Christopher Elliott
Encyclopedia
Christopher Elliott (born in Brisbane
, Australia
, 18 December 1962) is an Australian Actor in Sydney represented by Carolyn White . He grew up at 14 Sheldon Street Nudgee, Qld., and attended Virginia State Primary School 1967-1974 and then Brisbane Grammar School 1975-1979.
Studio Of Acting New York, famous for Alumni including Marlon Brando
, Robert DeNiro, Melanie Griffith
. Christopher graduated in May 1995 after 2 years in the fulltime conservatory program. His teachers included the late Alice Winston, Tom Oppenheim (School Director and Stella's Grandson), James Tripp.
Having done mostly TV and Film, Christopher returned to Adler New York in January 2008 to do a year's refresher in their fulltime Evening Conservatory classes.
, and in thirtysomething (TV series), the episode where Carly Simon came to town. Returning to Australia in 1989, (inspired by his brother Rob Elliott
who had been host of Wombat and Talking Telephone Numbers, and later host for 7 years of Wheel of Fortune
), Christopher approached Rob's Agent BMA in Melbourne seeking representation. He was accepted and soon after cast in two episodes of Australia's Most Wanted
. Soon after Berris Underhill and Irene Baker at Frog Management took Chris onto their books and he was cast in Ratbag Hero, a small role opposite Peter Fisher as a young farmer. Still having never studied acting, in 1992 Christopher moved to New York having been accepted into the fulltime program at the prestigious Stella Adler Studio of Acting . On returning to Australia he resumed representation with the new owner of Frog Management in Melbourne, and when Joanne Baker closed Frogs doors near the end of the 20th Century, Christopher moved across to The Actors Agency Melbourne with Naomi West.
as "The Floppy Hat Bandit", and soon after on the same series as "The Glen Iris Rapist" and then the "Deepdene Fire Witness". Then followed roles as a Dad in Animal Park
, an American cop in the US TV Series Time Trax
- both the Telemovie and Episode 7, and a Dad in the TV Series Animal Park
.
Since graduating from Stella Adler, Chris has worked primarily on TV series, mostly cast as a bad guy including several episodes of Stingers
as the dodgy and sleezy Wharf Manager Kevin Trainer and the dodgy Mr Bayer. Also the dodgy Doctor Townsend in State Coroner
, the dodgy Deer Farmer Simon Morse in Blue Heelers
, a Journo opposite Lisa McCune
in MDA
.
Christopher also played several roles on Neighbours
including Trevor Marsh, and the quirky and bizarre Doctor Strand (the botox doctor), a Newsreader in Backlands - a Telemovie based on a true story of the backpackers who disappeared in Queensland,, Bethany's photographer in Pacific Drive, the Journo Des Lonergan in Bush Patrol, and in the Thunderstone 3
in which Christopher portrays the regular role of goofy Agent Cummings who tries so hard to lay down the law, and is always being outwitted by a child prodigy. The series won the best TV Series in the world for Children at the English Film and Television Awards.
a Cube City Film. After 3 callbacks Christopher was cast as the evil Nikolai, head of a 1938 Russian Prison Camp, alongside leading Actor Jeff Stewart (actor)
('Reg' from The Bill
TV series).
Writer/Co-Director Robert Munoz auditioned 1000 people for the roles in the film, which was shot on location in Chester, New York in April/May 2009. During the shoot Robert told Christopher that at his audition he brought an understated evil to the role which they hadn't anticipated so they changed the script to accommodate it.
Christopher first role in Film was in "Flynn" 1989, starring Guy Pearce. Christopher had a small role with one single line, playing a member of Errol Flynn's Film Crew (the clapper board man). In 2005 he was cast in a role in the Australian film 'The Line' playing a corrupt anti-corruption officer. He is also heard as a voice of one of the letter writers in the 1998 film, The Dead Letter Office.
