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Geoffrey Rush Biography

Birth Name:Geoffrey Roy Rush

Birth Place:Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia

Profession Actor, Producer, Soundtrack, Writer

Fast Facts

  • In 2012, he was named Australian of the Year by Prime Minister Julia Gillard
  • Received the Australian Centenary Medal in 2001 for his contributions to the arts
  • Served as president of the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts
  • Organized a protest march in 2004 to advocate for the preservation of historical landscapes in Melbourne, Australia
  • Received the 2011 Helpmann Award for his work in "The Diary of a Madman․"
  • Graduated from the University of Queensland
  • Studied mime and movement at the L'École Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq in Paris for two years
  • Married actress Jane Menelaus in 1988
  • While attending the University of Queensland, he was discovered by the Queensland Theatre Company in Brisbane
  • Made his Broadway debut with his role in "Exit the King" in 2009
  • Quote: "I love the kind of theater that openly acknowledges there's an audience there․"
  • Quote: "Occasionally, you need to jump off a cliff and do things you know are not immediately within your grasp․"
  • Frequently participates in period dramas, such as his work in "Elizabeth," "Les Miserables" and "Hoodwink․"
  • Was a roommate of Mel Gibson for a few months while the two were studying at the National Institute of Dramatic Art in Sydney, Australia

Awards

  • 1996AFI Award-Best Actor in a Lead Role: winner
  • 1996ACCA-Best Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
  • 1996BSFC Award-Best Actor: winner
  • 1996LAFCA Award-Best Actor: winner
  • 1996NYFCC Award-Best Actor: winner
  • 1996STFC Award-Best Actor: winner
  • 1997Oscar-Best Actor in a Leading Role: winner
  • 1997Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Cast: nominated
  • 1997Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role: winner
  • 1997BAFTA Film Award-Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: winner
  • 1997CFCA Award-Most Promising Actor: nominated
  • 1997CFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 1997Critics Choice Award-Best Actor: winner
  • 1997DFWFCA Award-Best Actor: winner
  • 1997FCCA Award-Best Actor - Male: winner
  • 1997FFCC Award-Best Actor: winner
  • 1997Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama: winner
  • 1997NSFC Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 1997OFTA Film Award-Best Drama Actor: winner
  • 1997OFTA Film Award-Best Actor: winner
  • 1997Golden Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama: winner
  • 1997SEFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 1998AFI Award-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
  • 1998ACCA-Best Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
  • 1998ALFS Award-Actor of the Year: winner
  • 1998Yoga Award-Worst Foreign Actor: winner
  • 1999Oscar-Best Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
  • 1999Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
  • 1999Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Cast: winner
  • 1999BAFTA Film Award-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
  • 1999BAFTA Film Award-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role: winner
  • 1999Blockbuster Entertainment Award-Favorite Supporting Actor - Comedy/Romance: nominated
  • 1999Chlotrudis Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 1999Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture: nominated
  • 1999SFFCC Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
  • 1999Golden Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical: nominated
  • 2000KCFCC Award-Best Actor: winner
  • 2000Sierra Award-Best Actor: winner
  • 2001Oscar-Best Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
  • 2001Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
  • 2001BAFTA Film Award-Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
  • 2001CFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2001Critics Choice Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2001DFWFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2001FFCC Award-Best Actor: winner
  • 2001Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama: nominated
  • 2001OFTA Film Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2001OFCS Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2001PFCS Award-Best Actor in a Leading Role: winner
  • 2001Golden Satellite Award-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama: winner
  • 2001SEFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2002AFI Award-Best Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
  • 2003FCCA Award-Best Actor - Male: nominated
  • 2003IF Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2004Saturn Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2004British Independent Film Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2004MTV Movie Award-Best Villain: nominated
  • 2004OFTA Television Award-Best Actor in a Motion Picture or Miniseries: winner
  • 2004Golden Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Comedy or Musical: nominated
  • 2005Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries: winner
  • 2005Gold Derby TV Award-TV Movie/Mini Lead Actor: winner
  • 2005Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television: winner
  • 2005ALFS Award-Actor of the Year: nominated
  • 2005Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie: winner
  • 2005Golden Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
  • 2005WAFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2006AFI Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2006FCCA Award-Best Actor in a Supporting Role: winner
  • 2010ACCA-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
  • 2010British Independent Film Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
  • 2010CFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2010DFWFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2010DFCS Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2010Gold Derby TV Award-TV Movie/Mini Actor of the Decade: nominated
  • 2010Golden Schmoes-Best Supporting Actor of the Year: nominated
  • 2010HFCS Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2010ICP Award-Best Supporting Performance: nominated
  • 2010Sierra Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2010LAFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2010PFCS Award-Best Ensemble Acting: nominated
  • 2010PFCS Award-Best Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
  • 2010SDFCS Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2010Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
  • 2010SEFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
  • 2010SLFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2010TFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2010UFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2010VVFP Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2010WAFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2011Movies for Grownups Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2011Oscar-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
  • 2011Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
  • 2011Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: winner
  • 2011EDA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2011Annie-Best Voice Acting in an Animated Feature Production: nominated
  • 2011BAFTA Film Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
  • 2011COFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
  • 2011Chlotrudis Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
  • 2011Critics Choice Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2011DFCS Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2011Gold Derby Film Award-Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2011Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2011IF Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2011IOMA-Best Supporting Actor (Miglior attore non protagonista): nominated
  • 2011National Movie Award-Performance of the Year: nominated
  • 2011NSFC Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
  • 2011NTFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2011OFTA Film Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2011OFCS Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2011Jury Award-Best Motion Picture Ensemble of the Year: winner
  • 2011The Equity Award-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2011VFCC Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2012AACTA Award-Best Lead Actor: nominated
  • 2012AFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2012FCCA Award-Best Actor - Leading Role: nominated
  • 2012IOFCP Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2014AACTA International Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2017Felix-Best Actor: winner
  • 2017INOCA TV-Best Actor in a Limited Series or TV Movie: nominated
  • 2017Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie: nominated
  • 2018Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series: nominated
  • 2018Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Limited Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
  • 2024Best Actor-Secció Oficial Fantàstic: winner
  • 2025New Zealand Screen Award-Best Actor in a Feature: nominated