Richard Pyros

Richard Pyros is a British actor often residing in Australia, who first achieved fame in the hit Australian Channel Seven TV show, Big Bite which was nominated for two AFI Awards in 2003. Still studying at drama school, Pyros was selected to create an array of characters including the memorably disheveled newsreader, 'Tee Pee Moses', and for his impersonation of personalities such as Rob Sitch, Michael Caton, Harry Potter and Detective Lennie Briscoe from Law & Order.

Early life

Pyros was born in Liverpool, England where he attended Dovedale Junior School and sang at Liverpool Cathedral as a chorister. After moving to Australia at age eleven, he attended Trinity Grammar School (Victoria), then the University of Melbourne where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Criminology) and Bachelor of Music. He then studied acting at Victorian College of the Arts Drama School under Lindy Davies.

In 2003, he was awarded The Irene Mitchell Award for Acting, VCA Drama School.

Theatre and Television

Pyros has performed extensively in theatre, most recently opposite Matt Smith (actor) in the new Anthony Neilson play, "Unreachable" at London's Royal Court Theatre.

He has performed with leading Australian theatre companies (including the Sydney Theatre Company, Belvoir (theatre company), Bell Shakespeare Company and Malthouse Theatre), and around the world in countries such as England, Scotland, Italy, France, Austria, Germany and China. He is an accomplished comedian and writer; his TV writing credits include BackBerner, Big Bite, Comedy Inc. and Stand Up Australia! (Foxtel) writing material for host, Cameron Knight. In 2007, Richard toured his show, Gilgamesh to the Barbican Theatre, London for the world-renowned 'Bite' season, as well as to The Beijing Oriental Pioneer Theatre, The Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre and the Sydney Opera House.

In 2012, Pyros was nominated for a Green Room Award for Best Actor, for his portrayal of Oedipus in Malthouse Theatre's version of Oedipus Rex, "On The Misconception of Oedipus", directed by Matthew Lutton. He was beaten by acclaimed actor, Colin Friels.

Prior to attending drama school, Pyros was a member of the comedy troupe 'Enter The Datsun' with Charlie Pickering, Michael Chamberlin and Charlie Clausen, writing and producing several television pilots and featuring in a number of Melbourne International Comedy Festivals.

Film

Pyros completed filming Hacksaw Ridge (2016) directed by Mel Gibson in the major role of Randall 'Teach' Fuller alongside Andrew Garfield, Teresa Palmer, Sam Worthington, Vince Vaughn, Hugo Weaving and Rachel Griffiths and attended its world premiere at Venice International Film Festival in September 2016.

His other film credits include a feature film version of Hamlet (with Pyros playing the eponymous lead, Prince Hamlet), directed by Oscar Redding which had its world premiere at the Melbourne International Film Festival. His performance was critically acclaimed. Alison Croggon, writing in The Australian Newspaper said, 'crucially, Redding has a brilliant Hamlet in Richard Pyros. There are times when his performance lifts the hair on the back of your neck: this Hamlet might be mad, but the method in it has a profound legibility, and his corrosive intelligence shines through every gesture.'

Also, No Budget by Christopher Stollery (official selection, Palm Springs International Film Festival 2012), Noise by Matthew Saville (official selection, Sundance Film Festival 2007), In Your Dreams (Tropfest) by Greg Williams, and Is God a DJ by Ben Chessell.

Career Highlights

From 2009-2012, Pyros was a member of the resident acting ensemble at Sydney Theatre Company, selected by then Co-Artistic Directors, Cate Blanchett and Andrew Upton. In 2012, Pyros performed as Cate Blanchett's boyfriend, Alf in the award-winning production, Gross und Klein (Big and Small) by Botho Strauss adapted by Martin Crimp and directed by Benedict Andrews, which toured from Sydney to Paris, London, Vienna and Recklinghausen. His performance was described as, 'Pyros matched Blanchett blow-for-blow, in a scintillating, tour de force, acting matchup of heavyweight champions.'

Filmography

• Hacksaw Ridge (2016)
• No Budget (2013)
• In Your Dreams (2008)
• Hamlet (2007)
• Noise (2007)