Immediately on his return to Australia in June 1995 Christopher contacted brisbane theatres about any jobs, and auditioned for the role of Miguel Cervantes/Don Quixote in the 1995 Brisbane production of Man of La Mancha. After casting him in the lead role, Directors Robbie and Dave Parkin told Chris they had cast everyone except for the lead because they couldn't find the right person. With time running out they said to themselves maybe the guy we are looking for is still overseas. Rehearsals started that week.
Christopher also played Flan in the Melbourne production of Six Degrees of Separation at Chapel Street Theatre, and George in the Melbourne production of Amendment to Terror at La Mama Theatre (Melbourne)
.
In 2008 Christopher returned to New York and was cast as the Old Man in the Off Off Broadway production of the Sam Shepard
play Fool For Love. In the audience was Larry Loonin
, director of the Fool For Love production in the 70's.
and RnB. As a 17 year old, he used to sing at the Northern Suburbs Country Music Club, where he met Keith Urban
who offered to play guitar for him when he sang.
in Toraja, South Sulawesi, Indonesia
. They have one child Charlie Barani Elliott and are based in Sydney.
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, 18 December 1962) is an Australian Actor in Sydney represented by Carolyn White . He grew up at 14 Sheldon Street Nudgee, Qld., and attended Virginia State Primary School 1967-1974 and then Brisbane Grammar School 1975-1979.
Study
Christopher is an alumnus of Stella AdlerStella Adler
Stella Adler was an American actress and an acclaimed acting teacher, who founded the Stella Adler Studio of Acting in New York City and the The Stella Adler Academy of Acting in Los Angeles with long-time protege Joanne Linville, who continues to teach and furthers Adler's legacy...
Studio Of Acting New York, famous for Alumni including Marlon Brando
Marlon Brando
Marlon Brando, Jr. was an American movie star and political activist. "Unchallenged as the most important actor in modern American Cinema" according to the St...
, Robert DeNiro, Melanie Griffith
Melanie Griffith
Melanie Richards Griffith is an American actress. She is an Academy Award nominee and Golden Globe winner for her performance in the 1988 film Working Girl...
. Christopher graduated in May 1995 after 2 years in the fulltime conservatory program. His teachers included the late Alice Winston, Tom Oppenheim (School Director and Stella's Grandson), James Tripp.
Having done mostly TV and Film, Christopher returned to Adler New York in January 2008 to do a year's refresher in their fulltime Evening Conservatory classes.
Career Beginnings
Christopher first started working in Film/TV in December 1988 in Los Angeles as an extra, playing a cop on the Film '"Revenge of Al Capone" starring Keith CarradineKeith Carradine
Keith Ian Carradine is an American actor who has had success on stage, film and television. In addition, he is a Golden Globe and Oscar winning songwriter. As a member of the Carradine family, he is part of an acting "dynasty" that began with his father, John Carradine.-Early life:Keith...
, and in thirtysomething (TV series), the episode where Carly Simon came to town. Returning to Australia in 1989, (inspired by his brother Rob Elliott
Rob Elliott
Rob Elliott is a popular Australian radio announcer and television show host, best known for hosting Wheel of Fortune.-Television Career:...
who had been host of Wombat and Talking Telephone Numbers, and later host for 7 years of Wheel of Fortune
Wheel of Fortune (Australian game show)
Wheel of Fortune was an Australian television game show produced by Grundy Television. The programme aired on the Seven Network from 1981 to 2004 and November 2005 to July 2006, and is mostly based on the same general format as the original US version of the programme...
), Christopher approached Rob's Agent BMA in Melbourne seeking representation. He was accepted and soon after cast in two episodes of Australia's Most Wanted
Australia's Most Wanted
Australia's Most Wanted was a television program based on the format made popular by America's Most Wanted. It screened on the Seven Network from 1989 until 1999....
. Soon after Berris Underhill and Irene Baker at Frog Management took Chris onto their books and he was cast in Ratbag Hero, a small role opposite Peter Fisher as a young farmer. Still having never studied acting, in 1992 Christopher moved to New York having been accepted into the fulltime program at the prestigious Stella Adler Studio of Acting . On returning to Australia he resumed representation with the new owner of Frog Management in Melbourne, and when Joanne Baker closed Frogs doors near the end of the 20th Century, Christopher moved across to The Actors Agency Melbourne with Naomi West.
