Kym Gyngell
Encyclopedia
Kym Gyngell (born Kimberly Gyngell, 15 April 1952 in Melbourne) is an Australian AFI award
winning comedian and film, television and stage actor. His second cousin is Nine Network
CEO David Gyngell
.
and developed several popular characters, a few of which survived beyond The Comedy Company. One of his characters, Col'n Carpenter (who neglects to pronounce the letter 'i' in his name Colin), is a slow Australian with unique speech mannerisms. Col'n went on to have his own sitcom that ran for two seasons, in the early 1990s.
Also in the early 1990s, Gyngell appeared in a series of public service announcements for the Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand.
Gyngell was a regular on the popular Australian series Full Frontal
during the mid-1990s, where he starred alongside Eric Bana
before Bana attained Hollywood
fame. His most notable characters included; "Leon" (Art critic who used to show up on talk shows and say the word "Crap"); and as characters sending up Kerry O'Brien (host of the ABC
's The 7.30 Report
) and John Laws
(former 2UE
radio broadcaster).
Once he left Full Frontal, he had a few guest roles, including comedies The Micallef Program
and Pizza
, and on drama's The Secret Life of Us
, CrashBurn
and Love My Way
.
Since 2007, Gyngell played Father Harris on the ABC
comedy The Librarians
.
In 2008, Gyngell played the role of Tony/Mr E (real names suppressed by Order of the Supreme Court of Victoria) in Underbelly (TV series)
for the Nine Network and also in ABC1's comedy Very Small Business
.
. In 1988, he played Ian McKenzie in Boulevard of Broken Dreams, which earned him an AFI award
for Best actor. In 1988, he appeared in Bachelor Girl (1988) and in Grievous Bodily Harm
. In 1990, he was in What the Moon Saw, and starred in Heaven Tonight which earned him an AFI nomination.
In 2000, he starred in the surprise hit of the year, in the comedy, The Wog Boy
playing the Supervisor; In 2002, he played the character of Paul in The Hard Word
and as Richard in Blow.
In 2005, he was in The Writer.
in 1988 for "Best Actor in a Supporting Role
" for his role in Boulevard of Broken Dreams which starred John Waters
who won the AFI "Best Actor
" award; Gyngell was also nominated for his performance in Heaven Tonight (1990). In 2005 Gyngell won the Best Actor award at the St Kilda Film Festival for his role in The Writer.
, The Pram Factory, Hoopla (the predecessor of the Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne
). In the late 1970s, he performed with the Sydney Theatre Company
. In 2003, Gyngell played Robert in a production of David Auburn
's play Proof
which toured Australia. In 2008 Gyngell played William in the two-hander
Ninety by Joanna Murray-Smith
at the Melbourne Theatre Company
(MTC); the production then toured extensively throughout Australia with Rachel Gordon
. Later that year he played Tartuffe in Molière
's The Hypocrite
at the MTC opposite Marina Prior
and Garry McDonald
.
.
Australian Film Institute Awards
The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Award, known as the AACTA Award , is an accolade presented annually by the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts . The awards recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry and television industry, including directors,...
winning comedian and film, television and stage actor. His second cousin is Nine Network
Nine Network
The Nine Network , is an Australian television network with headquarters based in Willoughby, a suburb located on the North Shore of Sydney. For 50 years since television's inception in Australia, between 1956 and 2006, it was the most watched television network in Australia...
CEO David Gyngell
David Gyngell
David Gyngell is the CEO of Australian commercial broadcasting network Channel Nine. He is currently serving his second stint as CEO after resigning from the job in May 2005...
.
Television
In the late 1980s, he appeared in The Comedy CompanyThe Comedy Company
The Comedy Company was an Australian comedy television series first aired from 16 February 1988 until about 11 November 1990 on Network Ten, Sunday night and was created and directed by Ian McFadyen, and co directed and produced by Jo Lane...
and developed several popular characters, a few of which survived beyond The Comedy Company. One of his characters, Col'n Carpenter (who neglects to pronounce the letter 'i' in his name Colin), is a slow Australian with unique speech mannerisms. Col'n went on to have his own sitcom that ran for two seasons, in the early 1990s.
Also in the early 1990s, Gyngell appeared in a series of public service announcements for the Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand.
