Mark Little (Australian actor)
Encyclopedia
Mark Little is an Australian actor, television presenter and comedian, born in Brisbane
, Queensland
.
in the soap opera Neighbours
. He played the role for three years until 1991. The role gave his profile a big boost in the United Kingdom where Neighbours was being watched by ten million people every day at the time. He consequently has spent much of his career in the UK, living for much of the time near the seafront in Brighton. He has taken many self devised shows to the Edinburgh Fringe and toured them nationally throughout the UK. In 1994 he replaced Chris Evans as the presenter of The Big Breakfast
. He has also narrated cult TV series The Villa
on Sky TV
.
Recently he has worked on films such as Blackball
and in the West End with a hit one man show Defending the Caveman, which also won the Laurence Olivier Award in 2000. He returned to Neighbours as Joe for a brief period in 2005.
play Cosi
at The White Bear Theatre Club in Kennington
, London, opening 29 July 2008.
Since 2009 Little has appeared regularly on the sensational discussion show, The Wright Stuff
.
Little hosted the "Art and Soul" concert at The Hove Centre (Hove Town Hall) on Saturday 22 November 2008 in aid of returning the lifetime's work of the late artist Graham Clark from Tenerife were he lived.
Following his performance in the Hammond Productions pantomime Aladdin at Worthing's Pavilion Theatre in 2007, he returned in 2008 – this time as Chuckles in Snow White.
As well as extended runs of Defending the Caveman at London's Leicester Square Theatre, he has extensively toured the play around the UK.
In June 2010 Mark made his directorial debut starring in, designing and directing Jack Hibberd's A Stretch of the Imagination at The Cock Tavern Theatre in Kilburn to critical acclaim. In the same year he appeared on Celebrity Masterchef, where he impressed in the first round but narrowly missed out on progressing.
AFI Nominations for Best Supporting Actor: 1985 "An Indecent Obsession" (Ben Maynard) and 1987 "Short Changed" (Curly)
Australian Television Society Nomination for Best Actor 1990 "Neighbours" (Joe Mangel)
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...
, Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
.
Career
Little appeared in a string of Australian films and TV series during the 1980s. He also performed his own comedy/performance in Melbourne's burgeoning comedy clubs throughout the eighties. His longest-running television role was as Joe MangelJoe Mangel
Walter Joseph "Joe" Mangel is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Mark Little. He debuted on-screen in the episode airing on 8 August 1988. Little later departed the serial and Joe left in 1991. In 2005 Little agreed to reprise the role as part...
in the soap opera 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...
. He played the role for three years until 1991. The role gave his profile a big boost in the United Kingdom where Neighbours was being watched by ten million people every day at the time. He consequently has spent much of his career in the UK, living for much of the time near the seafront in Brighton. He has taken many self devised shows to the Edinburgh Fringe and toured them nationally throughout the UK. In 1994 he replaced Chris Evans as the presenter of The Big Breakfast
The Big Breakfast
The Big Breakfast was a British light entertainment television show shown on Channel 4 and S4C each weekday morning from 28 September 1992 until 29 March 2002 during which period 2,482 shows were produced. The Big Breakfast was produced by Planet 24, the production company co-owned by former...
. He has also narrated cult TV series The Villa
The Villa
The Villa was a reality TV show, originally produced by Talent TV from 1999, and aired on Sky1 for four series until 2003. Reruns currently air on Fox Reality....
on Sky TV
British Sky Broadcasting
British Sky Broadcasting Group plc is a satellite broadcasting, broadband and telephony services company headquartered in London, United Kingdom, with operations in the United Kingdom and the Ireland....
.
Recently he has worked on films such as Blackball
Blackball (film)
Blackball is a 2003 British comedy sports film, borrowed from the Australian film, Crackerjack about Cliff Starkey , a fictional rebellious young bowls player. His dream is to play for his country, but always preferred to play by his own rules, much to the disapproval of the local bowls club...
and in the West End with a hit one man show Defending the Caveman, which also won the Laurence Olivier Award in 2000. He returned to Neighbours as Joe for a brief period in 2005.
