Hugh Keays-Byrne
Encyclopedia
Hugh Keays-Byrne is an English
character actor who moved to Australia
in 1973. He is well-known in Australia as a television and film actor. Outside of Australia, he is best known for his role as a gang leader in the late 1970s Mad Max
and, in the 2000s, for his role in the science fiction television series Farscape
.
in 1973. In 1974, he acted in the TV show Essington
, which was followed by big screen roles in films such as Stone (1974), Mad Dog Morgan (1976) and The Trespassers (1976). After acting in the TV drama The Death Train in 1978, Keays-Byrne garnered the role that he is best known for outside of Australia: the violent gang leader "Toecutter" in the apocalyptic science fiction film Mad Max
(1979).
In the 1980s, he acted in films such as The Chain Reaction
(1980), Strikebound (1984), Starship
(1985) and
The Blood of Heroes
(1989). In 1992, he directed and acted in the film Resistance. In the mid- to late 1990s, he did a number of TV roles including in Singapore Sling: Old Flames (1995), Moby Dick (1998) and Journey to the Centre of the Earth (1999).
In the 2000s, he appeared in the science fiction television series Farscape
as Grunchlk, which he reprised for the concluding mini-series Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars
.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
character actor who moved to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in 1973. He is well-known in Australia as a television and film actor. Outside of Australia, he is best known for his role as a gang leader in the late 1970s Mad Max
Mad Max
Mad Max is a 1979 Australian dystopian action film directed by George Miller and revised by Miller and Byron Kennedy over the original script by James McCausland. The film stars Mel Gibson, who was unknown at the time. Its narrative based around the traditional western genre, Mad Max tells a story...
and, in the 2000s, for his role in the science fiction television series Farscape
Farscape
Farscape is an Australian-American science fiction television series filmed in Australia and produced originally for the Nine Network. The series was conceived by Rockne S. O'Bannon and produced by Jim Henson Productions and Hallmark Entertainment...
.
Career
Keays-Byrne's first television acting job was in England in the programme Boy Meets Girl in 1967. He came to Australia with the Royal Shakespeare CompanyRoyal Shakespeare Company
The Royal Shakespeare Company is a major British theatre company, based in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England. The company employs 700 staff and produces around 20 productions a year from its home in Stratford-upon-Avon and plays regularly in London, Newcastle-upon-Tyne and on tour across...
in 1973. In 1974, he acted in the TV show Essington
Essington
Essington is a village and civil parish in South Staffordshire, England. It is considered by the Office for National Statistics to be part of the Wolverhampton Urban Subdivision, and is within the West Midlands conurbation....
, which was followed by big screen roles in films such as Stone (1974), Mad Dog Morgan (1976) and The Trespassers (1976). After acting in the TV drama The Death Train in 1978, Keays-Byrne garnered the role that he is best known for outside of Australia: the violent gang leader "Toecutter" in the apocalyptic science fiction film Mad Max
Mad Max
Mad Max is a 1979 Australian dystopian action film directed by George Miller and revised by Miller and Byron Kennedy over the original script by James McCausland. The film stars Mel Gibson, who was unknown at the time. Its narrative based around the traditional western genre, Mad Max tells a story...
(1979).
In the 1980s, he acted in films such as The Chain Reaction
The Chain Reaction
The Chain Reaction is a 1980 Australian independent action/disaster/thriller film directed and written by Ian Barry. The film stars Steve Bisley, also starring in the film Mad Max and Arna-Maria Winchester. The film's plot is about an engineer badly injured in an accident caused by an earthquake...
(1980), Strikebound (1984), Starship
Starship (film)
Starship, also known as Lorca and the Outlaws, is a 1984 science fiction film directed by Roger Christian from a screenplay by Christian and Matthew Jacobs...
(1985) and
The Blood of Heroes
The Blood of Heroes
The Blood of Heroes is a 1989 Australian post-apocalyptic film directed by David Webb Peoples and starring Rutger Hauer and Joan Chen. The film is also known by the names The Salute of the Jugger and Salute to the Jugger...
(1989). In 1992, he directed and acted in the film Resistance. In the mid- to late 1990s, he did a number of TV roles including in Singapore Sling: Old Flames (1995), Moby Dick (1998) and Journey to the Centre of the Earth (1999).