Gyngell was a regular on the popular Australian series Full Frontal
Full Frontal (TV series)
Full Frontal was an Australian sketch comedy series which debuted in 1993. The show first aired on the Seven Network on 13 May 1993, and finished on 18 September 1997....
during the mid-1990s, where he starred alongside Eric Bana
Eric Bana
Eric Bana is an Australian film and television actor. He began his career as a comedian in the sketch comedy series Full Frontal before gaining critical recognition in the biopic Chopper...
before Bana attained Hollywood
Cinema of the United States
The cinema of the United States, also known as Hollywood, has had a profound effect on cinema across the world since the early 20th century. Its history is sometimes separated into four main periods: the silent film era, classical Hollywood cinema, New Hollywood, and the contemporary period...
fame. His most notable characters included; "Leon" (Art critic who used to show up on talk shows and say the word "Crap"); and as characters sending up Kerry O'Brien (host of the ABC
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
's The 7.30 Report
The 7.30 Report
The 7.30 Report is an Australian nightly television current affairs program, that was shown on ABC1 and ABC News 24 at , Mondays–Thursdays...
) and John Laws
John Laws
Richard John Sinclair "John" Laws, CBE , an Australian radio presenter, sometimes known as Lawsie, was from the 1970s until his retirement in 2007, the host of a hugely successful morning radio program, which mixed music with interviews, opinion, live advertising readings and listener talkback...
(former 2UE
2UE
2UE is a commercial radio station in Sydney, Australia owned by Fairfax Media. It is Sydney's and Australia's oldest commercial radio station, first broadcasting on 26 January 1925 on 1025 kHz AM before moving to 950 kHz in 1935 when virtually all Australian radio stations were assigned new...
radio broadcaster).
Once he left Full Frontal, he had a few guest roles, including comedies The Micallef Program
The Micallef Program
The Micallef Pogram is an Australian sketch comedy TV series hosted by Shaun Micallef, and written by Micallef and Gary McCaffrie, that ran from 1998 to 2001 on ABC TV. It was known as The Micallef Program in its first series, The Micallef Programme in its second series and The Micallef Pogram in...
and Pizza
Pizza (TV series)
Pizza is an Australian black comedy television series on the Australian television network, SBS. It has also spun off a feature length movie in 2003, and in 2004 released a highlights video/DVD which also included previously unshown footage and a schoolies exposé theatre show entitled "Fat Pizza"...
, and on drama's The Secret Life of Us
The Secret Life of Us
The Secret Life of Us was a television drama series set in the beachside suburb of St Kilda, Melbourne, Australia. The series was produced by Southern Star Entertainment and screened in Australia from 2001 to 2005 on Network Ten and on Channel 4 in the UK...
, CrashBurn
CrashBurn
CrashBurn was an Australian 13-part drama series airing on Network Ten, about surviving long-term relationships in an age where multiple partners and multiple orgasms are considered a birthright....
and Love My Way
Love My Way
Love My Way was a Logie Award winning and critically acclaimed Australian television drama series. It won the AFI award for Best Television Drama Series for each of its three seasons ....
.
Since 2007, Gyngell played Father Harris on the ABC
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
comedy The Librarians
The Librarians (TV series)
The Librarians is an Australian television comedy series which premiered on 31 October 2007 on ABC TV. In Ireland the show airs on RTÉ Two. The series is produced and written by Robyn Butler and Wayne Hope who are also the principal cast members. Hope is also the series' director. The first...
.
In 2008, Gyngell played the role of Tony/Mr E (real names suppressed by Order of the Supreme Court of Victoria) in Underbelly (TV series)
Underbelly (TV series)
Underbelly is a 13-part Australian television mini-series that retells the real events of the 1995–2004 gangland war in Melbourne, and is the first series in the larger Underbelly Franchise. It depicts the key players in Melbourne's criminal underworld, including the Carlton Crew and their rival,...
for the Nine Network and also in ABC1's comedy Very Small Business
Very Small Business (TV series)
Very Small Business is an Australian television comedy series first broadcast on Wednesday 3 September 2008 on ABC1. The series is written by Wayne Hope, Gary McCaffrie, and Robyn Butler, and produced by Hope and Butler. It comprises of six half-hour episodes.-Synopsis:Don Angel is the small...
.
Film
In 1985, Kyngell starred in his first film – in 1985 – in the film Wills & Burke playing William John WillsWilliam John Wills
William John Wills was an English surveyor who also trained for a while as a surgeon. He achieved fame as the second-in-command of the ill-fated Burke and Wills expedition, which was the first expedition to cross Australia from south to north, finding a route across the continent from the settled...
