Brian Sergent
New Zealand actor
title: "Brian Sergent" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1959-births", "living-people", "male-actors-from-wellington-city", "new-zealand-male-television-actors", "new-zealand-male-film-actors", "new-zealand-male-comedians", "new-zealand-male-stage-actors", "new-zealand-male-voice-actors", "new-zealand-male-soap-opera-actors", "writers-from-wellington-city", "20th-century-new-zealand-male-actors", "21st-century-new-zealand-male-actors", "20th-century-new-zealand-comedians", "21st-century-new-zealand-comedians", "new-zealand-stand-up-comedians", "new-zealand-sketch-comedians"] description: "New Zealand actor" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Sergent" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
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Brian Sergent (born 29 December 1959) is a comedian, writer and actor born and based in Wellington, New Zealand.
Background
Sergent's acting career began at age 15 playing Lionel in the soap opera, Close to Home.
In television Sergent is known for playing Eric Grady on Outrageous Fortune, the New Zealand Prime Minister on Flight of the Conchords, and Harold in The Lost Children. One of his most popular characters, cabin steward Gavin Soper, appeared on the Pulp Comedy television series.
Sergent has a strong association with Circa Theatre in Wellington. He performed in The Duchess of Malfi (1982), Travels with My Aunt (1997) Closer and Take a Chance on Me (2001).
Sergent's film credits include Peter Jackson's Meet the Feebles, Braindead and Lord of the Rings, Absent Without Leave, Via Satellite, the lead role as Marty in The Shirt and Jonah in Eagle vs. Shark.Also, Slow West, with Michael Fassbender, Ben Mendelson and Kodi Scot-MCfee.
Radio listeners are quite familiar with Sergent's reading of short stories, novels and radio plays on Radio New Zealand where he is still actively involved.
Sergent has won multiple Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards for acting and writing. In 1992 he won Male Actor of the Year for his performances as Lenny in The Homecoming at the Circa Theatre and Alfredo Traps in A Dangerous Game at the BATS Theatre. In 1994, he won Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role for his performance of Gary Peter Lefkowitz in I Hate Hamlet at the Circa. In 2004, Prior to the opening of his first play, the New Zealand Listener described Sergent as New Zealand's greatest comic actor He won the award for Outstanding New Playwright of the Year for his play The Love of Humankind. In 2008 Radio New Zealand broadcast for the first of many times, Sergent's first radio play, Madness You Can Trust.
After taking a break from the show for nearly three years, Sergent returned to Outrageous Fortune as Eric in the second to last episode of the fifth season.
Sergent has been a stand-up Comedian and sketch writer since his debut in 1979.
Filmography
Film
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| It's your child Norman Allenby | 1979 | Psycho Boyfriend | International year of the Child. T.V.NZ. | The Person Next Door | Carry Me Back | Footrot Flats: The Dog's Tale | Meet the Feebles | Braindead | Absent Without Leave | Chicken | Via Satellite | The Shirt | The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring | The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King | Eagle vs Shark | John Quincy Adams | Moon over Mercedes | The Killers | Blessed | Tuffy | The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug | Slow West |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Passerby | Gaylene Preston's first film. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1982 | Andy | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 1987 | Spit Murphy (voice) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 1989 | Wynyard the Frog / Trevor the Rat / F.W. Fly / Jim the Frog / Chuck the Frog / The Spider / Vietnamese Gophers (voice) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 1992 | Vet | Film called Dead Alive in North America | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Dick | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1996 | Newsagent | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 1998 | Brian | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 2000 | Marty | Short film | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2001 | Ted Sandyman | Extended edition | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008 | Additional character voices | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 2007 | Jonah | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Adams | Short film | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Short film | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008 | Killer one | Student film | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2002 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2012 | Father | Short film | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2013 | Mirkwood Spider (voice) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 2015 | Peyote Joe | |||||||||||||||||||||
| :: |
Television
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| Title | Year | Role | Notes | Lynn of Tawa | Rock Around the Clock | Rock around the Clock | Lynn of Tawa Show | Pioneer Women | Cuckoo Land | Worzel Gummidge Down Under | Public Eye | The Ray Bradbury Theater | Married | Skitz | Lynn of Tawa - In Search of the Great New Zealand Male | Pulp Comedy | Telly Laughs | The Semisis | The Person Next Door | Mirror, Mirror II | The Legend of William Tell | The Adventures of Swiss Family Robinson | The Dark Knight | Shortland Street | Atlantis High | Revelations: The Initial Journey | Oscar & Friends | The Strip | The Tribe | The Insiders Guide to Happiness | From Len Lye to Gollum: New Zealand Animators | Outrageous Fortune | The Lost Children | Flight of the Conchords |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | University Student / Policeman | Television comedy special | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1981 | Bodgie | Groper | Six episodes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1982 | Bodgie | Groper | Six episodes/Wrote | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1982 | Jock Strapp | First episode | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1983 | Eddie | Episode: "Ettie Rout" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1985 | Utmoor | Episode: "The Neighbour" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1987–1989 | Dagnation Take It / Terence | 2 episodes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1988–1989 | Various roles | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1990–1992 | Larson / Boltz | 2 episodes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1992 | Roy | Television film | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1993 | Various roles | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1994 | Himself | Television comedy special | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1995–2003 | Various roles | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1996 | Various roles | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gary