Erik Thomson
Encyclopedia
Erik Thomson is an actor known for playing Hades in the television series Hercules: The Legendary Journeys
, Dr. Mitch Stevens in All Saints
and Dave Rafter in Packed to the Rafters
. He won an Australian Film Institute Award for his performance in the Australian feature film Somersault
.
, Scotland
, UK
and his family emigrated to New Zealand when he was seven. He studied performing arts at the New Zealand Drama School in Wellington
and English Literature
and drama at Victoria University of Wellington
.
in both the Hercules: The Legendary Journeys
and Xena: Warrior Princess
series, which were both filmed in New Zealand.
In 1995 he moved to Australia and landed regular roles in Pacific Drive
, medical series All Saints
and The Alice. He has had guest roles on such series as Wildside and Always Greener
. Since 2008, Thomson has played Dave Rafter on the Seven Network
dramedy series Packed to the Rafters
.
Thomson's work in theatre includes roles in Complete Works of Shakespeare
, Julius Caesar
, Twelve Angry Men, and Angels in America
.
His movie credits include the role of soldier Simon Mollison in the 2008 film The Black Balloon
with Toni Collette
. He appeared in Somersault
with Abbie Cornish
and Sam Worthington
, which scored him an AFI Award, and also featured in Accidents Happen
with Geena Davis
.
for his performance in Somersault
, and was nominated for his work in The Black Balloon
. On television he has been nominated for a Logie Award
five times, and has won one a Silver Logie for Most Popular Actor
.
Awards for Erik Thomson include:
Won
Nominated
and has a daughter named Eilish and has a son named James.
Hercules: The Legendary Journeys
Hercules: The Legendary Journeys is a television series, filmed in New Zealand and the United States. It was produced from 1995, and was very loosely based on the tales of the classical Greek culture hero Heracles...
, Dr. Mitch Stevens in All Saints
All Saints (TV series)
All Saints is an Australian medical drama which first screened on the Seven Network. The series debuted on 24 February 1998 and concluded its run on 27 October 2009...
and Dave Rafter in Packed to the Rafters
Packed to the Rafters
Packed to the Rafters is an Australian family-orientated television series which premiered on the Seven Network on Tuesday 26 August 2008 at 8:30 pm. The drama series features a mix of lighthearted comedy woven through the plot. It revolves around the Rafter family facing work pressures and...
. He won an Australian Film Institute Award for his performance in the Australian feature film Somersault
Somersault
A somersault is an acrobatic exercise in which a person does a full 360° flip, moving the feet over the head. A somersault can be performed either forwards, backwards, or sideways and can be executed in the air or on the ground...
.
Early life
Erik Thomson was born in InvernessInverness
Inverness is a city in the Scottish Highlands. It is the administrative centre for the Highland council area, and is regarded as the capital of the Highlands of Scotland...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and his family emigrated to New Zealand when he was seven. He studied performing arts at the New Zealand Drama School in Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
and English Literature
English literature
English literature is the literature written in the English language, including literature composed in English by writers not necessarily from England; for example, Robert Burns was Scottish, James Joyce was Irish, Joseph Conrad was Polish, Dylan Thomas was Welsh, Edgar Allan Poe was American, J....
and drama at Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington was established in 1897 by Act of Parliament, and was a former constituent college of the University of New Zealand. It is particularly well known for its programmes in law, the humanities, and some scientific disciplines, but offers a broad range of other courses...
.
Career
Thomson had a number of television roles in New Zealand, starting with Marlin Bay a drama set in a casino and resort. He won a wider fan following for his occasional appearances as the God HadesHades
Hades , Hadēs, originally , Haidēs or , Aidēs , meaning "the unseen") was the ancient Greek god of the underworld. The genitive , Haidou, was an elision to denote locality: "[the house/dominion] of Hades". Eventually, the nominative came to designate the abode of the dead.In Greek mythology, Hades...
in both the Hercules: The Legendary Journeys
Hercules: The Legendary Journeys
Hercules: The Legendary Journeys is a television series, filmed in New Zealand and the United States. It was produced from 1995, and was very loosely based on the tales of the classical Greek culture hero Heracles...
and Xena: Warrior Princess
Xena: Warrior Princess
Xena: Warrior Princess is an American–New Zealand supernatural fantasy adventure series that aired in syndication from September 4, 1995 until June 18, 2001....
series, which were both filmed in New Zealand.
