Richard Roxburgh

Richard Roxburgh was born on January 23, 1962, in Albury, New South Wales, Australia. He initially pursued higher education, studying economics at the Australian National University and earning a Bachelor of Economics in 1984. Following his graduation, Roxburgh shifted his focus to acting, gaining admission to the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) in 1986. His career began shortly after graduating from NIDA, performing with the Sydney Theatre Company and Belvoir St Theatre.

Roxburgh gained early public attention for his portrayal of detective Roger Rogerson in the 1995 television miniseries “Blue Murder.” His range as an actor was further showcased through roles in Australian film and stage, including a critically acclaimed performance as Hamlet in a 1994 Company B production. He moved into international cinema in 2000, appearing as Hugh Stamp in “Mission: Impossible 2,” which was filmed in Sydney. The following year, he played The Duke of Monroth in Baz Luhrmann’s “Moulin Rouge!”, also filmed in Sydney. Over the next three years, Roxburgh took on three iconic characters: Sherlock Holmes in 2002’s “The Hound of the Baskervilles,” Professor Moriarty in 2003’s “The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen,” and Count Dracula in 2004’s “Van Helsing.” He is one of only two actors to have played all three of these characters, alongside Orson Welles.

In addition to his acting career, Roxburgh has also ventured into filmmaking. He directed his first film, “Romulus, My Father,” in 2007, which received an AFI Award. From 2010 to 2018, he co-created and starred as Cleaver Greene in the Australian television series “Rake,” earning an Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Award for Best Lead Actor in a Television Drama. Roxburgh has continued to work in both Australian and international productions, including a recurring role as Bob Hawke in Netflix’s “The Crown” (2020) and Vernon Presley in Baz Luhrmann’s “Elvis” (2022). He also published a children’s adventure novel, “Artie and the Grime Wave,” in 2016.