Lyall Brooks (born 16 November 1978) is an Australian actor who has appeared on TV, film and stage. Establishing a reputation early in his career as an Actor with great comic timing, Brooks has recently received industry praise for more dramatic roles, particularly on stage. He has studied under Emmy Award-winner Chick Vennera at Renegade Players Los Angeles and is also experienced in dance, having studied under one of Australia's most popular choreographers, Tony Bartuccio.

Television Brooks began his television career in 2005 with a guest role as Glenn Hart on Blue Heelers followed by Ten Network's British/Australian six-part drama series Tripping Over where he played an assistant director opposite Daniel MacPherson. His first major television break was landing a role as a co-host of The Mint in 2007, an Australian phone-in quiz show based on the British program of the same name, and broadcast on the Nine Network. When the show was axed in 2008 Brooks went back to Ten Network to play the role of footy coach Nathan Black in Neighbours, appearing in 11 episodes during 2008 and 2009.

The beginning of 2011 saw Brooks land the role as resident sketch performer on the comedy and variety show Ben Elton Live from Planet Earth which aired on the Nine Network but was cancelled after three shows. He returned to the silver screen in 2012 with guest roles in the ABC 1 comedy series Rake and You're Skitting Me for ABC3. In 2012 Brooks appeared in the 6 part comedy series The Delightfully Shit World of Lachlan and Hayden for Channel 31, where he was also a resident writer.

In February 2013 Brooks landed a guest role in the second series of "Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries" as Father Blackburn.

Film In 2007 Brooks appeared in the short film Alex & Alexa for director Rhett Dashwood, which was an official selection in the St Kilda Film Festival. He followed this up with It's Awkward, a short film by Lachdown Productions where he played the lead hero and which became runner up at the 2011 Julia Morris Film Festival. Brooks also appeared as the Brand Manager for the feature film Any Questions for Ben? starring Josh Lawson and Rachael Taylor and he is slated to appear as Ron Furick in Shelly Hatton's US/Australian comedy Dirt Cheap, which is expected to shoot in the second half of 2013.

Theatre

Brooks has enjoyed a varied career on stage with a long list of credits in musical theatre including the role of Jakub in Dutch Courage and as Man for The Thing About Men, both produced by Magnormos, Brandy Bottle Bates in Guys and Dolls, Knuckles in Sugar for The Production Company and as Andy in John and Fiona Thorn's musical cabaret hit Kiss of Death, which debuted at the 2011 Melbourne Fringe Festival.

He has also appeared in two works by Michael Dalley, Vaudeville X in 2009 and Urban Display Suite in 2012 for which he received rave reviews and comparisons to Anthony Newley, Rik MayallReview for Urban Display Suite (2012) by Chris Baldock, Theatre People and The Office's David Brent.Review for Urban Display Suite (2012) by Sarah Braybrooke, Arts Hub

More recently Brooks has moved into dramatic theatre, making his mainstage debut with the 2012 Melbourne Theatre Company production of Richard Bean's award-winning play, The Heretic. Playing the character of Geoff Tordoff, he received largely positive reviews for his stage presenceReview for The Heretic (2012) by Coral Drouyn, Stage Whispers and being the standout performer.Review for The Heretic (2012) by Heather Bloom, Australian Stage

In June 2012 it was announced Brooks would play the lead role of Philip in the Australian premiere of Alexi Kaye Campbell's Laurence Olivier Award-winning play The Pride. Directed by Gary Abrahams for Red Stitch Actors Theatre, Brooks received positive reviews ranging from "terrifically brave and nuanced"Review for The Pride (2012) by Sara Bannister, Stage Whispers to displaying "impeccable comic timing and delivery and also a firm grasp of the dramatic".Review for The Pride (2012) by Kate Herbert, Herald Sun Brooks was rewarded for his efforts with a Green Room Award nomination for Best Ensemble alongside fellow cast members Ben Geurens, Ngaire Dawn Fair and Ben Prendergast.

In March 2013 Brooks teamed up with Red Stitch Actors Theatre again, to play the lead role of Quinn in their production of Penelope by Enda Walsh. His performance in this (otherwise mixed-reviewed) production was described as "the perfect Alpha male. Brooks nails it on every level, and when the play has him resorting to burlesque... he's also very funny. He impresses in everything he does, and Penelope is no exception."Review for Penelope (2013) by Coral Drouyn, Stage Whispers

Brooks has reportedly committed to more mainstage roles for 2013 including Patricia Cornelius' new play Savages for fortyfivedownstairs, Sunday in the Park with George for [www.victorianopera.com.au/ Victorian Opera] and as lead Tom in Neil LaBute's Fat Pig for Lab Kelpie.Lyall Brooks News

Voiceover

Since 2009 Brooks has worked with Moody Street Productions on several animations series where he has provided lead characters for Sumo Mouse (2010), Flea-Bitten! (2012) and SheZow (2013), which premiered in the US on network. He voiced characters for the Galaxy Pop series, Get Ace.

Awards and nominations Green Room Awards 2012: Nominated — Theatre (Companies): Best Ensemble (for The Pride) 2008: Nominated — Music Theatre: Male Artist In A Featured Role (as "Man" for The Thing About Men)

Filmography + Television Year Series Role Notes2021Some Happy DayQuinnvoice2018Picnic at Hanging Rock (TV series)George Green1 episode2015-18Kuu Kuu HarajukuEago / Various156 episodes (voice)2017The Leftovers (TV series)Burly TSA Agent1 episode2016The Mr Peabody & Sherman ShowBilly the Kid1 episode2015The Divorce Harry5 episodes2014-15Winners & LosersJim French3 episodes2014The Time of our LivesProsecutor 1 episode2014Get AceHugo / Various52 episodes (voice)2014The Doctor Blake MysteriesBen Lloyd1 episode2012-13Flea-bittenItch / Various 26 episodes (voice)2012-13SheZowMocktopus / Various26 episodes (voice) 2013 Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries Father Blackburn 2012 You're Skitting Me Sketch Performer 2012 The Delightfully Shit World of Lachlan and Hayden Resident Sketch Performer 2012 Rake Detective Smithy 2011 Ben Elton Live from Planet Earth Resident Sketch Performer 2008-16 Neighbours Nathan Black / Mike Niven13 episodes 2008 The Mint Host 2006 Tripping Over Assistant Director 2005 Blue Heelers Glenn Hart

+ Film Year Series Role Notes2020The Very Excellent Mr. DundeeDream Dundee2017Forgone IntrusionIntruderShort2013CourageBevanShort 2013 Dirt Cheap Ron Furick2012GeorgeGrandson Short 2012 Any Questions for Ben? Brand Manager 2011 It's Awkward HeroShort 2006 Alex and Alexa AlexShort2004Trial by FryerJamesShort

References

External links Official Website

Official Twitter