Syd Brisbane is an Australian actor.
Early life and education Brisbane undertook his formal training at the Flinders University Drama Centre, in Adelaide, graduating in 1983.
Career In 1990, Brisbane appeared in AFI Award-winning film Struck by Lightning and miniseries Shadows of the Heart with Marcus Graham. He then had a role in 1992 TV sports drama miniseries Tracks of Glory, with Cameron Daddo and Richard Roxburgh. He followed this with a role in 1993 independent film Bad Boy Bubby opposite Nicholas Hope. That same year, he appeared opposite Russell Crowe in one of his early roles, in drama film Hammers Over the Anvil.
In 1995, Brisbane starred as 'The Man' in Australian-Italian sci-fi film Epsilon (aka Alien Visitor) directed by Rolf de Heer. He also featured in 1998 romantic comedy Dead Letter Office with Miranda Otto, before playing a customs official in The Missing the following year.
In 2001, Brisbane co-starred with David Field in comedy drama film Silent Partner, in the role of Bill. He appeared opposite Nathan Phillips in two films in 2004 – comedy adventure Under the Radar and drama One Perfect Day. A role in TV movie Little Oberon followed in 2005, where he played opposite Sigrid Thornton. In 2006, he played the role of Jeff in comedy feature BoyTown, alongside Glenn Robbins and Mick Molloy. The following year he featured in docudrama film Boxing Day.
In 2012, Brisbane played the part of Gavin 'Cheesy' Cheeseman in Beaconsfield, a TV movie based on the true story of Brant Webb and Todd Russell, who were trapped nearly a kilometre below the surface in a mining disaster. The same year, he had a recurring role as Repro in miniseries Conspiracy 365.
Brisbane played the role of Ben in 2014 crime film Cut Snake, alongside Sullivan Stapleton and Jessica De Gouw. That same year, he had a role as Smythe in Fell, with Daniel Henshall and Jacqueline McKenzie. A part in comedy film Sucker with Timothy Spall and Shaun Micallef followed, as well as the recurring role of Mr Norris, school maths teacher and year head, in children's series Worst Year of My Life Again. He then appeared in the 2016 sequel to Red Dog, family film Red Dog: True Blue, with Jason Isaacs, Levi Miller and Bryan Brown.
In 2020, Brisbane acted in a recurring capacity in drama miniseries Stateless, with Yvonne Strahovski, Cate Blanchett and Jai Courtenay. In 2022, Brisbane was announced as part of the cast for season two of ABC comedy series Aftertaste, in which he played the role of Terry, opposite Erik Thomson and Rachel Griffiths. He also played Mark in 2022 Paramount+ drama series More Than This. Most recently, he was named in the cast for the 2026 second season of Amazon Prime black comedy mystery series Deadloch. He is also set to appear in upcoming Stan original series Gnomes, starring Asa Butterfield.
Brisbane has also worked extensively in theatre. In 1998, he performed in a production of The Europeans for Sydney's Wharf Theatre in 1998 and in Blue Remembered Hills for Belvoir Street Theatre in 2001. In 2012 he performed in a staging of Unpack This! at Subiaco Arts Centre, In 2016, he played the role of Manuel in a national touring production of Fawlty Towers, which was adapted for the stage by John Cleese.
Brisbane co-founded theatre production company The Rabble in Melbourne 2006.
Awards YearWorkAwardCategoryResultRef. 2016 Ryan Green Room Awards Best Male Performer – Independent Theatre 2024 Animal Farm Green Room Awards Best Performer
Filmography
Television YearTitleRoleNotesRef. 1990 Shadows of the Heart Johnny 2 episodes 1992 Tracks of Glory Larrikan 2 episodes 1994 The Battlers Smith 1995Correlli Steve 1 episode 1997 We Are Angels Father 6 episodes 1998–2001 Blue Heelers Various characters 2 episodes 1999–2002 Stingers Various characters 4 episodes 2001 Horace and Tina Mr Wilson 1 episode 2002 Shock Jock Chip 1 episode The Secret Life of Us Foreman 1 episode 2003 MDA Scott Watts 1 episode McLeod's Daughters Ben 1 episode 2005 Heartbreak Tour Sergeant Falk TV movie Little Oberon Butcher TV movie 2008 The Saddle Club Gus 2 episodes 2010 City Homicide Brian Hocking 1 episode 2012 Conspiracy 365 Repro 4 episodes Laid Peter 1 episode Beaconsfield Gavin 'Cheesy' Cheeseman TV movie 2013 Nowhere Boys Jim 1 episode Upper Middle Bogan Farmer 1 episode Mr & Mrs Murder Lincoln 1 episode The Doctor Blake Mysteries Stan Egan 1 episode 2014 Worst Year of My Life Again Mr Quinnford Norris 9 episodes 2014; 2016 Wentworth Martin Tucker 2 episodes 2017 The Ex-PM Loins 1 episode True Story with Hamish & Andy JJ 1 episode2019 Upright Barry 1 episode The Inbestigators Gary 1 episode Glitch Cam 1 episode Bloom Mayor Patrick Nemaric 1 episode 2020 Stateless Teddy 5 episodes 2022 Black Snow Drinker 1 episode Shantaram Foreperson 1 episode Aftertaste Terry 6 episodes More Than This Mark 2 episodes 2023 Utopia Foreman 1 episode 2024 Buried Nigel 3 episodes High Country Scooter 5 episodes 2026 Deadloch Roger 6 episodes Gnomes
Film YearTitleRoleNotesRef. 1990 Struck by Lightning Spencer 1993 Bad Boy Bubby Yobbo Hammers Over the Anvil Duke 1996 Epsilon (aka Alien Visitor) The Man 1997 Kiss or Kill Nikki's father 1998 Dead Letter Office Kevin 1999 The Missing Customs Official 2001 Silent Partner Bill 2003 The Legend of Matilda Dixon Lowell Hansen2004 Under the Radar Garry Holly's Grail Short film One Perfect Day Hamish 2006 The Amazing Adventures of Gavin, a Leafy Seadragon Gavin (voice) Short film BoyTown Jeff The Cow Thief Cow Thief Short film 2007 Boxing Day Dave Let Me Not Mr Lovett2008 Why I Fired My Secretary Kevin Short film Hawker Hawker Short film 2009 The Pistachio Effect Kevin Short film 2010 Agency Time Van Short film 2011 Keeper Beggar Short film 2014 Cut Snake Ben Fell Smythe 2015 Sucker Micky 2016 Red Dog: True Blue Big John 2017 The Knife Salesman Tom Short film 2019 Dirt Music Chugger 2022 Sam and Sophie Yelling Poet Short film 2023 Related Short film 2026 Silent Night Brett (voice) Short film The Busking Adventures of Violet and Sparkles Luke Short film – Completed Tone The Coach Short film – Post-production Who Needs Love Songs? Post-production
Theatre
As actor