Max Cullen

Art

Cullen began his career as a painter and sculptor after training at Sydney's National Art School in 1956 and at the Julian Ashton Art School with Brett Whiteley in 1959. His works have been exhibited regularly in solo and in group exhibitions, including the Archibald, Blake and Sulman Prizes. He also worked as an illustrator, cartoonist and layout artist on several magazines and newspapers.

Cullen's portrait of actor Geoffrey Rush later saw him become a finalist for the Archibald Prize in 2000.

Acting

After seeing a Hayes Gordon-directed play in 1958, Cullen became interested in the acting profession and began attending Gordon's classes at Sydney's Ensemble Theatre in 1963. Gordon invited Cullen to design the set for a production of The Physicists in 1963 and gave him a walk-on part in the play. He went on to work in Ensemble productions over a ten-year period, including playing the Scavenger in The Thracian Horses in 1964 opposite Reg Livermore, before Gordon cast Cullen in his first major role, in a 1965 production of Photo Finish.

In 1968, Cullen's performance as Rocky in prison documentary drama Fortune and Men's Eyes paved the way for a series of villainous screen roles, including playing the son of Mafia man Mario Costello in a 1970 episode of crime series The Link Men. That same year, he was offered a role in the film Ned Kelly alongside Mick Jagger, but opted instead to take a role in the sitcom Mrs. Finnegan, in which he played the comic role of the dim-witted Hilton Harper.

Cullen then landed a regular role in World War 2 series Spyforce, playing the role of Barrow from 1971. The following year, Cullen began playing the recurring role of Ralph Finlayson in soap opera Number 96. He also played an Irishman in the film The Office Picnic, contributing his own lines to the script.

Cullen also worked at the newly established Nimrod Theatre, appearing in three of Jim McNeil’s plays, The Chocolate Frog and The Old Familiar Juice, both in 1973, and How Does Your Garden Grow in 1974, with the latter directed by John Bell. He then appeared in the world premiere of Robert Merritt’s The Cake Man for the National Black Theatre in 1975.

Cullen landed his first major film role in 1975 film Sunday Too Far Away, in which he played a shearing contractor. After seeing him in the film, playwright Patrick White suggested him for the role of Ernie Boyle in a 1976 production of The Season at Sarsaparilla, for the Old Tote Theatre Company. That same year, Cullen played the comic role of a deranged man in an episode of Matlock Police – a part written specifically for him. Patrick White also wrote a role specifically for Cullen in his 1977 play Big Toys.

Cullen continued to appear in feature films, including 1977 thriller Summerfield, 1978 TV movie Cass and 1979 period drama My Brilliant Career, playing the role of Mr McSwatt in the latter. In 1980, he began playing Claude Cribbins in children's series Secret Valley, alongside Hugh Keays-Byrne. The following year, he played criminal Buster in 1981 feature film Hoodwink – a character based on an actual crime figure who faked blindness in prison. He then landed a part in 1983 ABC miniseries Scales of Justice and appeared in the films Outbreak of Hostilities With Prejudice. and Midnite Spares. The following year, his performance in miniseries The Last Bastion earned him a Logie Award for Best Supporting Actor.

Playwright David Williamson wrote the character Kevin Cassidy in his 1985 play Sons of Cain specifically for Cullen – a role Cullen considers one of his career best. He travelled to London with the show where he was nominated for the Sir Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor for his performance.

The following year, Cullen began playing the main role of Horace 'Hurtle' Morrison in drama series The Flying Doctors, which saw him win a 1986 Penguin Award for Best Performance by an Actor. In 1987, Cullen portrayed Mike, opposite John Bell, Robyn Nevin and Ruth Cracknell in Williamson's play Emerald City which premiered at the Sydney Opera House. This role too, was written specifically for him. That year, he also had a role in three-part historical series Frontier, which chronicled the development of European policy towards Australian Aborigines.

Cullen continued his film appearances with sci-fi film Incident at Raven's Gate. and Boundaries of the Heart with Wendy Hughes, both in 1988. He then appeared in 1989 two-part miniseries Grim Pickings – an Agatha Christie-style whodunit based on the novel by Jennifer Rowe. He also reunited with Wendy Hughes in black comedy film Luigi’s Ladies, and portrayed Will Lusty in Patrick White's play The Ham Funeral, for Sydney Theatre Company. The following year, he won the Sydney Theatre Critics Award for Best Supporting Actor in a production of Shakespeare's The Tempest.

