number "[[Gee, Officer Krupke]]". The production was directed by multi-award-winning director [[Francesca Zambello]]. Her assistant and choreographer was Julio Monge. It was Beckley's first appearance with Opera Australia.
In 2019, Beckley appeared in the Opera Australia/Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour production of ''West Side Story'' as Officer Krupke ... the titular character of that show's famous comedy number '[[Gee, Officer Krupke]]'. The production was directed by multi-award-winning director [[Francesca Zambello]]. Her assistant and choreographer was Julio Monge. It was Beckley's first appearance with Opera Australia.


== Directing ==
== Directing ==
Michael Beckley was Resident Director on 'The Rocky Horror Show' for Australian and New Zealand tours during the 1990s. He began in the chorus as a Phantom and then became Dance Captain. After the first one-year tour, director [[Nigel Triffitt]] offered Beckley the position of Assistant Director for the show's New Zealand tour. This position was changed to Resident Director when the show began a new Australian tour starring [[Jason Donovan]] in Perth.
Michael Beckley was resident director on ''The Rocky Horror Show'' for Australian and New Zealand tours during the 1990s. He began in the chorus as a Phantom and then became Dance Captain. After the first one-year tour, director [[Nigel Triffitt]] offered Beckley the position of assistant director for the show's New Zealand tour. This position was changed to Resident Director when the show began a new Australian tour starring [[Jason Donovan]] in Perth.


Triffitt also used Beckley as his assistant for a revival of his 1990 [[Melbourne International Arts Festival]] hit production of '[[Moby-Dick|Moby Dick]]' for [[Sydney Theatre Company]] in 1998.
Triffitt also used Beckley as his assistant for a revival of his 1990 [[Melbourne International Arts Festival]] hit production of ''[[Moby-Dick|Moby Dick]]'' for [[Sydney Theatre Company]] in 1998.

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Beckley continued to direct through the late 1990s on shows such as ''The Seventh Knob'' ([[Belvoir St Theatre]], downstairs), ''[[Leader of the Pack (musical)|Leader of the Pack]]'' (Laycock St Theatre, Gosford, 1996, return season 1997), ''[[Damn Yankees]]'' (full charity fund-raiser production, 1999) and assisted [[Jeremy Sims]] on the hugely successful Pork Chop production of ''[https://www.ausstage.edu.au/pages/event/26515 Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead]'' ([[Belvoir St Theatre]], upstairs) and then again on the same company's production of ''[https://www.ausstage.edu.au/pages/event/7001 Hamlet]'', again at Belvoir St Theatre. Beckley also directed ''[https://www.ausstage.edu.au/pages/event/28764 The Players]'' for Pork Chop Productions at The Stables Theatre in Sydney.


⚫
Beckley continued to direct through the late 90s on shows such as 'The Seventh Knob' ([[Belvoir St Theatre]], downstairs), '[[Leader of the Pack (musical)|Leader of the Pack']] (Laycock St Theatre, Gosford, 1996, return season 1997), '[[Damn Yankees|Damn Yankees']] (full charity fund-raiser production, 1999) and assisted [[Jeremy Sims]] on the hugely successful Pork Chop production of '[https://www.ausstage.edu.au/pages/event/26515 Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead]' ([[Belvoir St Theatre]], upstairs) and then again on the same company's production of '[https://www.ausstage.edu.au/pages/event/7001 Hamlet]', again at Belvoir St Theatre. Beckley also directed '[https://www.ausstage.edu.au/pages/event/28764 The Players]' for Pork Chop Productions at The Stables Theatre in Sydney.<br />
==Filmography==
==Filmography==


