Bruno Lawrence
English-born New Zealand musician and actor (1941–1995)
title: "Bruno Lawrence" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1941-births", "1995-deaths", "deaths-from-lung-cancer-in-new-zealand", "english-emigrants-to-new-zealand", "new-zealand-expatriates-in-australia", "new-zealand-drummers", "male-actors-from-worthing", "musicians-from-worthing", "new-zealand-male-film-actors", "20th-century-new-zealand-male-actors", "20th-century-new-zealand-male-musicians"] description: "English-born New Zealand musician and actor (1941–1995)" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruno_Lawrence" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary English-born New Zealand musician and actor (1941–1995) ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox person"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Bruno Lawrence |
| image | Bruno Lawrence.jpg |
| caption | Bruno Lawrence |
| birth_name | David Charles Lawrence |
| birth_date | |
| birth_place | Worthing, West Sussex, England |
| death_date | |
| death_place | Wellington, New Zealand |
| occupation | Actor, musician |
| nationality | English New Zealander |
| years_active | 1965–1995 |
| :: |
| name = Bruno Lawrence | image = Bruno Lawrence.jpg | caption = Bruno Lawrence | birth_name = David Charles Lawrence | birth_date = | birth_place = Worthing, West Sussex, England | death_date = | death_place = Wellington, New Zealand | occupation = Actor, musician | nationality = English New Zealander | years_active = 1965–1995
David Charles Lawrence (12 February 194110 June 1995), known professionally as Bruno Lawrence, was an English-born New Zealand musician and actor who was active in the industry in New Zealand and Australia.
Initially notable as a musician and founder of the 1970s ensemble Blerta, he went on to well-regarded roles in several major films. His television work included starring in the 1990s era Australian satirical series Frontline.
Early life
David Charles Lawrence was born in Brighton, United Kingdom on 12 February 1941. In 1946 at the age of five, he emigrated to New Zealand with his parents and sister Pat, settling in New Plymouth before relocating to Wellington in 1948.
Lawrence attended primary school in Karori, followed by Wellington Boys College. By the age of 14, he had acquired a drum kit, and discovered his passion for jazz music including Dizzy Gillespie, Dave Brubeck and Thelonious Monk. In 1955, while at high school, Lawrence participated in lunchtime music room jam sessions. The following year, he formed a Dixie band with school friends, playing at teenage dances at the local church hall. During this time, he earned the nickname 'Bruno'.
After leaving school, Lawrence's friends attended Victoria University and got involved with the University Jazz Club. Lawrence bluffed his way into university to play too. When it was discovered that he was not a student there, he was banned from attending classes, but managed to stay with the club from 1958 to 1960, gaining experience and musical education along the way.
Lawrence also competed in soccer and rugby in his youth.
Career
Music
Lawrence was a jazz and rock drummer in numerous bands. In 1961, he joined jazz pianist Ronnie Smith's new band, with Tommy Tamati and Ricky May for about a year, playing the drums. In 1963, Lawrence drummed as a session musician for several bands, recorded jazz tracks for radio shows and formed a trio who appeared on television. He also played on records by New Zealand artists Peter Posa and Tommy Adderley. After playing with Neil Harrap in The Blockbusters, in 1964, Lawrence joined Harrap's new rock band, The Measles. The group stayed together for about a year.
In 1965, Lawrence released the single "Bruno Do That Thing", a cover of Willie Bobo’s hit ‘Bobo Do That Thing". The song found success and was a finalist in the Loxene Golden Disc Awards, and the name 'Bruno' stuck.
After moving to Sydney in 1966, Lawrence performed in Ricky May's resident television band. He was then signed to play with Max Merritt & The Meteors. The band moved to Melbourne, playing numerous venues and appearing on television. In 1966, they toured New Zealand, where they also appeared on the series Let’s Go and recorded the single "Fanny Mae". Lawrence was fired after two years, due to drug and alcohol-fuelled behaviour.
Lawrence performed in two bands in Auckland, Lawrence returned to Wellington in 1967 and released the single "Mandy Jones" / "Don't Care", under his birth name, David Lawrence. The same year, he toured with Keil Isles, before relocating to Sydney to join The Electric Heap in 1968. He subsequently moved back to New Zealand and joined jazz band Quincy Conserve in 1969, writing their hit, "Ride the Rain", which was nominated for a 1970 Loxene Golden Disc Award.