. In 1988, he played Ian McKenzie in Boulevard of Broken Dreams, which earned him an AFI award
Australian Film Institute Awards
The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Award, known as the AACTA Award , is an accolade presented annually by the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts . The awards recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry and television industry, including directors,...
for Best actor. In 1988, he appeared in Bachelor Girl (1988) and in Grievous Bodily Harm
Grievous Bodily Harm
Grievous Bodily Harm is a 1988 Australian crime film directed by Mark Joffe starring Colin Friels and John Waters. Crime reporter Tom Stewart and a cop look for a deranged schoolteacher who goes on a murder spree while looking for the lover he thought to be dead.-Awards:The film was nominated...
. In 1990, he was in What the Moon Saw, and starred in Heaven Tonight which earned him an AFI nomination.
In 2000, he starred in the surprise hit of the year, in the comedy, The Wog Boy
The Wog Boy
The Wog Boy is a 2000 Australian motion picture comedy starring Nick Giannopoulos, Vince Colosimo, Lucy Bell, Abi Tucker, John Barresi, Stephen Curry, Hung Le, Geraldine Turner, Tony Nikolakopoulos and Derryn Hinch. -Plot:...
playing the Supervisor; In 2002, he played the character of Paul in The Hard Word
The Hard Word
The Hard Word is a 2002 Australian crime film about three bank-robbing brothers who are offered a role in a bold heist while serving time in prison. The film was written and directed by Scott Roberts, and stars Guy Pearce and Rachel Griffiths....
and as Richard in Blow.
In 2005, he was in The Writer.
Film awards
Gyngell received an AFI awardAustralian Film Institute Awards
The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Award, known as the AACTA Award , is an accolade presented annually by the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts . The awards recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry and television industry, including directors,...
in 1988 for "Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Australian 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 role in Boulevard of Broken Dreams which starred John Waters
John Waters (actor)
John Russell Waters is a film, theatre and television actor and musician best known in Australia, to where he moved in 1968...
who won the AFI "Best Actor
Australian Film Institute Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role
The AACTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role is an award in the annual AACTA Awards, presented by the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts...
" award; Gyngell was also nominated for his performance in Heaven Tonight (1990). In 2005 Gyngell won the Best Actor award at the St Kilda Film Festival for his role in The Writer.
Theatre
Gyngell played with various theatre collectives in the early 1970s, such as La MamaLa 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....
, The Pram Factory, Hoopla (the predecessor of the Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne
Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne
Malthouse Theatre is the resident theatre company of the Malthouse performing arts complex in Southbank, part of the Melbourne Arts Precinct....
). In the late 1970s, he performed with the Sydney Theatre Company
Sydney Theatre Company
The Sydney Theatre Company is one of Australia's best-known theatre companies operating from The Wharf Theatre near The Rocks area of Sydney, as well as the Sydney Theatre and the Sydney Opera House Drama Theatre....
. In 2003, Gyngell played Robert in a production of David Auburn
David Auburn
David Auburn is an American playwright.He was raised in Ohio and Arkansas. He attended the University of Chicago, where he was a member of Off-Off Campus, and received a degree in English literature....
's play Proof
Proof (play)
Proof is a play by David Auburn originally produced by the Manhattan Theatre Club on 23 May 2000. It then went to Broadway on 24 October 2000 at the Walter Kerr Theatre, and was directed by Daniel J. Sullivan, with Mary-Louise Parker as Catherine, Larry Bryggman as Robert, Ben Shenkman as Hal, and...
which toured Australia. In 2008 Gyngell played William in the two-hander
Two-hander
Two-hander is a term for a play, movie, or television programme with only two main characters. The two characters in question often display differences in social standing or experiences, differences that are explored and possibly overcome as the story unfolds....
Ninety by Joanna Murray-Smith
Joanna Murray-Smith
Joanna Murray-Smith is a Melbourne based playwright, screenwriter, novelist, librettist and newspaper columnist.-Biography:...
at 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...
(MTC); the production then toured extensively throughout Australia with Rachel Gordon
Rachel Gordon
Rachel Gordon Rachel Gordon Rachel Gordon (born 10 May 1976 in Brisbane, Australia is an actress.Gordon is a 1996 graduate of the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) in Sydney. Since her graduation, she has combined stage acting with various roles in Australian television and films.In late...
. Later that year he played Tartuffe in Molière
Molière
Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, known by his stage name Molière, was a French playwright and actor who is considered to be one of the greatest masters of comedy in Western literature...