In the 2000s, he appeared in the science fiction television series Farscape
Farscape
Farscape is an Australian-American science fiction television series filmed in Australia and produced originally for the Nine Network. The series was conceived by Rockne S. O'Bannon and produced by Jim Henson Productions and Hallmark Entertainment...
as Grunchlk, which he reprised for the concluding mini-series Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars
Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars
Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars is a television science fiction mini-series written by Rockne S. O'Bannon and David Kemper and directed by Brian Henson. Following the Farscape series' unexpected cancellation in September 2002, it aimed to wrap-up the season four cliffhanger and tie up some elements...
.
Selected filmography
- FarscapeFarscapeFarscape is an Australian-American science fiction television series filmed in Australia and produced originally for the Nine Network. The series was conceived by Rockne S. O'Bannon and produced by Jim Henson Productions and Hallmark Entertainment...
: The Peacekeeper Wars (2004) (TV) .... Grunchlik - Farscape.... Grunchlik / ... (2 episodes, 2001)
- Journey to the Centre of the Earth (1999) (TV) .... McNiff
- Moby Dick (1998) (TV) .... Mr. Stubb
- Singapore Sling: Old Flames (1995) (TV)
- Resistance (1992) .... Peter
- The Blood of HeroesThe Blood of HeroesThe Blood of Heroes is a 1989 Australian post-apocalyptic film directed by David Webb Peoples and starring Rutger Hauer and Joan Chen. The film is also known by the names The Salute of the Jugger and Salute to the Jugger...
(1989) .... Lord Vlle - Joe Wilson (1988) (mini) TV Series .... Bob Galletley
- Dadah Is Death (1988) (TV) .... Hammed
- Badlands 2005 (1988) (TV) .... Moondance
- Treasure Island (1987) (TV) (voice)
- For Love AloneFor Love AloneFor Love Alone is a 1986 Australian film directed by Stephen Wallace and starring Helen Buday, Hugo Weaving and Sam Neill. The screenplay was written by Wallace, based on the 1945 novel of the same name by Christina Stead. The film marked the screen debut of Naomi Watts...
(1986) .... Andrew - Burke & Wills (1985) .... Ambrose Kyte
- StarshipStarship (film)Starship, also known as Lorca and the Outlaws, is a 1984 science fiction film directed by Roger Christian from a screenplay by Christian and Matthew Jacobs...
(1985) .... Danny - Strikebound (1984) .... Idris Williams
- Runaway IslandRunaway IslandRunaway Island is a rocky island 0.7 nautical miles west of the west tip of Neny Island and 0.2 nautical miles northwest of Surf Rock, lying in Marguerite Bay off the west coast of Graham Land. The island was roughly charted in 1936 by the British Graham Land Expedition , and was surveyed in...
(1982) TV Series .... Lucas the Ratter - The Chain ReactionThe Chain ReactionThe Chain Reaction is a 1980 Australian independent action/disaster/thriller film directed and written by Ian Barry. The film stars Steve Bisley, also starring in the film Mad Max and Arna-Maria Winchester. The film's plot is about an engineer badly injured in an accident caused by an earthquake...
(1980) .... Eagle - Secret ValleySecret ValleySecret Valley was an Australian children's television adventure series from 1980 made by the Grundy Organisation and first shown on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation...
(1980) .... William Whopper - Mad MaxMad MaxMad Max is a 1979 Australian dystopian action film directed by George Miller and revised by Miller and Byron Kennedy over the original script by James McCausland. The film stars Mel Gibson, who was unknown at the time. Its narrative based around the traditional western genre, Mad Max tells a story...
(1979) .... Toecutter - Blue Fin (1978) .... Stan
- The Death Train (1978) (TV) .... Ted Morrow
- Say You Want Me (1977) (TV)
- The Outsiders .... Doyle (1 episode, 1976)
- The Trespassers (1976) .... Frank
- Mad Dog Morgan (1976) .... Simon
- The Man from Hong KongThe Man from Hong KongThe Man from Hong Kong, known in the U.S.A. as The Dragon Flies is a 1975 action film that was the first Australian-Hong Kong co-production being filmed in both nations. The film was also the first Australian martial arts film. It was produced by Raymond Chow and John Fraser, directed by Brian...
(1975) .... Morrie Grosse - Stone (1974) .... Toad
- EssingtonEssingtonEssington is a village and civil parish in South Staffordshire, England. It is considered by the Office for National Statistics to be part of the Wolverhampton Urban Subdivision, and is within the West Midlands conurbation....
(1974) (TV) - Boy Meets Girl (1967) TV Series