Brian Sergent

For the New Zealand international football (soccer) player, see Brian Sergent (footballer). For the New Zealand cricketer, see Brian Sergent (cricketer).

Brian Sergent (born 29 December 1959) is a comedian, writer and actor born and based in Wellington, New Zealand.[1]

Background

Sergent’s acting career began at age 15 playing Lionel in the soap opera, Close to Home.[2]

In television Sergent is known for playing Eric Grady on Outrageous Fortune, the New Zealand Prime Minister on Flight of the Conchords, and Harold in The Lost Children. One of his most popular characters, cabin steward Gavin Soper, appeared on the Pulp Comedy television series.[2]

Sergent has a strong association with Circa Theatre in Wellington. He performed in The Duchess of Malfi (1982), Travels with My Aunt (1997) and Take a Chance on Me (2001).[3][4]

Sergent’s film credits include Peter Jackson’s Meet the Feebles, Braindead and Lord of the Rings, Absent Without Leave, Via Satellite, the lead role as Marty in The Shirt and Jonah in Eagle vs. Shark.

Radio listeners are quite familiar with Sergent's reading of short stories, novels and radio plays on Radio New Zealand where he is still actively involved.

Sergent has won multiple Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards for acting and writing. In 1992 he won Male Actor of the Year for his performances as Lenny in The Homecoming at the Circa Theatre and Alfredo Traps in A Dangerous Game at the BATS Theatre. In 1994, he won Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role for his performance of Gary Peter Lefkowitz in I Hate Hamlet at the Circa. In 2004, Prior to the opening of his first play, the New Zealand Listener described Sergent as ''New Zealand's greatest comic actor'' He won the award for Outstanding New Playwright of the Year for his play The Love of Humankind.[5] In 2008 Radio New Zealand broadcast for the first of many times, Sergent's first radio play, ''Madness You Can Trust.''

After taking a break from the show for nearly three years, Sergent returned to Outrageous Fortune as Eric in the second to last episode of the fifth season.

Sergent has been a stand-up Comedian and sketch writer since his debut in 1979.

Filmography

Film

It's your child Norman Allenby 1979 Psycho Boyfriend International year of the Child. T.V.NZ.
The Person Next Door 1981 Passerby Gaylene Preston's first film.
Carry Me Back 1982 Andy
Footrot Flats: The Dog's Tale 1987 Spit Murphy (voice)
Meet the Feebles 1989 Wynyard the Frog / Trevor the Rat / F.W. Fly / Jim the Frog / Chuck the Frog / The Spider / Vietnamese Gophers (voice)
Braindead 1992 Vet Film called Dead Alive in North America
Absent Without Leave Dick
Chicken 1996 Newsagent
Via Satellite 1998 Brian
The Shirt 2000 Marty Short film
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring 2001 Ted Sandyman Extended edition
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King 2008 Additional character voices
Eagle vs Shark 2007 Jonah
John Quincy Adams Adams Short film
Moon over Mercedes Short film
The Killers 2008 Killer one Student film
Blessed 2002
Tuffy 2012 Father Short film
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug 2013 Mirkwood Spider (voice)
Slow West 2015 Peyote Joe

Television

Title Year Role Notes
Lynn of Tawa 1980 University Student / Policeman Television comedy special
Rock Around the Clock 1981 Bodgie Groper Six episodes
Rock around the Clock 1982 Bodgie Groper Six episodes/Wrote
Lynn of Tawa Show 1982 Jock Strapp First episode
Pioneer Women 1983 Eddie Episode: "Ettie Rout"
Cuckoo Land 1985 Utmoor Episode: "The Neighbour"
Worzel Gummidge Down Under 1987-1989 Dagnation Take It / Terence 2 episodes
Public Eye 1988-1989 Various roles
The Ray Bradbury Theater 1990-1992 Larson / Boltz 2 episodes
Married 1992 Roy Television film
Skitz 1993 Various roles
Lynn of Tawa - In Search of the Great New Zealand Male 1994 Himself Television comedy special
Pulp Comedy 1995-2003 Various roles
Telly Laughs 1996 Various roles
The Semisis Gary Belton Episode: "1.1"
The Person Next Door Self Presenter Mental health awareness film
Mirror, Mirror II 1998 Henry Episode: "Elephant Boy"
The Legend of William Tell Zark Episode: "The Spirit of Kale"
The Adventures of Swiss Family Robinson Sidney Thomas 3 episodes
The Dark Knight 2000-2001 Card Gambler #1 / Phillipe de Mere 2 episodes
Shortland Street 2001 Rich Fortune 1 episode
Atlantis High 2001-2002 Mr. Quentin / Q Recurring role; 10 episodes
Revelations: The Initial Journey 2002 Lysias Episode: "And Judas Had a Brother"
Oscar & Friends Dog / Opossum Episode: "Oscar Takes Off"
The Strip 2002-2003 Ian "Dogwood" Douglas 6 episodes
The Tribe 2003 Dad Episode: "5.33"
The Insiders Guide to Happiness 2004 Father of the Bride Episode: "Is Happiness an Accident?"
From Len Lye to Gollum: New Zealand Animators Mr. Pencil / Narrator Television documentary
Outrageous Fortune 2005-2010 Eric Grady Recurring role; 42 episodes
The Lost Children 2006 Harold Main role; 12 episodes
Flight of the Conchords 2009 Brian, Prime Minister of New Zealand 2 episodes