In 1995 he moved to Australia and landed regular roles in Pacific Drive
Pacific Drive
Pacific Drive is an Australian television series made by Village Roadshow in association with New World International for the Nine Network between 1996 and 1997....
, medical series All Saints
All Saints (TV series)
All Saints is an Australian medical drama which first screened on the Seven Network. The series debuted on 24 February 1998 and concluded its run on 27 October 2009...
and The Alice. He has had guest roles on such series as Wildside and Always Greener
Always Greener
Always Greener was an Australian television drama/comedy series that aired on the Seven Network which followed the fortunes of two families, one from the city and the other from the country, when they decide to switch homes and start a new direction in life for themselves...
. Since 2008, Thomson has played Dave Rafter on the Seven Network
Seven Network
The Seven Network is an Australian television network owned by Seven West Media Limited. It dates back to 4 November 1956, when the first stations on the VHF7 frequency were established in Melbourne and Sydney.It is currently the second largest network in the country in terms of population reach...
dramedy series Packed to the Rafters
Packed to the Rafters
Packed to the Rafters is an Australian family-orientated television series which premiered on the Seven Network on Tuesday 26 August 2008 at 8:30 pm. The drama series features a mix of lighthearted comedy woven through the plot. It revolves around the Rafter family facing work pressures and...
.
Thomson's work in theatre includes roles in Complete Works of Shakespeare
Complete Works of Shakespeare
Complete Works of William Shakespeare is the standard name given to any volume containing all the plays and poems of William Shakespeare. Some editions include several works which were not completely of Shakespeare's authorship , such as The Two Noble Kinsmen, a collaboration with John Fletcher, as...
, Julius Caesar
Julius Caesar (play)
The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, also known simply as Julius Caesar, is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in 1599. It portrays the 44 BC conspiracy against...
, Twelve Angry Men, and Angels in America
Angels in America
Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes is the 1993 Pulitzer Prize winning play in two parts by American playwright Tony Kushner. It has been made into both a television miniseries and an opera by Peter Eötvös.-Characters:...
.
His movie credits include the role of soldier Simon Mollison in the 2008 film The Black Balloon
The Black Balloon (film)
The Black Balloon is a 2008 Australian|British AFI award-winning dramedy feature film which stars Toni Collette, Rhys Wakefield, Luke Ford, Erik Thomson, Gemma Ward as well as a cast of newcomers. It is directed by first time feature film director, Elissa Down.The film was released in Australian...
with Toni Collette
Toni Collette
Antonia "Toni" Collette is an Australian actress and musician, known for her acting work on stage, television and film as well as a secondary career as the lead singer of the band Toni Collette & the Finish....
. He appeared in Somersault
Somersault (film)
Somersault is an Australian independent film, written and directed by Cate Shortland and released in September 2004. The film was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival...
with Abbie Cornish
Abbie Cornish
Abbie Cornish is an Australian actress. She is well known in Australia for a number of film and television roles, particularly her award-winning lead performance in 2004's Somersault, and internationally for her role as Fanny Brawne in Bright Star and her appearance as Sweet Pea in Sucker Punch.-...
and Sam Worthington
Sam Worthington
Samuel Henry J. "Sam" Worthington is an English born, Australian actor. After almost a decade of roles in Australian TV shows and films, Worthington gained Hollywood's attention by playing Marcus Wright in Terminator Salvation and the lead role, Jake Sully, in James Cameron's science...