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! scope="col" width="200" | Character
! scope="col" width="200" | Character
! scope="col" width="300" | Notes
! scope="col" width="300" | Notes
⚫
|-
| rowspan="2" |2023
|''North Shore''
|Gary Weaver
|1 episode
⚫
|-
|''Ten Pound Pms''
| Head teacher
⚫
|Episode 3
⚫
|-
| rowspan="2" |2022
|''After The Verdict''
|Vincent Lang
|3 episodes
|-
|''The PM's Daughter''
|Carl
|2 episodes
|-
|2021
|''Australian Gangster''
|Locksmith
|1 episode
|-
|-
|2017
|2017
Line 73: Line 99:
|Episode
|Episode
|-
|-
|2017
|2016
|''[[Here Come the Habibs]]''
|Roland
|2 episodes
|-
|2017
|''[[House of Bond]]''
|''[[House of Bond]]''
|Kevin Bradley
|Kevin Bradley
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|[[Doctor Doctor (Australian TV series)|''Doctor Doctor'']]
|[[Doctor Doctor (Australian TV series)|''Doctor Doctor'']]
|Radall McPherson
|Radall McPherson
|Season 1 (guest role; 1 episode)
⚫
|Episode
|-
|-
| 2013 ||''[[Raw (television series)|Raw]] (Ireland)''|| Peter Mitchell || Series 5
| 2013 ||''[[Raw (television series)|Raw]] (Ireland)''|| Peter Mitchell || Season 5
|-
|-
⚫
| 2000–2004 || ''[[Home and Away]]'' || Rhys Sutherland || Seasons 13−17 (main role)
|2012
⚫
|''[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3198544/?ref_=nv_sr_1 Breakfast With Jonny Wilkinson] (U.K.)''
⚫
|Matt Holden
⚫
|Feature - Lead
⚫
|-
|2012
⚫
|''[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2448898/?ref_=nm_knf_i4 Coma] (U.K.)''
⚫
|Rupert
⚫
|Short Feature - Lead
⚫
|-
⚫
| 2000–2004 || ''[[Home and Away]]'' || Rhys Sutherland || Main cast
⚫
|-
| 2001 || ''The New Crusaders'' || New Crusader || Short film - main cast
|-
|-
| 1999 || ''[[Farscape]]'' || Hasko || Episode: "Rhapsody in Blue"
| 1999 || ''[[Farscape]]'' || Hasko || Episode: "Rhapsody in Blue"
Line 103: Line 122:
| 1996 || ''[[Water Rats (TV series)|Water Rats]]'' || Roger Mulray || Episode: "Floater"
| 1996 || ''[[Water Rats (TV series)|Water Rats]]'' || Roger Mulray || Episode: "Floater"
|-
|-
| 1993 || ''[[Phoenix (TV series)|Phoenix]]'' || Youth || Episode: "Safe as Houses"
| 1993 || ''[[Phoenix (Australian TV series)|Phoenix]]'' || Youth || Episode: "Safe as Houses"
|-
|-
| 1992 || ''[[A Country Practice]]'' || Dr. Peter O'Sullivan || Episode: "Heartbreaker Part 1 & 2"
| 1992 || ''[[A Country Practice]]'' || Dr. Peter O'Sullivan || Episode: "Heartbreaker Part 1 & 2"
|-
| 1991 || ''[[Home and Away]]'' || Vet || Season 4 (guest role; 1 episode)
|}

=== Film appearances ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+
!Year
!Title
!Role
!Notes
|-
|2001
|''The New Crusaders''
|New Crusader
|Short film – main cast
|-
| rowspan="2" |2012
⚫
|''[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2448898/?ref_=nm_knf_i4 Coma] (U.K.)''
⚫
|Rupert
⚫
|Short Feature – Lead
|-
⚫
|''[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3198544/?ref_=nv_sr_1 Breakfast With Jonny Wilkinson] (U.K.)''
⚫
|Matt Holden
⚫
|Feature – Lead
|}
|}