Television
Without a lesson, Christopher made his debut Australian television appearance in 1989 on Australia's Most WantedAustralia's Most Wanted
Australia's Most Wanted was a television program based on the format made popular by America's Most Wanted. It screened on the Seven Network from 1989 until 1999....
as "The Floppy Hat Bandit", and soon after on the same series as "The Glen Iris Rapist" and then the "Deepdene Fire Witness". Then followed roles as a Dad in Animal Park
Animal Park
Animal Park was a television documentary about the life of keepers and animals at Longleat Safari Park, Wiltshire, England, aired over 9 series on the BBC from 2000 until 2009. It also covered the daily life of workers in Longleat House, the estate and the gardens.-Main series:Animal Park was...
, an American cop in the US TV Series Time Trax
Time Trax
Time Trax was an American/Australian co-produced science fiction television series that first aired in 1993. A police officer, sent through time into the past, has to track down and return convicted criminals who have escaped prison in the future...
- both the Telemovie and Episode 7, and a Dad in the TV Series Animal Park
Animal Park
Animal Park was a television documentary about the life of keepers and animals at Longleat Safari Park, Wiltshire, England, aired over 9 series on the BBC from 2000 until 2009. It also covered the daily life of workers in Longleat House, the estate and the gardens.-Main series:Animal Park was...
.
Since graduating from Stella Adler, Chris has worked primarily on TV series, mostly cast as a bad guy including several episodes of Stingers
Stingers
Stingers was an Australian police drama television series. It ran for eight seasons on the Nine Network before it was canceled in late 2004 due to declining ratings and the late timeslot Channel Nine gave the program...
as the dodgy and sleezy Wharf Manager Kevin Trainer and the dodgy Mr Bayer. Also the dodgy Doctor Townsend in State Coroner
State Coroner
State Coroner could refer to:* Coroner an officer of law responsible for investigating deaths* State Coroner an Australian television series on Network ten...
, the dodgy Deer Farmer Simon Morse in Blue Heelers
Blue Heelers
Blue Heelers is an Australian police drama series which depicted the lives of police officers stationed at the fictional Mount Thomas police station in a small town in Victoria.- Overview :...
, a Journo opposite Lisa McCune
Lisa McCune
Lisa McCune , is a four-time Gold Logie Award winning Australian actress, best known for her role as Senior Constable Maggie Doyle in Blue Heelers, and as Lt...
in MDA
MDA
-Companies, organizations and government bodies:* Maritime Domain Awareness, part of a U.S. Government interagency and international maritime security effort* MDA , formerly the Museum Documentation Association...
.
Christopher also played several roles on Neighbours
Neighbours
Neighbours is an Australian television soap opera first broadcast on the Seven Network on 18 March 1985. It was created by TV executive Reg Watson, who proposed the idea of making a show that focused on realistic stories and portrayed adults and teenagers who talk openly and solve their problems...
including Trevor Marsh, and the quirky and bizarre Doctor Strand (the botox doctor), a Newsreader in Backlands - a Telemovie based on a true story of the backpackers who disappeared in Queensland,, Bethany's photographer in Pacific Drive, the Journo Des Lonergan in Bush Patrol, and in the Thunderstone 3
Thunderstone (TV series)
Thunderstone is a 1999 Australian children's television series produced by Jonathan M. Shiff Productions set in a post-apocalyptic world after Earth is hit by a comet. The main character Noah is played by Jeffrey Walker...
in which Christopher portrays the regular role of goofy Agent Cummings who tries so hard to lay down the law, and is always being outwitted by a child prodigy. The series won the best TV Series in the world for Children at the English Film and Television Awards.