's The Hypocrite
Tartuffe
Tartuffe is a comedy by Molière. It is one of his most famous plays.-History:Molière wrote Tartuffe in 1664...
at the MTC opposite Marina Prior
Marina Prior
Marina Prior is an Australian singer and actress.- Early life :When she was a young child her parents returned to Australia and she grew up in Melbourne, attending Syndal South Primary School and Korowa Anglican Girls' School...
and Garry McDonald
Garry McDonald
Garry George McDonald, AO is an Australian stage and screen actor.-Early life and career:McDonald was born in Sydney and was educated at Cranbrook School and National Institute of Dramatic Art....
.
Personal life
Gyngell is married to the screenwriter and actress Suzanne Dowling; they have one daughter. He also has an adult daughter from a previous marriage.Music
Gyngell played keyboards in the Melbourne band Le Club Foote, who released their only album Cinema Qua in 1984, along with a couple of singles. The album was produced by Colin HayColin Hay
Colin James Hay is a Scottish-Australian musician, who made his mark during the 1980s as lead vocalist of the Australian band Men at Work, and later as a solo artist.- Early life and Men at Work :...
.
On television
- The Comedy CompanyThe Comedy CompanyThe Comedy Company was an Australian comedy television series first aired from 16 February 1988 until about 11 November 1990 on Network Ten, Sunday night and was created and directed by Ian McFadyen, and co directed and produced by Jo Lane...
(1988–89) – Col'n Carpenter - Col'n Carpenter (1990–91) – Col'n Carpenter
- Full FrontalFull Frontal (TV series)Full Frontal was an Australian sketch comedy series which debuted in 1993. The show first aired on the Seven Network on 13 May 1993, and finished on 18 September 1997....
(1993–97) – various characters - "Greed" by Joanna Murray-SmithJoanna Murray-SmithJoanna Murray-Smith is a Melbourne based playwright, screenwriter, novelist, librettist and newspaper columnist.-Biography:...
, episode in The Seven Deadly Sins for ABC TelevisionABC TelevisionABC Television is a service of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation launched in 1956. As a public broadcasting broadcaster, the ABC provides four non-commercial channels within Australia, and a partially advertising-funded satellite channel overseas....
(1993) - FireFire (TV series)Fire is an Australian television series transmitted on the Seven Network between 1995 and 1996. It was shown in the UK & Ireland on Sky One. In 1999 and 2000, the series was shown on Channel 5.The series explored the lives of a platoon of firefighters...
(1995) – Jimmy Runyon - The Micallef ProgramThe Micallef ProgramThe Micallef Pogram is an Australian sketch comedy TV series hosted by Shaun Micallef, and written by Micallef and Gary McCaffrie, that ran from 1998 to 2001 on ABC TV. It was known as The Micallef Program in its first series, The Micallef Programme in its second series and The Micallef Pogram in...
(1999) – Various Characters - PizzaPizza (TV series)Pizza is an Australian black comedy television series on the Australian television network, SBS. It has also spun off a feature length movie in 2003, and in 2004 released a highlights video/DVD which also included previously unshown footage and a schoolies exposé theatre show entitled "Fat Pizza"...
- The Secret Life of UsThe Secret Life of UsThe Secret Life of Us was a television drama series set in the beachside suburb of St Kilda, Melbourne, Australia. The series was produced by Southern Star Entertainment and screened in Australia from 2001 to 2005 on Network Ten and on Channel 4 in the UK...
(2003) – Dr. Vander - Love My WayLove My WayLove My Way was a Logie Award winning and critically acclaimed Australian television drama series. It won the AFI award for Best Television Drama Series for each of its three seasons ....
(2007) - WilfredWilfred (TV series)Wilfred is an Australian comedy television series directed by Tony Rogers, produced by Jenny Livingston and starring Jason Gann, Adam Zwar and Cindy Waddingham. Created by Zwar, Gann and Rogers, it was based on their award-winning 2002 short film and later adapted to a series...
(2007) – Dr. Jack Underwood - The LibrariansThe Librarians (TV series)The Librarians is an Australian television comedy series which premiered on 31 October 2007 on ABC TV. In Ireland the show airs on RTÉ Two. The series is produced and written by Robyn Butler and Wayne Hope who are also the principal cast members. Hope is also the series' director. The first...
(2007) – Father Harris - UnderbellyUnderbelly (TV series)Underbelly is a 13-part Australian television mini-series that retells the real events of the 1995–2004 gangland war in Melbourne, and is the first series in the larger Underbelly Franchise. It depicts the key players in Melbourne's criminal underworld, including the Carlton Crew and their rival,...
