Bruce Spence

Bruce Robert Spence[1] (born 17 September 1945) is a New Zealand-born Australian actor. [1]Spence has amassed over 100 film and television credits and has also acted in theatre.[2]

Bruce Spence
Spence in 2010
Born
Bruce Robert Spence

(1945-09-17) 17 September 1945 (age 78)
Auckland, New Zealand
NationalityNew Zealander
Occupation(s)Actor, voice artist
Years active1970–present

Biography

Spence won an AFI Award for Best Actor for his role in the 1971 comedy Stork.[2]

Spence's best known film role is as the gyrocopter pilot in Mad Max 2 (1981).[2][3] He also played the lead role in Werner Herzog's Where the Green Ants Dream (1984)[2] and portrayed Jedediah the pilot in Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985).[3]

In the 21st century, Spence played the Mouth of Sauron in The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003),[4] the Trainman in The Matrix Revolutions (2003),[5] and Baxter in Disney's Inspector Gadget 2 (2003),[6] and voiced the character Chum in Finding Nemo (2003).[7] He also portrayed Tion Medon in Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005)[8] and played Lord Rhoop in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (2010).[8]

Spence portrayed the palaeontologist (Huxley) in the Australian performance of BBC's Walking with Dinosaurs: The Live Experience. In his role, Spence narrated the activities of life-sized mechanical dinosaurs operated by teams of puppeteers and drivers.

Spence taking a break during an ADR session in November 2008.

In 2008, Spence joined the television series Legend of the Seeker, which was based on the Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind. He played the role of Zeddicus Zu'l Zorander, co-starring with Craig Horner and Bridget Regan. The show ran for two seasons.

In 2014, Spence played prison inmate George Corella in episode 3.1 of Rake.

In 2024, Spence was named as the recipient for the Equity Lifetime Achievement award.[9]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1971StorkGraham 'Stork' WallaceFeature film
1974Moving OnRoad WorkerFeature film
The Cars That Ate ParisCharlieFeature film
1975The Firm ManMessengerFeature film
The Great MacarthyBill DeanFeature film
1976Let the Balloon GoChief GiffordFeature film
OzBass player/Blondie the SurfieFeature film
Mad Dog MorganHeriotFeature film
Eliza FraserBruce McIverFeature film
1978NewsfrontRedex trial driverFeature film
1979DimboolaMorrie McAdamFeature film
1981Mad Max 2The Gyro CaptainFeature film
1983Double DealDoug MitchellFeature film
The Return of Captain InvincibleMidnight's DoctorFeature film
Midnite SparesWimpyFeature film
BuddiesTedFeature film
1984Pallet on the FloorBasil Beaumont-FosterFeature film
Where the Green Ants Dream (aka Wo die grünen Ameisen träumen)Lance HackettFeature film
1985Mad Max Beyond ThunderdomeJedediah the PilotFeature film
1987BullseyePurdyFeature film
The Year My Voice BrokeJonahFeature film
1988Bachelor GirlAlistair Dredge JrTV movie
Rikky and PeteBenFeature film
1990Wendy Cracked a Walnut (aka ...Almost)RonnieFeature film
The Shrimp on the BarbieWayneFeature film
1991Sweet TalkerNorman FosterFeature film
1993Hercules ReturnsSprocketFeature film
1995Ace Ventura: When Nature CallsGahjiiFeature film
1996The Munsters' Scary Little ChristmasMr. GatemanTV movie
1998Dark CityMr. WallFeature film
2002Queen of the DamnedKhaymanFeature film
2003Inspector Gadget 2Professor BaxterFeature film
Finding NemoChum (voice)Feature film
The Matrix RevolutionsTrainmanFeature film
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the KingMouth of Sauron (Extended edition only)Feature film
Peter PanCooksonFeature film
2005Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the SithTion MedonFeature film
2006AquamarineLeonardFeature film
SoloKennedyFeature film
2008AustraliaDr. BarkerFeature film
2010The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn TreaderLord RhoopFeature film
2013Mystery RoadJim the CoronerFeature film
2014I, FrankensteinMolokaiFeature film
2015BacktrackFelixFeature film
2016Gods of EgyptHead JudgeFeature film
Blue World Order WhippettFeature film
2017Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No TalesMayor DixFeature film
2018Winchester AugustineFeature film
OccupationAlien LeaderFeature film
2020Love and MonstersOld PeteFeature film
Children of the CornPastor PennyFeature film
The DryGerry HadlerFeature film
2021The Drover's WifeFather McGuinessFeature film
2023Cold WaterMurrayShort film

