Simon Burke

Acting

Simon Burke

Born 1961-10-08

Simon Burke (born 8 October 1961) is an Australian actor. Burke began his acting career as a 13 year-old in the Australian film, The Devil's Playground for which he was awarded Best Actor at the 1976 Australian Film Institute Awards. He has since starred in numerous film, television and theatre productions in Australia and the UK. He starred as Captain Georg von Trapp in Rogers and Hammerstein's production of The Sound of Music at the London Palladium alongside Connie Fisher. Burke was Federal President of Actors Equity Australia (2004–2014) and currently a Vice President of the International Federation of Actors (FIA). Simon Burke is also well remembered for his long term stint as a presenter on the childrens television series Play School from 1988-2007 then 2013 and again in 2020.​

Acting credits

Pitch Black poster
6.9

When their ship crash-lands on a remote planet, the marooned passengers soon learn that escaped convict Riddick isn't the only thing they have to fear. Deadly creatures lurk in the shadows, waiting to attack in the dark, and the planet is rapidly plunging into the utter blackness of a total eclipse. With the body count rising, the doomed survivors are forced to turn to Riddick with his eerie eyes to guide them through the darkness to safety. With time running out, there's only one rule: Stay in the light.

Pitch Black

2000

The Postcard Bandit poster
5.4

The story of notorious Australian bank robber Brendan Abbott, who according to the myth, sent postcards to authorities hot on his trail while on the run across the country.

The Postcard Bandit

2003

South Pacific poster
5.3

During World War II in the South Pacific love is found between a young nurse, Nellie Forbush and an older French plantation owner, Emile de Becque. The war is tearing them apart.

South Pacific

2001

The Devil's Playground poster
6.4

Australia, 1953. Thirteen-year-old Tom Allen attends a strict Catholic seminary for boys administered by De La Salle Brothers. The adolescent students and their adult instructors struggle deeply with sexual repression and religious doubt.

The Devil's Playground

1977

Passion poster
4.5

Passion concentrates on Grainger's unusual relationship with his mother and his sexual peculiarities (especially his obsessive self-flagellation, though homosexuality is also hinted at) which affect his relationship with a woman who comes to love him. It is set mainly in London in 1914, when Grainger's mother Rose was ill (she would later jump to her death in New York, upset by ill-founded rumours of incest with her son).

Passion

1999

The One That Got Away poster
6.2

The existence of the anti-Iraq coalition was threatened when Saddam targetted Israel. In order to keep Israel out of the war, and the coalition together the Scuds had to be stopped. SAS patrol Bravo Two Zero, under the command of Sgt. Andy McNab was tasked to destroy these weapons. Three of the SAS troopers were killed and four captured: Only one escaped - Cpl. Chris Ryan.

The One That Got Away

1996

The Irishman poster
9.0

Paddy Doolan refuses to accept change. In a new century where the motor car is changing the way things are done, the stubborn Irishman, the last of the draught-horse teamsters, continues to haul timber the old way.

The Irishman

1978

The Alice poster
7.0

Alice Springs is the scene of an enchanting date with destiny. Great planetary forces are at work, drawing people to a total eclipse of the sun - An unorthodox hero seeking the love of his life, a central Australian tour gone wrong, a young romantic lost in the desert, a rogue road train and a young woman having fantasies about killing her drop-kick of a husband...

The Alice

2004

The Clinic poster
4.8

A comedic, dramatic day in the lives of employees and patients at a venereal disease clinic.

The Clinic

1983

Heroes' Mountain poster
5.2

The story of Stuart Diver, the only person to survive the 1997 Thredbo tragedy that came about when a landslide engulfed a ski lodge situated in Australia's Snowy Mountains.

Heroes' Mountain

2002

Small Claims: The Reunion poster
9.0

Chrissy and Jo attend Chrissy's university reunion. Surrounded by success, Chrissy begins to question her decision to stay at home with the kids. When an old friend's husband is found dead in the harbour from an apparent heart attack, Chrissy and Jo are drawn to solve the mystery after learning the dead man's blood contained Ketamine, an animal tranquilliser used as a party drug.

Small Claims: The Reunion

2006

Slate, Wyn & Me poster
5.0

Meandering drama of Brothers Burke and Sacks, who rob a bank, kill a cop and kidnap Thornton, a witness to their crime.

Slate, Wyn & Me

1987

No artwork available
7.0

Gothic horror and erotic farce face a shotgun wedding in "Preservation," an oddball Aussie pic which is part of a spurt of government funded hour-long features. Starring local thesp Jacqueline McKenzie as Daphne, a 19th century taxidermist.

Preservation

2003

The Hidden History of Homosexual Australia poster
4.8

A documentary on the impact of gay and lesbian people in Australia.

The Hidden History of Homosexual Australia

2005