Gerald Lepkowski
Encyclopedia
Gerald Lepkowski is a television and stage actor, who has had guest roles in both Australia, Scotland and England, before landing the lead role in Dirt Game
in Australia in 2009.
, Scotland, Lepkowski is the second child of Edward Lepkowski, a carpet fitter of Polish decent; and Catherine Lepkowski (née Murray) as well as the brother of Edward Jr and Carol. While travelling Australia in his early 20s, Lepkowski was bitten by the acting bug and eventually trained at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts
. where he met fellow Brit-born thespian, Frances O'Connor
, with whom he has one child, Luka, born in 2005. After working extensively in Australia for over a decade, he and O'Connor relocated to London
where more work followed. The couple are currently residing in Los Angeles.
on the stage, and he played Tysefew in 'The Dutch Courtesan', Claudio in Much Ado About Nothing, Roger & Arthur in The Balcony, Vershinin in The Three Sisters, Krogstaad in A Doll's House and Orsino in Twelfth Night, all with the Melbourne Theatre Company
.
Lepkowski then went on to appear in several Australian TV series from 1994, starring in The Damnation of Harvey McHugh
in a guest role. Since then, he has been in guest roles in other television work, in both Australia and England. Other roles include Neighbours
in 1994 Halifax f.p.
in 1996, State Coroner
in 1997, Monarch of the Glen in 2001, Two Thousand Acres of Sky
in 2003, in EastEnders
in 2005, among others.
In 2002 he landed the lead role in the award-winning Scottish romantic comedy
film, American Cousins
, starring alongside Shirley Henderson
, Danny Nucci and Hollywood stars Dan Hedaya
and Vincent Pastore
. The same year he appeared in another British film, Man Dancin, which starred Eastenders
actor Alex Ferns.
In 2009, he starred in the lead role of Dirt Game
, an Australian drama series that aired on ABC1
. This is his first role in a leading part. He is currently starring in season 2 of East West 101
, a drama that airs on SBS
. It began airing in mid-October 2009. In 2010, Lepkowski appeared in the Australian telemovie Sisters of War
as Bishop Leo Scharmach.
Dirt Game
Dirt Game is an Australian drama television series that screened on the ABC. It was a six part series that was announced in July 2009. It premiered on 19 April 2009 and finished on 25 May 2009...
in Australia in 2009.
Early life
Born in the Sighthill area of GlasgowGlasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, Scotland, Lepkowski is the second child of Edward Lepkowski, a carpet fitter of Polish decent; and Catherine Lepkowski (née Murray) as well as the brother of Edward Jr and Carol. While travelling Australia in his early 20s, Lepkowski was bitten by the acting bug and eventually trained at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts
Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts
The Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts , Edith Cowan University was established in 1980 to provide performing arts tuition comparable to the highest calibre of national and international training benchmarks to be able to meet industry needs around the globe.The school is located in the...
. where he met fellow Brit-born thespian, Frances O'Connor
Frances O'Connor
-Background:O'Connor was born in Wantage, Oxfordshire, England to a pianist mother and nuclear physicist father. When O'Connor was two, her family moved back to Perth, Western Australia. O'Connor was raised a Roman Catholic and attended the Mercedes College in Perth...
, with whom he has one child, Luka, born in 2005. After working extensively in Australia for over a decade, he and O'Connor relocated to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
where more work followed. The couple are currently residing in Los Angeles.
Career
Lepkowski worked extensively in AustraliaAustralia
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...
on the stage, and he played Tysefew in 'The Dutch Courtesan', Claudio in Much Ado About Nothing, Roger & Arthur in The Balcony, Vershinin in The Three Sisters, Krogstaad in A Doll's House and Orsino in Twelfth Night, all with the Melbourne Theatre Company
Melbourne Theatre Company
The Melbourne Theatre Company is a theatre company based in Melbourne. Founded in 1953, it is the oldest professional theatre company in Australia, and has its own theatre, The MTC Theatre – which houses the 500-seat Sumner Theatre and the 150-seat Lawler Studio – located in Melbourne's Arts...
.