==Theatre==
==Theatre==
* 2017 David Mitchell in [[Nellie Melba|'''Melba''']] by Nicolas Christo and Johannes Luebbers, Hayes Theatre, Sydney
* 2019 Officer Krupke in '''[[West Side Story]]''' for [[Opera Australia]]/Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour, Sydney
*2017 David Mitchell in [[Nellie Melba|'''Melba''']] by Nicolas Christo and Johannes Luebbers, Hayes Theatre, Sydney
*2014/15 Bill Austin in '''[[Mamma Mia!]]''' by [[Catherine Johnson (playwright)|Catherine Johnson]], International Tour / Little Star
*2014/15 Bill Austin in '''[[Mamma Mia! (musical)|Mamma Mia!]]''' by [[Catherine Johnson (playwright)|Catherine Johnson]], International Tour / Little Star
*2012 Shamreyev in '''[[The Seagull]]''' by Anton Chekhov, at Southwark Playhouse, London
*2012 Shamreyev in '''[[The Seagull]]''' by Anton Chekhov, at Southwark Playhouse, London
*2012 Robert in '''[[Blue/Orange]]''' by [[Joe Penhall]], at the [[York Theatre Royal]]
*2012 Robert in '''[[Blue/Orange]]''' by [[Joe Penhall]], at the [[York Theatre Royal]]
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* 2011 Randall McMurphy in '''[[One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (play)|One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest]]''' adapted by [[Dale Wasserman]], at the [[Curve (theatre)|Curve]] in [[Leicester]]
* 2011 Randall McMurphy in '''[[One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (play)|One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest]]''' adapted by [[Dale Wasserman]], at the [[Curve (theatre)|Curve]] in [[Leicester]]
* 2010 Cuss/Fearenside in '''[[The Invisible Man]]''' adapted by [[Ken Hill (playwright)|Ken Hill]], at the [[Menier Chocolate Factory]]
* 2010 Cuss/Fearenside in '''[[The Invisible Man]]''' adapted by [[Ken Hill (playwright)|Ken Hill]], at the [[Menier Chocolate Factory]]
* 2009 Bill Austin in '''[[Mamma Mia!]]''' by [[Catherine Johnson (playwright)|Catherine Johnson]], International Tour / Little Star
* 2009 Bill Austin in '''[[Mamma Mia! (musical)|Mamma Mia!]]''' by [[Catherine Johnson (playwright)|Catherine Johnson]], International Tour / Little Star
* 2008 Ernst Ludwig in '''[[Cabaret (musical)|Cabaret]]''' by [[Christopher Isherwood]], with Bill Kenwright Ltd
* 2008 Ernst Ludwig in '''[[Cabaret (musical)|Cabaret]]''' by [[Christopher Isherwood]], with Bill Kenwright Ltd
* 2007 Joe Josephson in '''[[Merrily We Roll Along (musical)]]''' by [[George Furth]] and [[Stephen Sondheim]], at the [[Derby Theatre]]
* 2007 Joe Josephson in '''[[Merrily We Roll Along (musical)]]''' by [[George Furth]] and [[Stephen Sondheim]], at the [[Derby Theatre]]
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[[Category:Australian male television actors]]
[[Category:Australian male television actors]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1963 births]]
[[Category:West End theatre]]
[[Category:British theatre people]]

[[Category:1965 births]]

{{Australia-tv-actor-stub}}

Revision as of 16:07, 26 August 2024

For the American political scientist, see Michael Beckley (political scientist).

Michael Beckley
Beckley at the opening night of Opera Australia's 'West Side Story' in which he appeared as Officer Krupke. 2019.
Born (1963-11-01) 1 November 1963 (age 61)
OccupationActor

Michael Beckley is an Australian actor. He has worked with major theatre companies in both Australia and the United Kingdom, and appeared on London's West End in A Few Good Men[1][2][3](starring Rob Lowe) and Cabaret[4] (directed by award-winning director Rufus Norris). He is probably best known for playing Rhys Sutherland, the patriarch of a new family that arrived in the fictional town of Summer Bay in the internationally televised series Home and Away (2000 – 2004).

Before and since leaving the soap he has worked extensively in theatre.

He moved to London in 2005, where he was based until 2016, appearing on the West End and with major UK theatre companies. He now resides in Sydney, Australia.

Career

Beckley decided on an acting career just before completing his senior high school studies. Despite protests from teachers he left school one week before his final exams. A week later – at 17 years of age – he had landed a permanent position on the Entertainment Staff at Old Sydney Town, an historical theme park near his home town of Gosford, NSW. Here he earned his Actors Equity of Australia card and officially became a working actor.

Beckley made his first permanent move to the UK in 1984. He appeared on the London Fringe in All The Way Home and attended dozens of plays in and around London, including many on the West End starring actors such as Anthony Hopkins (Pravda) and Glenda Jackson (Phaedra) and many leading actors of the day. He also took drop-in acting classes at the London Actors' Centre studying Chekhov, Shakespeare, comedy, voice and movement. It was during this time in London that he decided to commit to his decision to be an actor.

On returning to Australia in late 1986 he auditioned for Australia's leading drama school NIDA (National Institute of Dramatic Art) but was not accepted. He went and studied part-time under Gillian Owen, a RADA-trained actor, who ran The Sydney Acting School, and then auditioned for NIDA again in late 1987. He was accepted.

The next three years saw him studying full-time at NIDA.[5] (Alumni include Miranda Otto, Jacqueline McKenzie, Jeremy Sims and the writer Reg Cribb.)