Theatre

Year 1979 Title How the Other Half Loves Role William Featherston Venue Four Seasons Theatre

First Stand-Up gig Upper Hutt

Notes
1980 The Lion in Winter John Fortune Theatre
1981 Gimme Shelter Chris, Teacher BATS
1983 Crimes of the Heart Barnette Lloyd Circa Theatre
The Hangman Prisoner Hurst New Depot
Hot Water Clive Palmer [8] Downstage Theatre
1984 Election Revue Various Circa Theatre
1985 Charley's Aunt Lord Fancourt Babberley Downstage
1986 Unsuitable For Adults Nick Downstage
1987 The Happy Witch Darfus Circa Theatre
1988 Legal Revue Various Circa Theatre
1989 Ladies' Night Gavin James Cabaret
1990 Weed Hugh Riorden Circa
Elizabeth: Almost by Chance a Woman Dame Grosslady BATS Theatre
1992 The Homecoming Lenny Circa Won Chapman Tripp Award for Male Actor of the Year
A Dangerous Game Alfredo Traps BATS
1993 Arsenic and Old Lace Dr. Herman Einstein Downstage
Summer of the Seventeenth Doll Barney Ibbot Downstage
Ladies' Night 2: Raging On Gavin Downstage
1994 I Hate Hamlet Gary Peter Lefkowitz Circa Won Chapman Tripp Award for Male Actor in a Supporting Role
1995 Moonlight Jake Circa
1996 Market Forces Nick Circa
Uncle Vanya Telegin Herald Theatre
1997 Travels with My Aunt Circa
Lady Windermere's Fan Circa
Four Cities Wojtek Milosz Circa
1998 The Big Picture Guy Circa
Closer Larry Circa
1999 This Train I'm On Billy Circa
Shear Madness No 5 Cable St Theatreplace
2000 Speaking in Tongues Multiple roles Circa
2001 The Country Wife Sparkish Circa
Othello Iago Court Theatre
Take a Chance on Me Eric Circa
2002 Shake The Bard Petruchio, Macbeth, various Tour
2002 Meltdown Jim Harrison Circa
2004 The Love of Humankind Playwright / Rodney Pump Circa Won Chapman Tripp Award for Outstanding New Playwright of the Year
2005 A Midsummer Night's Dream Hippolyta Circa
2006 Dinner Mike Circa
2008 Mr Paradise Mr Paradise Salem State Theatre
The Tempest Prospero Salem State Theatre
2009 Five short plays of Harold Pinter Prisoner

Lover Doctor Dispatcher

Five points theatre

Boston

2010 Boxed in Frank Firehouse theatre Massachussets
Heidi Grandfather Newburyport theatre '' '' '''''''''''' ''
2012 The Truth Game Rafe Circa Theatre
2012 Zombie Appocalypse Stranger Christmas flood aftermath play, touring
2014 Revue Sir Robert Muldoon BATS

References

  1. ^ Smythe, John (2005). Downstage Upfront: A 40th Anniversary Biography of New Zealand's Longest Running Professional Theatre. Victoria University Press. p. 484. ISBN 9780864734891.
  2. ^ a b "Brian Sergent". NZ On Screen. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
  3. ^ Circa, 1996-2016 : and a celebration of forty years. Wellington. 2016. ISBN 978-0-9941302-3-5. OCLC 951440720.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  4. ^ Circa 1976-1996. John Reid, Ruth Jeffrey, Council of Circa Theatre. Wellington [N.Z.]: The Council of Circa Theatre. 1996. ISBN 0-473-04155-3. OCLC 37434951.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  5. ^ "Messageboard". Archived from the original on 29 July 2005. Retrieved 29 April 2009.
  6. ^ "Brian Sergent". NZ On Screen. Retrieved 10 October 2022.
  7. ^ "Theatre Aotearoa". Theatre Aoteatoa. University of Otago. Retrieved 10 October 2022.
  8. ^ "Brian Sergent, Downstage Theatre production of Hot Water". Downstage Theatre (Wellington): Photographs of productions. 1969-1970, 1976-1999. Downstage Theatre Company Ltd. 1983. Retrieved 10 October 2022.