Lepkowski then went on to appear in several Australian TV series from 1994, starring in The Damnation of Harvey McHugh
The Damnation of Harvey McHugh
The Damnation of Harvey McHugh is a television miniseries made by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. The series consists of 12 episodes and was first broadcast on the ABC in 1994.-Cast and crew:...
in a guest role. Since then, he has been in guest roles in other television work, in both Australia and England. Other roles include 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...
in 1994 Halifax f.p.
Halifax f.p.
Halifax f.p. is an Australian television drama series produced by Nine Network from 1994 to 2001. The series stars Rebecca Gibney as Doctor Jane Halifax, a forensic psychiatrist investigating cases involving the mental state of suspects or victims...
in 1996, 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...
in 1997, Monarch of the Glen in 2001, Two Thousand Acres of Sky
Two Thousand Acres of Sky
Two Thousand Acres of Sky was a TV drama which aired on BBC Television from 2001 to 2003. It is also syndicated in the United States on PBS. It was created and written by Timothy Prager. The Executive Producer was Adrian Bate....
in 2003, in EastEnders
EastEnders
EastEnders is a British television soap opera, first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 19 February 1985 and continuing to today. EastEnders storylines examine the domestic and professional lives of the people who live and work in the fictional London Borough of Walford in the East End...
in 2005, among others.
In 2002 he landed the lead role in the award-winning Scottish romantic comedy
Romantic Comedy
Romantic Comedy can refer to* Romantic Comedy , a 1979 play written by Bernard Slade* Romantic Comedy , a 1983 film adapted from the play and starring Dudley Moore and Mary Steenburgen...
film, American Cousins
American Cousins
American Cousins is a romantic comedy about a Scots-Italian fish and chip shop owner who gives refuge to his Mafia relatives when they go on the run. It was voted one of the top three Scottish films of all time by readers of The List magazine ....
, starring alongside Shirley Henderson
Shirley Henderson
Shirley Henderson is a Scottish actress. She is perhaps best known for her role as Moaning Myrtle in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire .-Early life:...
, Danny Nucci and Hollywood stars Dan Hedaya
Dan Hedaya
Daniel G. “Dan” Hedaya is an American character actor. He often plays sleazy villains or uptight, wisecracking individuals; three of his best-known roles are as Italian Mafia boss Tony Costello in Wise Guys, a cuckolded husband in the Coen brothers' crime thriller Blood Simple, and the scheming...
and Vincent Pastore
Vincent Pastore
Vincent Pastore is an Italian-American actor, often cast as a mobster and best known for the role of Salvatore "Big Pussy" Bonpensiero on The Sopranos.-Early life:...
. The same year he appeared in another British film, Man Dancin, which starred Eastenders
EastEnders
EastEnders is a British television soap opera, first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 19 February 1985 and continuing to today. EastEnders storylines examine the domestic and professional lives of the people who live and work in the fictional London Borough of Walford in the East End...
actor Alex Ferns.
In 2009, he starred in the lead role of Dirt Game
Dirt Game
Dirt Game is an Australian drama television series that screened on the ABC. It was a six part series that was announced in July 2009. It premiered on 19 April 2009 and finished on 25 May 2009...
, an Australian drama series that aired on ABC1
ABC1
ABC1 was a United Kingdom based television channel from Disney using the branding of the Disney owned American network, ABC.The channel initially launched exclusively on the British digital terrestrial television platform Freeview on 27 September 2004. On 10 December 2004 it was launched on...
. This is his first role in a leading part. He is currently starring in season 2 of East West 101
East West 101
East West 101 is a critically acclaimed and award-winning drama series airing on the SBS network. The series was produced and created by Steven Knapman & Kris Wyld, the team behind other drama series such as Wildside and White Collar Blue....
, a drama that airs on SBS
Special Broadcasting Service
The Special Broadcasting Service is a hybrid-funded Australian public broadcasting radio and television network. The stated purpose of SBS is "to provide multilingual and multicultural radio and television services that inform, educate and entertain all Australians and, in doing so, reflect...
. It began airing in mid-October 2009. In 2010, Lepkowski appeared in the Australian telemovie Sisters of War
Sisters of War
Sisters of War is a telemovie based on the true story of two Australian women, Lorna Whyte, an army nurse and Sister Berenice Twohill, a Catholic nun from New South Wales who survived as prisoners of war in Papua New Guinea during World War II. Sisters of War was written by John Misto, produced by...
as Bishop Leo Scharmach.