Recent work
Little appeared as Roy in a production of Louis Nowra'sLouis Nowra
Louis Nowra is an Australian writer, playwright, screenwriter and librettist.He is best known as one of Australia's leading playwrights...
play Cosi
Così
Così is a play by Australian playwright Louis Nowra which was first performed in 1992. Set in a Melbourne mental hospital in 1971, Così is semi-autobiographical.- Plot summary:Lewis is always desperate for work as he states "I need the money"...
at The White Bear Theatre Club in Kennington
Kennington
Kennington is a district of South London, England, mainly within the London Borough of Lambeth, although part of the area is within the London Borough of Southwark....
, London, opening 29 July 2008.
Since 2009 Little has appeared regularly on the sensational discussion show, The Wright Stuff
The Wright Stuff
The Wright Stuff is a British television chat show, hosted by Matthew Wright, and currently airing on Channel 5 each weekday morning from 9:15 to 11:10am....
.
Little hosted the "Art and Soul" concert at The Hove Centre (Hove Town Hall) on Saturday 22 November 2008 in aid of returning the lifetime's work of the late artist Graham Clark from Tenerife were he lived.
Following his performance in the Hammond Productions pantomime Aladdin at Worthing's Pavilion Theatre in 2007, he returned in 2008 – this time as Chuckles in Snow White.
As well as extended runs of Defending the Caveman at London's Leicester Square Theatre, he has extensively toured the play around the UK.
In June 2010 Mark made his directorial debut starring in, designing and directing Jack Hibberd's A Stretch of the Imagination at The Cock Tavern Theatre in Kilburn to critical acclaim. In the same year he appeared on Celebrity Masterchef, where he impressed in the first round but narrowly missed out on progressing.
Current work
Little has been extensively touring Britain and Ireland with Defending the Caveman. He is also planning a long awaited return to the comedy stage having formulated a new show that he will preview in Britain in 2011.Family
Little is married to Cath Farr. They have two children, Angus Little who performs in the percussion show Stomp and Jasper, a musician and film maker.Awards
- 1985 Australian Television Society Award, Best Actor for 'The Flying Doctors'
- 1997 Paramount Comedy Award, Edinburgh Fringe for 'Psychobubble'
- 2000 Olivier Award for Best Entertainment, 'Defending the Caveman'
AFI Nominations for Best Supporting Actor: 1985 "An Indecent Obsession" (Ben Maynard) and 1987 "Short Changed" (Curly)
Australian Television Society Nomination for Best Actor 1990 "Neighbours" (Joe Mangel)
Filmography
- Skyways (1980) TV Series
- Cop ShopCop ShopCop Shop was an Australian police drama television series produced by Crawford Productions that revolved around the everyday operations of both the uniformed police officers and the plain-clothes detectives of the fictional Riverside Police Station....
(1981) TV Series - The SullivansThe SullivansThe Sullivans is an Australian drama television series produced by Crawford Productions which ran from 1976 until 1983. The series told the story of an average middle-classMelbourne family and the effect World War II had on their lives...
(1981) TV Series - Tennis ElbowTennis elbowLateral epicondylitis or lateral epicondylalgia, also known as tennis elbow, shooter's elbow and archer's elbow, is a condition where the outer part of the elbow becomes sore and tender...
(1982), Sidney Tower - The ClinicThe ClinicThe Clinic is a Chilean satirical/investigative newspaper founded by Patricio Fernández Chadwick in November 1998. The name was inspired by Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet's October 1998 arrest in Britain at The London Clinic, which bears the name The Clinic on its façade...
(1982), Basil - StarstruckStarstruck (1982 film)Starstruck is a 1982 Australian comedy-drama musical film starring Jo Kennedy, Ross O'Donovan and Margo Lee about two teenagers trying to make their break into the music industry. The film was shot on location in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
(1982), Carl - WaterfrontWaterfront-In music:*Waterfront , a 1980s British pop duo*Waterfront Records, an Australian record label*"Waterfront" , by Simple Minds*Waterfront Blues Festival, in Portland, Oregon-In film and television:*Waterfront , directed by William A...