Television

YearTitleRoleNote
1972-73Division 4Various2 episodes
1973BoneySawyer's Ron1 episode
1973-75Certain WomenJulius 'Big Julie'19 episodes
1974RyanWally Scott1 episode
1974-75Matlock PoliceJohnny / Maxie2 episodes
1978Case for the DefenceAlfred2 episodes
1979Barnaby and MeTall BaddieTV movie
1979Shirl's NeighbourhoodBruce the gardener
1979SkywaysDavid Howard1 episode
1979Cop ShopStudent Counsellor1 episode
1981And Here Comes BucknuckleSeries
1982DeadlineTowieTV movie
1981-82Kingswood CountryDentist / Samson2 episodes
1984Special SquadProfessor1 episode
1984Carson's LawVernon2 episodes
1985Zoo FamilyGeorge1 episode
1987Great Expectations: The Untold StoryJoe GargeryTV movie
1988The Dirtwater DynastyLonely Logan5 episodes
1988AustraliansCecil Cook1 episode
1987-89Rafferty's RulesTriggs2 episodes
1989Sugar [de]Robert FlemmingTV movie
Tanamera – Lion of SingaporeHammond7 episodes
1989–92Dearest EnemyLenny14 episodes
1992Halfway Across the Galaxy and Turn LeftThe Chief18 episodes
1994–95Over the HillTall BobTV Series
1996After the Beep7 episodes
1997Return to JupiterEd Unit13 episodes
Bullpitt!Darcy Kelso26 episodes
Twisted TalesColin1 episode
Good Guys, Bad GuysSquirt Man1 episode
1998Moby DickElijah1 episode
Halifax f.p.: Isn't It RomanticEric Washburn1 episode
1999Chuck FinnHeinz1 episode
2000Tales of the South SeasNaari1 episode
2001BeastmasterAnnubis1 episode
2002FarscapePrefect Falaak1 episode
2002Short CutsMr Coxon5 episodes
2001-03Always GreenerRev Millburn3 episodes
2004The Brush OffPhilip VealeTV movie
2005GrangeTV movie
2006RAN (Remote Area Nurse)Vince6 episodes
Nightmares & DreamscapesHans Morris1 episode
Equal OpportunityDeath
2008Double the FistMayor McCarthy1 episode
2008City HomicideMaurice1 episode
2008–10Legend of the SeekerZeddicus Zu'l Zorander44 episodes
2009All SaintsBarry Goldsworthy1 episode
2011CloudstreetPig3 episodes
2014Rake [10]George Corella1 episode
2015Let's Talk AboutMan in Toilet1 episode
2016The Wizards of Oz [11]Regimand3 episodes
2016Black ComedyGuest Cast1 episode
2018True Story with Hamish & Andy[12]The Oracle1 episode
2021Back to the RaftersCharles Whiteman4 episodes
2023Ten Pound PomsFather1 episode

Video games

YearTitleRoleRef.
2003Enter the MatrixTrainman[13]
2014Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel!Scav Gyro, Sir Dennis, Toby Van Adobe, Tony Slows, Taunting Scav #2[14]
202?Edge of TwilightHorace

Theatre

YearTitleRoleNotes
1969DimboolaMorrie McAdamLa Mama Theatre
1970The Coming of StorkGraham 'Stork' WallaceLa Mama Theatre
1985A Stretch of the ImaginationNimrod Theatre Company
2005The Marvellous BoyVictor/Bain CipollaWB Stables by Griffin Theatre Company
2013The Secret RiverLovedaySydney Theatre

References

External links