After joining bands Fresh Air and Littlejohn for a short time in 1971, Lawrence formed Blerta (Bruno Lawrence’s Electric Revelation and Travelling Apparition), with former members of Fresh Air. The band released the hit single "Dance All Around the World". Lawrence remained with the band until 1985, touring New Zealand and Australia. He performed alongside fellow creatives he later with collaborated with as an actor, including director Geoff Murphy, and actors Martyn Sanderson and Ian Watkin. He then drummed with the Beaver Band in 1976, followed by a group called Spats for about six months.
In 1978, after learning to play the saxophone, Lawrence joined all-female band, Wide Mouthed Frogs, alongside Jenny Morris. In 1980, he returned to drumming, joining pop / new-wave band The Crocodiles with Morris. The band performed in Auckland and at the 1980 Sweetwaters Music Festival. An album and single, (both called "Tears") were released in 1980, and both reached number 17 on the national charts.
Over the next fifteen years Lawrence spent most of his time acting, but during that time, he played briefly in a jazz trio, supporting the 'State of the Nation' tour by a group of poets. In 1985, he performed with Peter Dasent (ex-Crocodiles), on a resident gig in Wellington. The same year, he joined Australian jazz singer Vince Jones on a short North Island tour.
Lawrence's last recording was with Bernie McGann, Larry Gales and Jonathan Crayford on "Jazz at the St. James" in 1989. The show was repeated in 1990, with the New Zealand String Quartet. Lawrence then formed a band with Jonathan Crayford called Jazzmin, playing in Wellington from 1990 to 1993. His last foray into music was in a band called Cracker.
Acting
In 1967, Lawrence directed and acted in some film projects with friends in Wellington, putting his music career on hiatus for a few months.
While performing with rock band Quincy Conserve, Lawrence appeared in 1969 television film Tank Busters. before starring in a television documentary called Time Out, which won him a 1970 Feltex Television Award for Best Actor. He then had a role in the television series Pukemanu.
After his time in the band The Crocodiles, Lawrence concentrated on his film career. After appearing in an episode of All Things Being Equal, director Roger Donaldson, cast him in his breakout lead role as Al Shaw in 1981 relationship drama Smash Palace. . Playing a former race car driver who leaves with his daughter after the breakdown of his marriage, Lawrence won an award at the Manila Film Festival, and acclaim from American critic Pauline Kael. The same year, he had a cameo in Geoff Murphy's breakthrough film Goodbye Pork Pie, before appearing in Murphy's 1983 film Utu, about the New Zealand Wars of the 1860s.
The Los Angeles Times compared Lawrence's work in the 1984 drama film Heart of the Stag to that of "a young Brando". In 1985, further acclaim came with Lawrence's leading role as the lone scientist in Geoff Murphy's end-of-the-world tale, The Quiet Earth, for which he also helped write the script.
Conscious of over-exposure locally, Lawrence made several trips to Hollywood, but the US did not appeal to him, as he considered it too far from home.
Lawrence's Australian roles included playing a blind man in 1985 film An Indecent Obsession (an adaptation of the Colleen McCullough novel of the same name), and gun-loving robber, Cracka Park in 1986 miniseries The Great Bookie Robbery. In 1990, he portrayed John Peterson in the film, The Rogue Stallion. He then appeared in 1991 film *Spotswood *(aka The Efficiency Expert), alongside Anthony Hopkins, Ben Mendelsohn and Russell Crowe.
His other films credits included Wild Man (1977), Beyond Reasonable Doubt (1980), Race for the Yankee Zephyr (1981), Battletruck (1982), Prisoners (1982), Death Warmed Up (1984) , Carry Me Back, Wild Horses (1985), Pallet on the Floor (1986), Lizzie, Bridge to Nowhere (1986), Initiation (1987), As Time Goes By (1988), Grievous Bodily Harm (1988), Rikky and Pete (1988), The Delinquents (1989), Jack Be Nimble (1993) and Gino (1994).
