Chum Ehelepola

Chum Ehelepola is an Australian actor, film maker and teacher.[1][2][3][4] Ehelepola has recently starred as Dennis in the ABC TV series, The Newsreader,[5][1] and is also cast as Jagadish in the streaming series Nautilus.[6][1]

Early life

Ehelepola was born in New Zealand[7][4][1] and raised in both Sri Lanka[7][4][1] and Australia.[7][4][1] Ehelepola attended Hampton Senior High School in the Perth suburb of Morley, Western Australia.

Career

Ehelepola has also starred in a number of Australian TV series, including No Activity,[8][9] Stateless,[8] The Straits,[7] and as Lionel in the Australian comedy series Preppers.[10]

Due to greater opportunities for actors from diverse backgrounds, Ehelepola relocated[1] to Los Angeles and appeared in a number of US television shows whilst residing there, including the AMC series Lodge 49[8] and the Netflix series Lady Dynamite.[8] He was also cast in the role of Ramtish in the Disney live action film, Mulan.[7][11]

Filmography

Television appearances
Year Title Role Notes Ref
2024 Nautilus Jagadish 6 episodes [12]
2021–present The Newsreader Dennis Tibb 12 episodes [13][14]
2023 One Night Andrew 4 episodes [15]
We Interrupt This Broadcast Antiques Roadshow Host 4 episodes
2021 Preppers Lionel 6 episodes
2020 Stateless Oshan 2 episodes
2018-19 Lodge 49 Anil 4 episodes
2017 Lady Dynamite Dr. Ronjon Runningstream 1 episode
Throwing Shade Banker 3 1 episode
2016 No Activity Steve 3 episodes
Doctor Doctor Daniel 1 episode
Rake Jeffery 1 episode
2014 Sequestered Ramesh 12 episodes
How to Talk Australians Mr D'Silva 1 episode
Courtside Naveen 6 episodes
2013 Bones Mo Khan 1 episode
2012 The Moodys Chris 4 episodes
Redfern Now Ubit 1 episode
The Straits Joseph 5 episodes
2011 Sea Patrol Vadara 1 episode
Laid Van 1 episode
2007 Comedy Inc. 1 episode
All Saints Chris 1 episode
2005 The Surgeon Dr. Ravi Jayawardener 8 episodes
Film appearances
Year Title Role Notes Ref
2020 Mulan Ramtish [16]
2016 Another Time Tim Short
Open House on Beverely Shuman Short
2015 Super Awesome Shae da Silva
2012 Intersecting Beauty Hussain Short
Four Season of Love The Tree Short
Status Update: A Facebook Fairytale Amit Short
2009 Traces Gunn Short
Frances and Annie Ambulance Officer #2 Short
Natural Selection Nick Short
Franswa Sharl George Short
2008 Scary Loney Wolves
2007 Spider Gas Station Attendant Short [17]
Cross Life Roman
2006 Playing with Piranhas Keith
Happy Birthday El Short
2005 Don't Say a Word Mahesh

Personal life

Ehelepola is a qualified Civil Engineer,[8][1] having attended Curtin University. Ehelepola followed his passion of acting, taking the path of washing dishes, serving coffee and acting classes on the way to building a successful acting career.[3] After residing in Los Angeles for a period of time, Ehelepola returned with his family to Australia and currently resides in NSW.[1]

Ehelepola also founded the Sydney Actors Collective, providing acting classes to aspiring Australian acting talent.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Quinn, Karl (2023-09-12). "The one 1980s detail The Newsreader gets deliberately wrong". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2024-11-05.
  2. ^ "Ch02.Podcast03 Chum Ehelepola". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 2024-11-05.
  3. ^ a b c "Meet The Acting Coach Team". Sydney Actors Collective. Retrieved 2024-11-05.
  4. ^ a b c d Quinn, Karl (2023-04-13). "Not so black and white: The changing face of Australian film and TV". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2024-11-05.
  5. ^ Mathieson, Craig (2021-09-01). "ABC drama The Newsreader is an exceptional high-wire act". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2024-11-05.
  6. ^ "Nautilus cast | Full list of characters and actors in Prime Video series | Radio Times". www.radiotimes.com. Retrieved 2024-11-05.
  7. ^ a b c d e Haring, Bruce (2019-07-12). "Chum Ehelepola Signs With APA, Will Appear In Disney's Live-Action 'Mulan'". Deadline. Retrieved 2024-11-05.
  8. ^ a b c d e "Getting chummy with Chum Ehelepola – BELLO Mag". Retrieved 2024-11-05.
  9. ^ Knox, David (2016-09-08). "Returning: No Activity | TV Tonight". TV Tonight. Retrieved 2024-11-05.
  10. ^ Carlson, Bronwyn (2021-11-09). "Preppers is a deep reading of colonial violence – and a hilarious, must-watch Aussie TV comedy". The New Daily. Retrieved 2024-11-05.
  11. ^ David Serero (2020-06-14). Interview actor Chum Ehelepola from Disney's Mulan 2020 - On the phone with David Serero (2020). Retrieved 2024-11-05 – via YouTube.
  12. ^ Staff Writer. "Nautilus cast | Full list of characters and actors in Prime Video series | Radio Times". www.radiotimes.com. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
  13. ^ Knox, David (2024-01-12). "Filming underway on The Newsreader S3 | TV Tonight". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
  14. ^ Knox, David (2020-11-26). "Filming underway on The Newsreader | TV Tonight". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
  15. ^ Knox, David (2023-09-04). "One Night | TV Tonight". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
  16. ^ Haring, Bruce (2019-07-12). "Chum Ehelepola Signs With APA, Will Appear In Disney's Live-Action 'Mulan'". Deadline. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
  17. ^ Staff Writer (2012-02-05). "SPIDER (2007) Short Film: Nash Edgerton, Mirrah Foulkes, Joel Edgerton | FilmBook". Retrieved 2024-11-13.