Film
In 2008 during his return to Stella Adler New York for a year of further study, Christopher auditioned for a role in Under Jakob's LadderUnder Jakob's Ladder
Under Jakob's Ladder is an independent drama film by CubeCity Entertainment. Based on a true story, it tells how a teacher named Jakob is arrested and thrown into a Soviet prison in the early 1940s. Mann Munoz directed the film and Roberto Munoz produced. Jeff Stewart plays the lead role of Jakob...
a Cube City Film. After 3 callbacks Christopher was cast as the evil Nikolai, head of a 1938 Russian Prison Camp, alongside leading Actor Jeff Stewart (actor)
Jeff Stewart (actor)
Jeffrey Stewart is a Scottish actor, probably best known as PC Reg Hollis in the ITV drama The Bill, a role he played from 1984 to 2008....
('Reg' from The Bill
The Bill
The Bill is a police procedural television series that ran from October 1984 to August 2010. It focused on the lives and work of one shift of police officers, rather than on any particular aspect of police work...
TV series).
Writer/Co-Director Robert Munoz auditioned 1000 people for the roles in the film, which was shot on location in Chester, New York in April/May 2009. During the shoot Robert told Christopher that at his audition he brought an understated evil to the role which they hadn't anticipated so they changed the script to accommodate it.
Christopher first role in Film was in "Flynn" 1989, starring Guy Pearce. Christopher had a small role with one single line, playing a member of Errol Flynn's Film Crew (the clapper board man). In 2005 he was cast in a role in the Australian film 'The Line' playing a corrupt anti-corruption officer. He is also heard as a voice of one of the letter writers in the 1998 film, The Dead Letter Office.
Theatre
Christopher's first appearance on stage was before he had studied acting. He was cast in Centerpiece Melbourne's 1990 production of Oliver Twist in Melbourne. After graduating from Adler he performed in New York Off Off Broadway in Pericles, and Cloud Nine.Immediately on his return to Australia in June 1995 Christopher contacted brisbane theatres about any jobs, and auditioned for the role of Miguel Cervantes/Don Quixote in the 1995 Brisbane production of Man of La Mancha. After casting him in the lead role, Directors Robbie and Dave Parkin told Chris they had cast everyone except for the lead because they couldn't find the right person. With time running out they said to themselves maybe the guy we are looking for is still overseas. Rehearsals started that week.
Christopher also played Flan in the Melbourne production of Six Degrees of Separation at Chapel Street Theatre, and George in the Melbourne production of Amendment to Terror at La Mama Theatre (Melbourne)
La Mama Theatre (Melbourne)
The La Mama Theatre is a theatrical venue located at 205 Faraday St, Carlton, Victoria. It opened in a former factory building on 30 July 1967 and still operates today under the direction of Liz Jones....
.
In 2008 Christopher returned to New York and was cast as the Old Man in the Off Off Broadway production of the Sam Shepard
Sam Shepard
Sam Shepard is an American playwright, actor, and television and film director. He is the author of several books of short stories, essays, and memoirs, and received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1979 for his play Buried Child...
play Fool For Love. In the audience was Larry Loonin
Larry Loonin
Larry Loonin is an American theater director, playwright and actor from Brooklyn, New York.-External links:* * * * -References:...
, director of the Fool For Love production in the 70's.
Music
Christopher's hobby is songwriting, specializing in American Country MusicCountry music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
and RnB. As a 17 year old, he used to sing at the Northern Suburbs Country Music Club, where he met Keith Urban
Keith Urban
Keith Lionel Urban is a New Zealand-born Australian, country music singer, songwriter and guitarist whose commercial success has been mainly in the United States and Australia. Urban was born in New Zealand and began his career in Australia at an early age...
who offered to play guitar for him when he sang.
Personal life
On 21 July 2009, Christopher married Sara Agustina Nathan Sambo in a traditional ceremony in her home town of RantepaoRantepao
Rantepao is a town in Tana Toraja Regency, which is known for the cultural center of Toraja ethnic group. National and regional tourism offices have developed the city as the starting point for visiting Tana Toraja, since the area was opened for tourism in 1970s.Hotels, restaurants and other Toraja...
in Toraja, South Sulawesi, Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
. They have one child Charlie Barani Elliott and are based in Sydney.