(1984) (mini) TV Series, Allan - Wills & Burke (1985), John King
- An Indecent ObsessionAn Indecent ObsessionAn Indecent Obsession is a 1981 novel written by Australian author Colleen McCullough.-Summary:To the battle-broken soldiers in her care, nurse Honour Langtry is a precious, adored reminder of the world before the war. Then Michael Wilson arrives under a cloud of mystery and shame to change...
(1985), Benedict Maynard - The Dunera Boys (1985) (TV), Pete Dunstan
- The Flying DoctorsThe Flying DoctorsThe Flying Doctors is an Australian drama series produced by Crawford Productions that revolved around the everyday lifesaving efforts of the real Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia....
(1985) (mini) TV Series, 'Roughneck' Ron - The Flying DoctorsThe Flying DoctorsThe Flying Doctors is an Australian drama series produced by Crawford Productions that revolved around the everyday lifesaving efforts of the real Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia....
(1986) TV Series, Ron Miller (1986) - Short Changed (1986), Curly
- The Gillies Republic (1986) TV Series,
- A Matter of Convenience (1987) (TV), Roger Purvis
- Evil Angels (1988), Constable Morris
- Bachelor GirlBachelor Girl-Albums:-Singles:-Awards:...
(1988), Waiter - NeighboursNeighboursNeighbours 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...
(1985) TV Series .... Joe Mangel (1988–1991, 2005) - Nirvana Street MurderNirvana Street MurderNirvana Street Murder is a 1990 Australian comedy film, written and directed by Aleksi Vellis, starring Mark Little, Ben Mendelsohn and Mary Coustas.-External links:*...
(1990) .... Boady - Golden Braid (1990) .... Punk
- Greenkeeping (1992) .... Lenny
- The VillaThe VillaThe Villa was a reality TV show, originally produced by Talent TV from 1999, and aired on Sky1 for four series until 2003. Reruns currently air on Fox Reality....
(1999) TV Series .... Narrator (1999–2000) - Distant ShadowDistant ShadowDistant Shadow is a 1999 film. A thriller made in the UK, it is 100 minutes in length and was directed by Howard J. Ford.-Plot summary:Michelle witnesses the brutal murder of her mother while she is a four year old child. Sixteen years later she is still traumatized by memories, and living in...
(1999) .... The Landlord - The Rat TrapThe Rat TrapThe Rat Trap is a four act drama by Noel Coward, his 'first really serious attempt at psychological conflict,' written when he was only 18....
(1999) - Motion (2001) .... Foreman
- Summer RainSummer Rain-Films and television:*Summer Rain , an Italian film directed by Mario Monicelli*Summer Rain , directed by Antonio Banderas-Music:*"Summer Rain" , a 2006 song by ATB...
(2001) .... Travel Agency Manager - BlackballBlackball (film)Blackball is a 2003 British comedy sports film, borrowed from the Australian film, Crackerjack about Cliff Starkey , a fictional rebellious young bowls player. His dream is to play for his country, but always preferred to play by his own rules, much to the disapproval of the local bowls club...
(2003) .... Mark Doohan - CasualtyCasualty (TV series)Casualty, stylised as Casual+y, is a British weekly television show broadcast on BBC One, and the longest-running emergency medical drama television series in the world. Created by Jeremy Brock and Paul Unwin, it was first broadcast on 6 September 1986, and transmitted in the UK on BBC One. The...
(2008).... Gary Forrester - EmmerdaleEmmerdaleEmmerdale, is a long-running British soap opera set in Emmerdale , a fictional village in the Yorkshire Dales. Created by Kevin Laffan, Emmerdale was first broadcast on 16 October 1972...
(2008) ....Jonty DeLorean - Whites (2010) .... Darryl Sommers