With just one week to go – echoing his departure from high school – Beckley was approached by Wayne Harrison, then artistic director of Sydney Theatre Company, to appear as Frid in that company's production of Sondheim's A Little Night Music.[6] (He appeared opposite a then unknown Toni Collette as Petra.)[7] With the school's blessing, Beckley began his post-student career a week earlier than expected and graduated with his class at the official ceremony in early 1991.

The next few years saw Beckley work for various companies in a range of projects. These included a rigorous 6-month T.I.E. (theatre in education) tour for the Bell Shakespeare Company which Beckley still considers as "earning one's stripes". Other cast members were Berynn Schwerdt, Colleen Cross and Julia Zemiro (now a household name on Australian televisions).

He had guest roles on the Australian police series Water Rats and the Australian/American sci-fi series Farscape.

Wayne Harrison invited him back to the STC to appear in Antony and Cleopatra starring theatre stars Sandy Gore and John Stanton. The prestigious Griffin Theatre Company cast him in Clark in Sarajevo[8] and then as the leading role of Dave in Neil Cole's play Alive at Williamstown Pier, the true story of a politician's fight with bipolar disorder and his consequent "outing" by the Australian media.[9] Beckley received strong praise for his portrayal from national critics. The Australian Jewish News called his work "virtuoso". Lydia Clifford of The Daily Telegraph writing "I felt privileged to be a spectator of emerging talent".

It was shortly after this that Beckley was cast as Rhys Sutherland in the long-running television program Home and Away, where he stayed for just over four years (2000–2004). His character arrived with a wife and three daughters. The Sutherlands went on to be one of the most popular families to ever appear on the program. While on the show, the production company made two specials for release on DVD: Hearts Divided and Secrets and the City, the latter film concerning Rhys's disappearance after the revelation of a previous affair. Each special contained not-to-be-televised footage, a new concept that proved a success.

Upon leaving Home and Away Beckley returned to England in 2005. Signing with a London agent, he booked his first audition, which found him playing Capt. Roger Wittaker at the Theatre Royal Haymarket on London's West End. The play starred Rob Lowe in the role made famous by Tom Cruise in the film version, which was also written by Aaron Sorkin. Sorkin was very much involved in the casting process. The play ran for several months and was a major success in that year's West End calendar.

Beckley was soon cast in David Pownall's play Masterclass for Derby Theatre playing Joseph Stalin's right-hand man Andrei Zhdanov, alongside Christopher McKay (Me and Orson Welles), Russell Dixon and Terry Mortimer. McKay and Mortimer, accomplished pianists, played a real grand piano in their respective roles of Shostakovich and Prokofiev. Beckley was also required to play some Chopin while seemingly drunk on vodka, a moment in the play that terrified him each night. Although a pianist, he was not as accomplished as McKay and Mortimer. Nonetheless, reviews were exceptional, with most of the London papers including it in their must-see lists.

Beckley continued to enjoy a run of successful and critical theatre roles. He returned to the West End for nearly a year to play Ernst Ludwig in Rufus Norris' wildly successful Cabaret at the Lyric Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue.[10] He played leading man Matt Holden in Chris England's play Breakfast With Jonny Wilkinson for the (then newly successful) Menier Chocolate Factory and would reprise the role in the film version in 2012.

One of Beckley's major roles was that of Randle P McMurphy in One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, based on the novel by Ken Kesey, made particularly famous by the film version starring Jack Nicholson (as Randle P McMurphy). The production was staged by Curve in Leicester, with Catherine Russell as Nurse Ratched. Beckley did not even audition for McMurphy but for the role of Dale Harding. However, after the casting process director Michael Buffong decided Beckley was the right man for the part and offered it to him. During the run of Cuckoo's Nest, Curve's artistic director Paul Kerryson offered Beckley the role of Bradley in Sam Shephard's Pulitzer Prize-winning Buried Child. It starred Olivier Award-winner Matthew Kelly as Dodge. Bradley, the semi-psychotic, one-and-a-half-legged amputee' remains one of Beckley's favourite roles.

Kelly and Beckley would work together again in the 5-star hit production of Chekhov's The Seagull for Southward Playhouse in London in 2012. (Beckley credits a student production of this play at NIDA, seen in 1979, as being his catalyst for thinking about acting as a career.) The Southwark Playhouse production also featured a then-unknown Lily James as Nina. (Lily went on to play Cinderella in the 2015 Disney live-action film version of Cinderella). The season was a sell-out.

