Colin Friels

About Colin Friels

Friels is best known to US audiences for his role in the comic-bookish adventure, "Darkman" (1990). Most of his subsequent work has been back in his native land, though Friels ventured again into US production with a supporting role in Bruce Beresford's little-seen political comedy, "A Good Man in Africa" (1994). He is married to actress Judy Davis, with whom he co-starred in "Kangaroo" (1986) and "High Tide" (1987).

Partners

Wife

Judy Davis. Married Oct. 30, 1984; co-starred in "Kangaroo" (1986) and "High Tide" (1987); on Oct. 30, 2002, Davis obtained a six-month court order against Friels after he allegedly threw her to the ground and broke a glass table during an argument at their home

Education

National Institute of Dramatic Art

Career Milestones

Portrayed a police detective in the popular Australian TV series "Water Rats"

Raised in Scotland until his early teens

1963

Moved with family to Australia (date approximate)

1977

While in drama school acted in stage productions like "The Oresteia" and "The Caucasian Chalk Circle"

1980

Early TV credit, the Australian production "Big Toys"

1981

Film acting debut, "Hoodwink"

1981

First garnered attention in Australia with his TV role in "For the Term of His Natural Life"

1982

First major film, "Monkey Grip"

1986

Acted on screen opposite wife Judy Davis in "Kangaroo"

1986

Won critical acclaim for plying title role of a dim-witted inventor in "Malcolm"

1987

Reteamed on screen with Davis in "High Tide"

1990

First American film, "Darkman"

1991

Played supporting role in "Class Action"

1993

Co-starred in "A Good Man in Africa"

1993

Last stage appearance for some six years. "The Temple"

1995

Appeared in "Angel Baby"

1996

Had featured role as a psychiatric nurse in "Cosi"

1998

Played supporting role in the eerie thriller "Dark City"

1999

Returned to the stage after a six-year absence in "Macbeth"

2000

Appeared in the TV miniseries "Marriage Acts" as a judge who recalls his life after surviving two near fatal bombings

2001

Acted in the TV-movies "The Farm", opposite Greta Scacchi, and "My Husband, My Killer", based on a notorious 1986 Sydney murder involving a self-made millionaire

2001

Had featured role as the father of moppet star Shirley Temple in the ABC movie "Child Star: The Shirley Temple Story"

2001

In fall, starred as "Don Juan" in a Sydney Theatre Company production