Max Cullen
Australian-born stage and screen actor (born 1940)
Maxwell Phillip Cullen [ 1] (born 29 April 1940) is an Australian stage and screen actor. He has appeared in many Australian films and television series but is best known for his role in the film Spider and Rose and the television series The Flying Doctors , Secret Valley and Love My Way .
Early life
Cullen was born on 29 April 1940, in Wellington, New South Wales , to Alec Cullen, an electrical linesman and Lila Mary (nee Yale), when he was one year old his family moved to Lawson in the Blue Mountains . His older brother Fred Cullen was also an actor and screenwriter better known professionally as Cul Cullen (1934-1982)[ 1]
Career
Cullen began his career as a painter and sculptor after training at Sydney's National Art School in 1956 and later studied at the Julian Ashton Art School with Brett Whiteley in 1959. His works have been exhibited regularly in solo and in group exhibitions and he has worked as an illustrator, cartoonist and layout artist on several magazines and newspapers.[ 2]
After seeing a play, he became interested in the acting profession and spent his formative years training under Hayes Gordon at the Ensemble Theatre , where he would subsequently appear in productions over a ten-year period, he also worked at the then newly established Nimrod Theatre .[ 1]
Cullen was a regular arts reporter on the Sunday current affairs television program. He has also worked as a professional and motivational speaker.
Since 2007, Cullen has performed Lawson , a one-man show based on the life of Australian poet Henry Lawson .[ 3] [ 4]
Cullen had a role in the 2009 film X-Men Origins: Wolverine , alongside fellow Australian actors Hugh Jackman and Asher Keddie . He played "Owl Eyes" in the 2013 film, The Great Gatsby .
Personal life
Cullen been married three times and has two daughters, one from each of his first two marriages. Married to actress Colleen Fitzpatrick from 1973–1987, they have one daughter, actress Katharine Cullen , born 9 June 1975, and one grandson William Richards, born 17 August 2013.
Filmography
Film
Television
Year
Title
Role
Type
1966-76
Homicide
8 roles
TV series, 8 episodes
1967
Contrabandits
Allen
TV series, 1 episode
1968
Skippy
Keeler
TV series, 1 episode
1969
Riptide
Gus / Chris / Rod
TV series, 3 episodes
1969
Woobinda, Animal Doctor
Johnno
TV series, 1 episode
1970
The Link Men
Mario Costello
TV series, 1 episode
1971
Dead Men Running
TV miniseries, 1 episode
1970-71
Mrs. Finnegan
Hilton Harper
TV series, 13 episodes
1971
The Comedy Game
TV series, 1 episode
1972
Birds in the Bush
The Miner
TV series, 1 episode
1969-72
Division 4
Joe Kennedy / John Brody / Tom Shaw
TV series, 3 episodes
1972
Boney
Glen Shannon
TV series, 1 episode
1972
Number 96
Ralph Finlayson
TV series, 11 episodes
1971-73
Spyforce
Barrow / Osgood
TV series, 27 episodes
1973
Over There
TV series, 1 episode
1973
The Evil Touch
Policenan
TV series, 1 episode
1974
Silent Number
Cohen
TV series, 1 episode
1975
The Unisexers
TV series
1975
Scattergood: Friend of All
Scattergood
TV series, 5 episodes
1975
Shannon's Mob
Vossif
TV series, 1 episode
1973-76
Matlock Police
The Mouth / Taylor / Brian Young
TV series, 3 episodes
1976
Rush
Billy Adams
TV series, 1 episode
1976
McCloud
Putney
TV series, 1 episode
1976