Derby Theatre asked him back to play Joe Josephson in Sondheim's Merrily We Roll Along. Menier Chocolate Factory also cast him again in The Invisible Man. The prestigious York Theatre Royal cast him as leading character Dr Robert Smith in the highly acclaimed play Blue/Orange.

Beckley also spent three years (2009, 2014, 2015) travelling to 30 countries in the role of Bill Austin in the world-wide hit musical 'Mamma Mia!'. It was at the end of his last year with that show that he decided to return to Australia, where he has been since early 2016.

Since returning to his native country Beckley has appeared on the television programs Here Come The Habibs, Doctor Doctor, The Secret Daughter and House of Bond, as well as the new Australian musical Melba based on the life of opera star Dame Nellie Melba (played by international opera star Emma Matthews).

In 2019, Beckley appeared in the Opera Australia/Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour production of West Side Story as Officer Krupke ... the titular character of that show's famous comedy number 'Gee, Officer Krupke'. The production was directed by multi-award-winning director Francesca Zambello. Her assistant and choreographer was Julio Monge. It was Beckley's first appearance with Opera Australia.

Directing

Michael Beckley was resident director on The Rocky Horror Show for Australian and New Zealand tours during the 1990s. He began in the chorus as a Phantom and then became Dance Captain. After the first one-year tour, director Nigel Triffitt offered Beckley the position of assistant director for the show's New Zealand tour. This position was changed to Resident Director when the show began a new Australian tour starring Jason Donovan in Perth.

Triffitt also used Beckley as his assistant for a revival of his 1990 Melbourne International Arts Festival hit production of Moby Dick for Sydney Theatre Company in 1998.

Beckley continued to direct through the late 1990s on shows such as The Seventh Knob (Belvoir St Theatre, downstairs), Leader of the Pack (Laycock St Theatre, Gosford, 1996, return season 1997), Damn Yankees (full charity fund-raiser production, 1999) and assisted Jeremy Sims on the hugely successful Pork Chop production of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead (Belvoir St Theatre, upstairs) and then again on the same company's production of Hamlet, again at Belvoir St Theatre. Beckley also directed The Players for Pork Chop Productions at The Stables Theatre in Sydney.

Filmography

Year Title Character Notes
2023 North Shore Gary Weaver 1 episode
Ten Pound Pms Head teacher Episode 3
2022 After The Verdict Vincent Lang 3 episodes
The PM's Daughter Carl 2 episodes
2021 Australian Gangster Locksmith 1 episode
2017 The Secret Daughter Jasper Episode
2017 Here Come the Habibs Roland 2 episodes
2017 House of Bond Kevin Bradley Parts 1 & 2
2016 Doctor Doctor Radall McPherson Season 1 (guest role; 1 episode)
2013 Raw (Ireland) Peter Mitchell Season 5
2000–2004 Home and Away Rhys Sutherland Seasons 13−17 (main role)
1999 Farscape Hasko Episode: "Rhapsody in Blue"
1996 Water Rats Roger Mulray Episode: "Floater"
1993 Phoenix Youth Episode: "Safe as Houses"
1992 A Country Practice Dr. Peter O'Sullivan Episode: "Heartbreaker Part 1 & 2"
1991 Home and Away Vet Season 4 (guest role; 1 episode)

Film appearances

Year Title Role Notes
2001 The New Crusaders New Crusader Short film – main cast
2012 Coma (U.K.) Rupert Short Feature – Lead
Breakfast With Jonny Wilkinson (U.K.) Matt Holden Feature – Lead

Theatre

References

  1. ^ Beckley, Michael (2 February 2016). "Michael Beckley Biography". Michael Beckley Dot Net.
  2. ^ https://playbill.com/article/rob-lowe-opens-in-a-few-good-men-in-londons-west-end-sept-6-com-127853 [bare URL]
  3. ^ https://thisistheatre.com/londonshows/afewgoodmen.html [bare URL]
  4. ^ "biography". michaelbeckley.net. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
  5. ^ https://www.nida.edu.au/alumni-and-industry/all-alumni/ [bare URL]
  6. ^ https://www.tonicollette.org/projects/1990alittlenightmusic/ [bare URL]
  7. ^ https://www.michaelbeckley.net/a-little-night-music-1.html [bare URL]
  8. ^ https://www.michaelbeckley.net/clark-in-sarajevo-gallery.html [bare URL]
  9. ^ https://www.ausstage.edu.au/pages/event/74623 [bare URL]
  10. ^ https://ovrtur.com/production/role-profile/1114942 [bare URL]
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