(2008) – Keith FaureKeith FaureKeith George Faure , from Norlane, Victoria, is an Australian career criminal, convicted of multiple murders and manslaughters. He is currently serving life imprisonment with a minimum non-parole period of 19 years for his role in two murders related to the Melbourne gangland killings... - Very Small BusinessVery Small Business (TV series)Very Small Business is an Australian television comedy series first broadcast on Wednesday 3 September 2008 on ABC1. The series is written by Wayne Hope, Gary McCaffrie, and Robyn Butler, and produced by Hope and Butler. It comprises of six half-hour episodes.-Synopsis:Don Angel is the small...
(2008) – Ray Leonard - LowdownLowdown (TV series)Lowdown is an award-winning Australian television comedy series set in the world of celebrity journalism. Created by Amanda Brotchie and Adam Zwar, it stars Zwar, Paul Denny, Beth Buchanan, Dailan Evans, Kim Gyngell and is narrated by Geoffrey Rush...
(2010) – Howard Evans
In films
- Wills & Burke (1985) – William John WillsWilliam John WillsWilliam John Wills was an English surveyor who also trained for a while as a surgeon. He achieved fame as the second-in-command of the ill-fated Burke and Wills expedition, which was the first expedition to cross Australia from south to north, finding a route across the continent from the settled...
- Just UsJust Us (film)Just Us is a 1986 movie, based on a true story and the autobiography by Gabrielle Carey, of the same name. Set and filmed in Sydney, Australia, it starred Scott Burgess and Catherine McClements...
(1986) – The Mouth - With Love to the Person Next to Me (1987) – Wallace
- Evil AngelsA Cry in the DarkEvil Angels is a 1988 Australian film directed by Fred Schepisi. The screenplay by Schepisi and Robert Caswell is based on John Bryson's 1985 book Evil Angels, the title under which the film was released in Australia...
(1988) – Actor - Boulevard of Broken Dreams (1988) – Ian McKenzie
- Bachelor Girl (1988) – Karl Stanton
- Grievous Bodily HarmGrievous Bodily HarmGrievous Bodily Harm is a 1988 Australian crime film directed by Mark Joffe starring Colin Friels and John Waters. Crime reporter Tom Stewart and a cop look for a deranged schoolteacher who goes on a murder spree while looking for the lover he thought to be dead.-Awards:The film was nominated...
(1988) – Mick - What the Moon Saw (1990) – Jim Shilling
- Heaven Tonight (1990) – Baz Schultz
- The Making of Nothing (1993) – Davo
- Love and Other CatastrophesLove and Other CatastrophesLove and Other Catastrophes is a quirky 1996 Australian romantic comedy film featuring Frances O'Connor, Radha Mitchell, Alice Garner, Matthew Dyktynski, Matt Day and Kym Gyngell...
(1996) – Professor Leech - The Wog BoyThe Wog BoyThe Wog Boy is a 2000 Australian motion picture comedy starring Nick Giannopoulos, Vince Colosimo, Lucy Bell, Abi Tucker, John Barresi, Stephen Curry, Hung Le, Geraldine Turner, Tony Nikolakopoulos and Derryn Hinch. -Plot:...
(2000) – Supervisor - The Hard WordThe Hard WordThe Hard Word is a 2002 Australian crime film about three bank-robbing brothers who are offered a role in a bold heist while serving time in prison. The film was written and directed by Scott Roberts, and stars Guy Pearce and Rachel Griffiths....
(2002) – Paul - Blow (2002) – Richard
- Josh JarmanJosh JarmanJosh Jarman is a 2004 Australian comedy film directed by Pip Mushin and starring Marcus Graham. Filming took place around Melbourne, Australia....
(2004) – Stan Billows - The Writer (2005) – Jonathan
On stage
- ProofProof (play)Proof is a play by David Auburn originally produced by the Manhattan Theatre Club on 23 May 2000. It then went to Broadway on 24 October 2000 at the Walter Kerr Theatre, and was directed by Daniel J. Sullivan, with Mary-Louise Parker as Catherine, Larry Bryggman as Robert, Ben Shenkman as Hal, and...
(2003) – Robert - Ninety (2008/2009) – William
- The HypocriteTartuffeTartuffe is a comedy by Molière. It is one of his most famous plays.-History:Molière wrote Tartuffe in 1664...
(2008) – Tartuffe