Luke's Kingdom
Tom Shipton
TV miniseries, 1 episode
1976
Bluey
Walter Curran
TV series, 1 episode
1978
Young Ramsay
Alec Thompson
TV series, 1 episode
1978
Chopper Squad
Harry
TV series, 1 episode
1979
TV Follies
Cheesy Parmesi / Cyrus P Sanders
TV series
1980
Kingswood Country
Donger Jackson
TV series, 1 episode
1980
Australian Theatre Festival
Terry
TV series, 1 episode
1980
Trial by Marriage
TV series, 1 episode
1980
The Timeless Land
Byrne
TV miniserie, 3 episodes
1980-83
Secret Valley
Claude Cribbins
TV series, 15 episodes
1981
Tickled Pink
TV series, 1 episode
1981
Cornflakes for Tea
Stan
TV miniseries, 6 episodes
1981
Sunday
Arts reporter
TV current affairs series
1983
Kings
TV series
1983
Scales of Justice
Roach
TV miniseries, 1 episode
1983
A Country Practice
Arnold Mortimer
TV series, 2 episodes
1984
The Last Bastion
Eddie Ward
TV miniseries, 3 episodes
1984
The Cowra Breakout
Private Hook
TV miniseries
1984
Carson's Law
Wally Oates
TV series, 2 episodes
1984
Bodyline
Chooka (The Reporter)
TV miniseries, 2 episodes
1985
Possession
Harry Keane
TV series
1985
The Flying Doctors
Hurtle Morrison
TV miniseries, 3 episodes
1986-87
The Flying Doctors
Hurtle Morrison
TV series, 22 episodes
1987
Vietnam
Journalist
TV miniseries, 1 episode
1987
Frontier
Clark
TV series, 3 episodes
1987
Rafferty's Rules
Mr Lee
TV series, 1 episode
1988
Act of Betrayal
Quinn
TV miniseries, 2 episodes
1989
Grim Pickings
Inspector Toby
TV miniseries, 2 episodes
1991
Police Rescue
Ernie Kemp
TV series, 1 episode
1992
Boys from the Bush
Ted
TV series, 1 episode
1992 / 1995
G.P.
Basil Meagher / Eric Mackie
TV series, 2 episodes
1994
The Damnation of Harvey McHugh
Prime Minister Jim Hammond
TV series, 1 episode
1995-2012
RPA
Narrator
TV series
1998
Kings in Grass Castles
Mr Costello
TV miniseries, 2 episodes
2001
McLeod's Daughters
Sid Connolly
TV series, 1 episode
2004-07
Love My Way
Gerry Jackson
TV series, 26 episodes
2004-09
All Saints
Moses / Barney / Fawcett
TV series, 4 episodes
2009
City Homicide
Ray Stairmont
TV series, 1 episode
2014
Rake
Judge Coote
TV series, 1 episode
2014
Old School
Des
TV miniseries, 1 episode
2014
Devil's Playground
Father Joyce
TV miniseries, 3 episodes
2016
Secret City
Les Gordon
TV series
2016
Doctor Doctor
Martin
TV series, 1 episode
As crew
Year
Title
Role
Type
1976
Rate of Exchange
Writer
Short film
Stage
As actor
Year
Title
Role
Type
1963
The Physicists
Ensemble Theatre
1964
The Thracian Horses
Ensemble Theatre
1964
The Rehearsal
Ensemble Theatre
1965
Photo Finish
Ensemble Theatre
1966
The Death of Bessie Smith
Ensemble Theatre
1966
The Shadow of a Gunman
Ensemble Theatre
1967
Double Talk
Ensemble Theatre
1967
Slow Dance on the Killing Ground
Ensemble Theatre
1967
Sarah and the Bible
Ensemble Theatre
1967
The Dirty Old Man
Ensemble Theatre
1967
All Things Bright and Beautiful
Ensemble Theatre
1967-68
Generation
Ensemble Theatre
1968
A Singular Man
Ensemble Theatre
1968-69
Fortune and Men's Eyes
Anzac House Auditorium, Sydney with Ensemble Theatre
1970
We Bombed in New Haven
Monash University , Playhouse, Canberra with Ensemble Theatre
1970
Face of a Man
Majestic Cinemas, Sydney
1970
Skippy Saves Christmas
Phillip Street Theatre
1971
Stockade
Independent Theatre, Sydney
1971
Brer Rabbit
University of NSW with Old Tote Theatre Company
1972
On Yer Marx: Bigotry V.C.