Cullen had several film roles in 1992, including Mad Bomber in Love, Greenkeeping, and Garbo. He also appeared in 1993 film Shotgun Wedding with Aden Young.

Cullen then starred opposite Ruth Cracknell as Jack in 1994 comedy film Spider and Rose, which saw him win both the Australian Film Institute Award and the Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance He also appeared with Paul Hogan and Cuba Gooding jr in comedy adventure Lightning Jack. The following year, he starred in the film Billy's Holiday, as title character Billy Apple, a jazz singer, who longs to sing like his idol Billie Holiday. While it showcased his musical talent, Cullen believes that the film damaged his career.

Cullen took on the main role of Willy Loman in a 1997 production of Death of a Salesman, to critical acclaim. The following year, he featured in a stage adaptation of Tim Winton's novel Cloudstreet in 1998, his performance earning him a Green Room Award for Best Male Actor in a Featured Role. He also played opposite Stephen Dillane and Essie Davis in drama miniseries Kings in Grass Castles, about the life of an Irish immigrant family in Australia in the second half of the 19th century. He then appeared with Rufus Sewell in 1999 film In a Savage Land.

In 2000, Cullen delivered another critically-acclaimed performance in a stage production of Small Poppies, performing opposite Geoffrey Rush for Sydney's Belvoir.

Cullen appeared opposite Eric Bana and Stephen Curry in 2002 comedy film The Nugget. In 2003, he portrayed both Alf in a Sydney Theatre Company production of The One Day of the Year, and humorist Lennie Lower in Looking Up Lower at Sydney's Darlinghurst Theatre, Sydney.

In 2004, Cullen began playing the regular role of Charlie and Tom's father, Gerry, who struggles to have a relationship with his sons, in Foxtel drama series Love My Way. His portrayal earned him an Australian Film Institute Television Award in 2005 for Best Actor in a Supporting or Guest Role in a Television Drama or Comedy. He went on to appear in 2006 Australian drama film Jindabyne, opposite Gabriel Byrne and Laura Linney. Cullen then began performing Lawson: Demons and Dreams, a one-man show based on the life of Australian poet Henry Lawson in 2007.

Cullen appeared opposite Daniel Radcliffe in December Boys in 2007, also narrating the film. He then had a small role in 2008 Baz Luhrmann film Australia, alongside Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman, before reuniting with Jackman in 2009 American superhero film X-Men Origins: Wolverine. The following year, he portrayed Henry Lawson again in Faces in the Street: A Salute to Henry Lawson at The Street Theatre, Canberra and toured nationally with Bell Shakespeare as Feste in Twelfth Night.

In 2013, he also wrote and performed the one-man stage show How to Be (Or Not to Be) Lower, portraying Lennie Lower once more. The same week the show premiered, Baz Luhrmann's film adaptation of the The Great Gatsby opened in Australia, with Cullen playing the role of 'Owl Eyes', opposite Leonardo DiCaprio.

In 2015, Cullen reunited with Geoffrey Rush, in a stage production of King Lear, playing Gloucester to Rush's Lear. He also played Henry Lawson again in his show Dead Men Talking: A Two-Man Show of Verse, Yarns & Song in 2015, touring New South Wales and Victoria. He continued touring the show through to 2020.

In 2018 drama film Acute Misfortune, Cullen appeared as his own cousin, Kevin Cullen, father of the main character, real life artist Adam Cullen. The film was an adaptation of award-winning biography Acute Misfortune: The Life and Death of Adam Cullen by Erik Jensen. that same year he appeared opposite Damon Herriman in docudrama film Riot, about Australia's 1970s Gay and Lesbian Rights Movement. He then played a Hank in 2020 film Never Too Late, opposite James Cromwell and Jacki Weaver.

Cullen's other television credits include Skippy, Division 4, Homicide, Kingswood Country, A Country Practice, Police Rescue, McLeod's Daughters and All Saints. He was also a regular arts reporter on Channel 9 current affairs series Sunday.

Cullen has also written, directed and produced several short films and short stories. Additionally, he has worked as a professional and motivational speaker.^{[citation needed]}

Film

Television

As crew

As actor

As crew