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Christopher Brown (actor)

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Christopher Brown
Born (1973-02-25) 25 February 1973 (age 51)
OccupationActor
Years active1998–present

Christopher Brown (born 25 February 1973) is a New Zealand television and theatre actor. His first television role was a regular role in the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street playing villainous Oscar Henry. He later played teacher Brent Townsend-Ross in the Network Ten sitcom Sit Down, Shut Up. He won an accolade at the 2003 New Zealand Film Awards for his main role in the 2003 film Orphans and Angels.

Brown has often concentrated on his theatre career and co-wrote his one man show titled Mr. Phase which premiered in 2002. The Green Room Awards recognised his on-stage work with a Best Supporting Actor nomination in 2003.

Career

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Brown studied drama at the Victorian College of the Arts and was a successful graduate.[1] His television career began in 1998, as business manager Oscar Henry in the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. The character was a villain who had manipulative tendencies.[2] Brown left the series in 1999 and his character was killed off in an explosion caused by Mackenzie Choat (Ingrid Park).[3] In 2012, TVNZ named the character as one of Shortland Street's best ever villains.[2]

The actor gained guest roles as Pythagoras in the Fox Kids drama Young Hercules (1999), Steve in High Flyers (1999) and Roberto Sistini in Nine Network's drama series Stingers (2000).[1] In 2000, Brown played the "self-absorbed" Performance Arts Teacher Brent Townsend-Ross in the Network Ten sitcom Sit Down, Shut Up.[4]

In 2002, he played the guest role of Barry Childers in an episode of the first series of Australian Broadcasting Corporation show MDA.[5] Brown had co-wrote his own theatre play with Thomas Howie, titled Mr. Phase.[6] The play had been in development since 2000.[1] It was stylised as a one man show which was directed by Margaret Cameron and performed at the Melbourne International Festival in 2002.[7][8]

The actor played the male lead role of John alongside actress Emmeline Hawthorne in the 2003 film Orphans and Angels.[9] Brown won the "Special Jury Prize - Digital Feature" accolade at the 2003 New Zealand Film Awards for his role in Orphans and Angels.[10] The actor went onto star in a stage production titled Yet Each Man Kills The Thing He Loves, for which he received a 2003 Green Room Award nomination for "Best Supporting Actor".[11]

In 2013, Brown played the guest role of Royce in ABC's comedy It's a Date.[7] In September 2014, Brown performed the main role in the stage production of Bent at the Theatre Works in St Kilda, Victoria. Bent focused on the Nazi persecution of gay men during World War II and were identified by a Pink triangle.[12] Also that year he played Rick the Architect in the Nine Network crime drama Fat Tony & Co..[13]

The actor played the supporting role of Neil Murray in the 2018 Network Ten drama series Playing for Keeps.[14] Brown has often concentrated on theatre work and has had roles with production companies such as the Melbourne Theatre Company, Sydney Theatre Company, Malthouse Theatre and the Belvoir theatre group.[7] The actor is also scheduled to appear in a film titled Breeding in Captivity.[7]

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1998-1999 Shortland Street Oscar Henry Regular role
1999 Young Hercules Pythagoras Gust role
1999 High Flyers Steve Guest role
2000 Stingers Roberto Sistini Guest role
2000 Sit Down, Shut Up Brent Townsend-Ross Regular role
2001 Shock Jock Nigel Guest role
2002 MDA Barry Childers Guest role
2003 Blue Heelers Jonathon Maidstone Guest role
2003 Orphans and Angels John Film, Lead role
2004 Heartworm Dave Short film
2006 Invisible N/A Short film
2007 Little Deaths Jason Film
2008 Satisfaction Maitre D Guest role
2008 The Hollowmen N/A Guest role
2008 Long Weekend Radio Voice Guest role
2010 City Homicide Leonard Besser Guest role
2010 Rush Stefan Guest role
2012 Lowdown John Guest role
2013 It's a Date Royce Guest role
2013 Acts of God Mr. Felling Short film
2014 Fat Tony & Co. Rick the Architect Guest role
2014 Wing and a Prayer Angel Short film
2015 Stories I Want to Tell You in Person Full Jew TV film
2016 Kosh Man Short film
2018– Playing for Keeps Neil Murray Recurring role
2019 Preacher Dr. Hiatt Guest role
2019 Utopia Photographer Guest role
2020 Breeding in Captivity Owen Film
Sources:[15]

Awards and nominations

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Year Format Association Category Nominated work Result
2003 Film 2003 New Zealand Film Awards Special Jury Prize - Digital Feature Orphans and Angels Won[7]
2003 Theatre Green Room Awards Best Supporting Actor Yet Each Man Kills The Thing He Loves Nominated[11]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Sit Down, Shut Up: profiles". Australian Television Information Archive. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Shortland Street's best male villains". TVNZ. Archived from the original on 17 February 2013. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  3. ^ "20 years of memorable departures (part two)". TVNZ. Archived from the original on 20 April 2017. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  4. ^ Knox, David (14 October 2007). "Sit Down, Rip-off?". TV Tonight. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  5. ^ "MDA: guest stars". Australian Television Information Archive. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  6. ^ Gallach, Keith; Loebenstein, Ghita. "Featured Artist: Christopher Brown". Real Time Arts. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  7. ^ a b c d e "On the Couch with Christopher Brown". Arts Review. 9 August 2014. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  8. ^ "Past work". Margaretcameron.com. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  9. ^ Null, Christopher. "Orphans and Angels Review". Contact Music. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  10. ^ "Film & TV Awards 2003". lonely.geek.nz. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  11. ^ a b "Green Room Awards - 2003 Nominations". Green Room Awards. Archived from the original on 4 June 2004. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  12. ^ Sherman, Martin. "Bent". Bent the play. Archived from the original on 7 July 2014. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  13. ^ "Fat Tony & Co: episode guide". Australian Television Information Archive. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  14. ^ "PFK credits Ten 107" (PDF). Tenplay. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  15. ^ "Christopher Brown". Showcast. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
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