Nimrod Theatre Company
1972
On Yer Marx: Housey
Nimrod Theatre Company
1972
The Last Supper Show
Nimrod Theatre Company
1973
Prison 73: The Chocolate Frog
Nimrod Theatre Company
1973
Prison 73: The Old Familiar Juice
Nimrod Theatre Company
1973
President Wilson in Paris
Nimrod Theatre Company
1973
Hamlet
Pram Factory , Playhouse, Canberra with Nimrod Theatre Company
1975
The Good Doctor
Playhouse, Canberra , Monash University with Ensemble Theatre
1975
Sunday Too Far Away
Tim King
Festival Theatre, Adelaide
1975, 1977
The Cake Man
Civilian
Black Theatre Arts & Culture Centre , Bondi Pavilion
1976
Going Home
Jim
St Martins Theatre, Melbourne with Nimrod Theatre Company
1976
Martello Towers
St Martins Theatre, Melbourne
1976
The Recruiting Officer
Sergeant Kite
Nimrod Theatre Company
1976
The Season at Sarsaparilla
Ernie Boyle
Sydney Opera House
1977
Dream Girl
Herbert / Announcer / Mr Homes
Bondi Pavilion with Currency Press
1977
The Propitious Kidnapping of the Cultured Daughter
Dr. Bairnes
Bondi Pavilion with Currency Press
1977
Big Toys
Terry Legge
University of NSW , Comedy Theatre, Melbourne , Canberra Theatre with Old Tote Theatre Company
1978
Makassar Reef
Silver
Russell Street Theatre with Melbourne Theatre Company
1979
How Sleep the Brave
Lt Commander Harvey
Ensemble Theatre
1980
The Death of Bessie Smith
Ensemble Theatre
1980
The Siege of Frank Sinatra
Leo Coote
Stables Theatre with King O'Malley Theatre Company
1981
Hamlet
Claudius
Sydney Opera House with Sydney Theatre Company
1982
The Cake Man
University of NSW with Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust & Australian Aboriginal Theatre Company
1982
The Stripper
Kinselas with Sydney Theatre Company
1982
The Price
Ensemble Theatre
1985-86
Sons of Cain
Kevin Cassidy
Playhouse, Melbourne , Theatre Royal, Sydney , Space Theatre, Adelaide , Suncorp Theatre, Brisbane, Wyndham's Theatre, London with Melbourne Theatre Company
1986-88
Emerald City
Sydney Opera House , Lyric Theatre, London with Sydney Theatre Company
1987
Siestas in a Pink Hotel
Wharf Theatre with Sydney Theatre Company
1988
A Streetcar Named Desire
Her Majesty's Theatre Sydney , Lyric Theatre, Brisbane
1989
The Ham Funeral
Wharf Theatre with Sydney Theatre Company
1990
The Tempest
Caliban
Belvoir Street Theatre
1990
This Old Man Comes Rolling Home
Tom Dockerty
Russell Street Theatre with Melbourne Theatre Company
1991
The Revenger's Tragedy
Sydney Opera House with Sydney Theatre Company
1991
The Government Inspector
Sydney Opera House with Sydney Theatre Company
1991
Summer of the Seventeenth Doll
Barney
Seymour Centre
1992
Uncle Vanya
Sydney Opera House with Sydney Theatre Company
1993
Humorists Read the Humorists
Canberra Theatre with Comedy Summit
1994
A Cheery Soul
Mr Custance / Mrs Jebb / Little Boy (Les)
Her Majesty's Theatre, Adelaide with Queensland Theatre Company for Adelaide Festival of the Arts
1994
Hamlet
Belvoir Street Theatre
1995
Flame of Freedom - Australia Remembers
Brisbane Entertainment Centre