, which scored him an AFI Award, and also featured in Accidents Happen
Accidents Happen
Accidents Happen is a 2010 Australian coming of age comedy drama film directed by Andrew Lancaster and starring Geena Davis, Harrison Gilbertson, Sebastian Gregory, Harry Cook, Joel Tobeck and Sarah Woods. Written by Brian Carbee, based on his own childhood and adolescence, the story revolves...
with Geena Davis
Geena Davis
Virginia Elizabeth "Geena" Davis is an American actress, film producer, writer, former fashion model, and a women's Olympics archery team semi-finalist...
.
Awards
Thomson won an Australian Film Institute Award for Best Actor in a Supporting RoleAustralian Film Institute Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role
The Australian Film Institute Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role is an award in the annual Australian Film Institute Awards. It has been awarded annually since 1974.-Previous winners:*1974: Barry Humphries – The Great McCarthy...
for his performance in Somersault
Somersault
A somersault is an acrobatic exercise in which a person does a full 360° flip, moving the feet over the head. A somersault can be performed either forwards, backwards, or sideways and can be executed in the air or on the ground...
, and was nominated for his work in The Black Balloon
The Black Balloon
The Black Balloon is a 1979 album by John Renbourn.-Track listing:# "The Moon Shines Bright" – 3:56# "The English Dance" – 2:51# "Bourrée I and II" – 2:22# "Medley:" – 9:28#* "The Mist Covered Mountains of Home"#* "The Orphan"#* "Tarboulton"...
. On television he has been nominated for a Logie Award
Logie Award
The TV Week Logie Awards are the Australian television industry awards, which have been presented annually since 1959. Renamed by Graham Kennedy in 1960 after he won the first 'Star Of The Year' award, the name 'Logie' awards honours John Logie Baird, a Scotsman who invented the television as a...
five times, and has won one a Silver Logie for Most Popular Actor
Logie Award for Most Popular Actor
The Silver Logie for Most Popular Actor is an award in the annual Australian Logie Awards.-1997:*Martin Sacks, Blue Heelers, Seven Network *Colin Friels, Water Rats, Nine Network *Gary Sweet, Police Rescue...
.
Awards for Erik Thomson include:
Won
- 2003: Silver Logie for Most Popular ActorLogie Award for Most Popular ActorThe Silver Logie for Most Popular Actor is an award in the annual Australian Logie Awards.-1997:*Martin Sacks, Blue Heelers, Seven Network *Colin Friels, Water Rats, Nine Network *Gary Sweet, Police Rescue...
(for All Saints) - 2004: Australian Film Institute Award for Best Actor in a Supporting RoleAustralian Film Institute Award for Best Actor in a Supporting RoleThe Australian Film Institute Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role is an award in the annual Australian Film Institute Awards. It has been awarded annually since 1974.-Previous winners:*1974: Barry Humphries – The Great McCarthy...
(for SomersaultSomersault (film)Somersault is an Australian independent film, written and directed by Cate Shortland and released in September 2004. The film was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival...
)
Nominated
- 2002: Silver Logie for Most Popular Actor (for All Saints)
- 2004: Silver Logie for Most Popular Actor (for All Saints)
- 2004: FCCA AwardFilm Critics Circle of Australia Awards 2004The 14th Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards, given on 7 November 2004, honored the best in film for 2004.-Winners:* Best Film: Somersault* Best Foreign Film - English Language: Lost in Translation...
for the Best Supporting Actor - Male (for Somersault) - 2008: Australian Film Institute Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for The Black Balloon
- 2009: Silver Logie for Most Popular Actor (for Packed to the Rafters)
- 2010: Silver Logie for Most Popular Actor (for Packed to the Rafters)
Family
Thomson is married to actress Caitlin McDougallCaitlin McDougall
Caitlin McDougall is an Australian actress who is best known for her roles in the television series Always Greener and The Alice.McDougall is married to actor Erik Thomson and they have a daughter called Eilish...
and has a daughter named Eilish and has a son named James.