Since 2010
On 9 December 2010, Christopher confirmed his new homebase as Sydney, after returning from overseas and joined Carolyn White Management and was relisted in Showcast.Filmography
| Year | Production |
|---|---|
| 2005 | The Line |
| 1998 | The Dead Letter Office |
| 1989 | Flynn |
Television
| Year | Production |
|---|---|
| 2006 | Neighbours Neighbours Neighbours is an Australian television soap opera first broadcast on the Seven Network on 18 March 1985. It was created by TV executive Reg Watson, who proposed the idea of making a show that focused on realistic stories and portrayed adults and teenagers who talk openly and solve their problems... |
| 2005 | MDA |
| 2002 | Stingers Stingers Stingers was an Australian police drama television series. It ran for eight seasons on the Nine Network before it was canceled in late 2004 due to declining ratings and the late timeslot Channel Nine gave the program... |
| 2000 | Stingers Stingers Stingers was an Australian police drama television series. It ran for eight seasons on the Nine Network before it was canceled in late 2004 due to declining ratings and the late timeslot Channel Nine gave the program... |
| 1999 | Thunderstone 3 Thunderstone (TV series) Thunderstone is a 1999 Australian children's television series produced by Jonathan M. Shiff Productions set in a post-apocalyptic world after Earth is hit by a comet. The main character Noah is played by Jeffrey Walker... |
| 1999 | Neighbours Neighbours Neighbours is an Australian television soap opera first broadcast on the Seven Network on 18 March 1985. It was created by TV executive Reg Watson, who proposed the idea of making a show that focused on realistic stories and portrayed adults and teenagers who talk openly and solve their problems... |
| 1999 | Backlands |
| 1998 | State Coroner State Coroner (TV series) State Coroner was an Australian television series screened on Network Ten in 1997 and 1998. There were two series produced with a total of 29 episodes. The series was set in the State Coroner's office complex and featured investigations into deaths, murders, suicides, accidents and natural causes... |
| 1998 | Blue Heelers |
| 1996 | Bush Patrol |
| 1995 | Pacific Drive |
| 1993 | Time Trax Time Trax Time Trax was an American/Australian co-produced science fiction television series that first aired in 1993. A police officer, sent through time into the past, has to track down and return convicted criminals who have escaped prison in the future... |
| 1993 | Australia's Most Wanted Australia's Most Wanted Australia's Most Wanted was a television program based on the format made popular by America's Most Wanted. It screened on the Seven Network from 1989 until 1999.... |
| 1992 | Time Trax Time Trax Time Trax was an American/Australian co-produced science fiction television series that first aired in 1993. A police officer, sent through time into the past, has to track down and return convicted criminals who have escaped prison in the future... |
| 1991 | Animal Park Animal Park Animal Park was a television documentary about the life of keepers and animals at Longleat Safari Park, Wiltshire, England, aired over 9 series on the BBC from 2000 until 2009. It also covered the daily life of workers in Longleat House, the estate and the gardens.-Main series:Animal Park was... |
| 1990 | Ratbag Hero |
| 1990 | Australia's Most Wanted Australia's Most Wanted Australia's Most Wanted was a television program based on the format made popular by America's Most Wanted. It screened on the Seven Network from 1989 until 1999.... |
| 1989 | Australia's Most Wanted Australia's Most Wanted Australia's Most Wanted was a television program based on the format made popular by America's Most Wanted. It screened on the Seven Network from 1989 until 1999.... |
Stage
| Year | Production |
|---|---|
| 2008 | Fool For Love, New York, Off Off Broadway |
| 2005 | Amendment to Terror |
| 1997 | Six Degrees of Separation |
| 1995 | Man of La Mancha |
| 1995 | Pericles |
| 1995 | Cloud Nine |