Belton | Episode: "1.1" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Self | Presenter | Mental health awareness film | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1998 | Henry | Episode: "Elephant Boy" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Zark | Episode: "The Spirit of Kale" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sidney Thomas | 3 episodes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2000–2001 | Card Gambler #1 / Phillipe de Mere | 2 episodes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2001 | Rich Fortune | 1 episode | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2001–2002 | Mr. Quentin / Q | Recurring role; 10 episodes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2002 | Lysias | Episode: "And Judas Had a Brother" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dog / Opossum | Episode: "Oscar Takes Off" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2002–2003 | Ian "Dogwood" Douglas | 6 episodes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2003 | Dad | Episode: "5.33" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2004 | Father of the Bride | Episode: "Is Happiness an Accident?" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mr. Pencil / Narrator | Television documentary | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2005–2010 | Eric Grady | Recurring role; 42 episodes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2006 | Harold | Main role; 12 episodes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009 | Brian, Prime Minister of New Zealand | 2 episodes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| :: |
Theatre
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| Year 1979 | Title How the Other Half Loves | Role William Featherston | Venue Four Seasons Theatre | Notes | The Lion in Winter | Gimme Shelter | Crimes of the Heart | The Hangman | Hot Water | Election Revue | Charley's Aunt | Unsuitable For Adults | The Happy Witch | Legal Revue | Ladies' Night | Weed | Elizabeth: Almost by Chance a Woman | The Homecoming | A Dangerous Game | Arsenic and Old Lace | Summer of the Seventeenth Doll | Ladies' Night 2: Raging On | I Hate Hamlet | Moonlight | Market Forces | Uncle Vanya | Travels with My Aunt | Lady Windermere's Fan | Four Cities | The Big Picture | Closer | This Train I'm On | Shear Madness | Speaking in Tongues | The Country Wife | Othello | Take a Chance on Me | Shake The Bard | Meltdown | The Love of Humankind | A Midsummer Night's Dream | Dinner | Mr Paradise | The Tempest | Five short plays of Harold Pinter | Boxed in | Heidi | The Truth Game | Zombie Appocalypse | Revue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | John | Fortune Theatre | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1981 | Chris, Teacher | BATS | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1983 | Barnette Lloyd | Circa Theatre | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prisoner Hurst | New Depot | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Clive Palmer | Downstage Theatre | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1984 | Various | Circa Theatre | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1985 | Lord Fancourt Babberley | Downstage | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1986 | Nick | Downstage | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1987 | Darfus | Circa Theatre | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1988 | Various | Circa Theatre | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1989 | Gavin | James Cabaret | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1990 | Hugh Riorden | Circa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dame Grosslady | BATS Theatre | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1992 | Lenny | Circa | Won Chapman Tripp Award for Male Actor of the Year | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alfredo Traps | BATS | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1993 | Dr. Herman Einstein | Downstage | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Barney Ibbot | Downstage | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gavin | Downstage | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1994 | Gary Peter Lefkowitz | Circa | Won Chapman Tripp Award for Male Actor in a Supporting Role | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1995 | Jake | Circa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1996 | Nick | Circa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Telegin | Herald Theatre | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1997 | Circa | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Circa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wojtek Milosz | Circa | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1998 | Guy | Circa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Larry | Circa | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1999 | Billy | Circa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No 5 Cable St Theatreplace | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2000 | Multiple roles | Circa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2001 | Sparkish/Quack | Circa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Iago | Court Theatre | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Eric | Circa | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2002 | Petruchio, Macbeth, various | Tour | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2002 | Jim Harrison | Circa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2004 | Playwright / Rodney Pump | Circa | Won Chapman Tripp Award for Outstanding New Playwright of the Year | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2005 | Hippolyta | Circa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2006 | Mike | Circa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008 | Mr Paradise | Salem State Theatre | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prospero | Salem State Theatre | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009 | Prisoner | Five points theatre | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2010 | Frank | Firehouse theatre | Massachusetts | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Grandfather | Newburyport theatre | * * ******* * | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2012 | Rafe | Circa Theatre | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2012 | Stranger | Christmas flood aftermath play, touring | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2014 | Sir Robert Muldoon | BATS | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| :: |
References
References
- Smythe, John. (2005). "Downstage Upfront: A 40th Anniversary Biography of New Zealand's Longest Running Professional Theatre". Victoria University Press.
- "Brian Sergent".
- (2016). "Circa, 1996-2016 : and a celebration of forty years.".
- (1996). "Circa 1976-1996". The Council of Circa Theatre.
- "Messageboard".
- "Brian Sergent".
- "Theatre Aotearoa". University of Otago.
- (1983). "Brian Sergent, Downstage Theatre production of Hot Water". Downstage Theatre Company Ltd..
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