1996
As You Like It
Sydney Opera House with Sydney Theatre Company
1996
The Alchemist
Sir Epicure Mammon
Belvoir Street Theatre
1997
Death of a Salesman
Willy Loman
Sydney Opera House
1997
Ngundalehla Godotgai (Waiting for Godot )
Bangarra Studio Theatre
1998
Cloudstreet
Sam Pickles
Berth 9, Darling Harbour with Belvoir Theatre Company , Black Swan Theatre , Malthouse Theatre , Playhouse, Adelaide
1998
The Sunshine Boys
Ensemble Theatre
1998
The Siege of Frank Sinatra
Ensemble Theatre
1999
Burnt Piano
Belvoir Street Theatre
2000
The Small Poppies
Theo
Belvoir Street Theatre for Sydney Festival
2000
The Great Man
Terry
Playhouse, Brisbane , Playhouse, Melbourne & national Australian tour with Queensland Theatre Company
2000
A Couple of Blaguards
Frank McCourt
Ensemble Theatre
2001
Ashes to Ashes
Belvoir Street Theatre
2001
I Ought to Be in Pictures
Ensemble Theatre
2001
Old Masters
Gordon
Wharf Theatre with Sydney Theatre Company
2002
All My Sons
Joe Keller
Sydney Opera House
2002
Volpone
Corbaccio
Sydney Opera House
2002
Buried Child
Dodge
Belvoir Theatre Company
2003
Waiting for Godot
Estragon
Belvoir Theatre Company
2003
The One Day of the Year
Alf
Wharf Theatre , Riverside Theatres , Newcastle Civic Theatre , Laycock Street Theatre, Illawarra Performing Arts Centre, Darlinghurst Theatre with Sydney Theatre Company
2003
Looking Up Lower
Lennie Lower
Darlinghurst Theatre
2004
Scenes from a Separation
Lawrence Clifford
Sydney Opera House with Sydney Theatre Company
2005
The Daylight Atheist
Dan Moffat
Wharf Theatre with Sydney Theatre Company , Space Theatre, Adelaide with State Theatre Company of South Australia , Glen Street Theatre
2005-06
A Couple of Blaguards
Frank McCourt
Seymour Centre , Comedy Theatre, Melbourne
2007
Lawson: Demons and Dreams
Henry Lawson
Theatre Royal, Sydney , Athenaeum Theatre , Canberra Theatre , Newcastle Civic Theatre
2007
Love Lies Bleeding
Alex
Wharf Theatre with Sydney Theatre Company , Glen Street Theatre
2008
The Pig Iron People
Kurt
Sydney Opera House with Sydney Theatre Company
2010
Twelfth Night
Feste
National Australian tour with Bell Shakespeare Company
2013
How to Be (Or Not to Be) Lower
Lennie Lower
Street Theatre, Canberra [ 5]
2014
Bartleby
Old Lawyer
Street Theatre, Canberra with Aspen Island Theatre Company [ 6]
2016
King Lear
Gloucester
Roslyn Packer Theatre with Sydney Theatre Company
2015-20
Dead Men Talking: A Two-Man Show of Verse, Yarns & Song
Henry Lawson
Humph Hall, Sydney, Blue Mountains Theatre , Mudgee Brewing Company, Henry Lawson Theatre, Werrington, Cooma Little Theatre, Sutherland Memorial School of Arts, Belconnen Arts Centre , City Diggers Club, Wollongong, Adelaide Fringe Festival [ 7] [ 8]
2017
Dead Men Laughing
Lennie Lower
As crew
[ 1] [ 9]
Awards and nominations
References
External links
Key : (a)= Winner of Best Performance by an Actor in a Guest Role in a Television Drama Series (b)= Best Actor in a Supporting or Guest Role in a Television Drama or Comedy
International National Artists