His final screen role was as devious, golf-loving TV producer Brian Thompson in 1990s satirical Australian TV series Frontline. At this time, he was also, working on the 1996 movie Cosi, but was unable to complete filming due to discovering his cancer diagnosis.
American actor Jack Nicholson considered Lawrence one of his favourite actors.
Personal life
In 1965, while performing in Wellington, Lawrence met wife-to-be, Veronica, and the following year, she became pregnant. Lawrence left for Australia in October and Veronica followed early in the new year, the couple marrying in February 1966. Singer Ricky May was the best man.
The couple had five children. Their first child was born during Lawrence's time performing with Max Merritt & The Meteors. They had a second child in Wellington, before welcoming a third child in 1969 and a fourth in 1971.
Lawrence's children include son, Thad Lawrence who at the age of 16, worked on the set of 1983 film Utu, alongside his father (as lead actor) and mother (as location manager). Thad also appeared alongside his father in a 1975 television commercial for Crunchie.
After Blerta's 1974 tour, Lawrence and family set up base at a commune called 'Snoring Waters', in the Hawke's Bay community of Waimārama.
Death
In 1994, while enjoying the success of the Australian television series Frontline, Lawrence was diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer. He died in Wellington, New Zealand, on 10 June 1995 at the age of 54. His Tangihanga (traditional Māori funeral ceremony) was held on 14 June 1995, at the Taupunga Marae, near Snoring Waters. He was the first non-tribal member to be buried there. Actor Sam Neill read out a tribute from John Clarke on the day.
A biography, Bruno: The Bruno Lawrence Story by Roger Booth, and television documentary Numero Bruno (2000, directed by Steve La Hood), both cover his life and work. Lawrence is also featured in compilation documentary Blerta Revisited (2001, directed by Geoff Murphy).
Filmography
Film
::data[format=table]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | Hurry Hurry Faster Faster | Dr Brunowski | Short film | |
| Also director | url= https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/hurry-hurry-faster-faster-1968?collection=the-bruno-lawrence-collection | title= Hurry Hurry Faster Faster | website= NZ On Screen | access-date= 17 December 2025}} |
| 1969 | The Box | The Robber | Short Film | |
| 1977 | Wild Man | Wild Man | Also producer / writer | url= https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/wild-man-1977/credits?collection=the-bruno-lawrence-collection |
| 1980 | Goodbye Pork Pie | Mulvaney | url= https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/goodbye-pork-pie-1981?collection=the-bruno-lawrence-collection | |
| A Woman of Good Character | Younger Son | |||
| Beyond Reasonable Doubt | Pat Vesey | |||
| 1981 | Smash Palace | Al Shaw | Also script advisor | url= https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/smash-palace-1982?collection=the-bruno-lawrence-collection |
| Race for the Yankee Zephyr | Barker | |||
| 1982 | Battletruck (aka Warlords of the 21st Century) | Willie | url= https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/battletruck-1982?collection=the-bruno-lawrence-collection | |
| Carry Me Back | Motorway Traffic Cop | |||
| Prisoners | Peeky | |||
| 1982 | A Point of View | Grant Goodman | Short Film | |
| 1983 | Utu | Williamson | url= https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/utu-1983/credits?collection=the-bruno-lawrence-collection | |
| 1984 | Wild Horses | Tyson | url= https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/wild-horses-1984?collection=the-bruno-lawrence-collection | |
| Heart of the Stag | Peter | Also writer | ||
| Death Warmed Up | Tex | |||
| 1985 | An Indecent Obsession | Matt Sawyer | ||
| The Quiet Earth | Zac Hobson | Also writer | url= https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/the-quiet-earth-1985?collection=the-bruno-lawrence-collection | title= The Quiet Earth |
| 1986 | Bridge to Nowhere | Mac | ||
| 1987 | Initiation | Nat Molloy | ||
| 1988 | Rikky and Pete | Sonny | ||
| As Time Goes By | Ryder | |||
| Grievous Bodily Harm | Det. Sgt. Ray Birch | |||
| 1989 | The Delinquents | Bosun | ||
| O'Reilly's Luck | Jack, Dad | Short film | ||
| 1990 | The Rogue Stallion | John Peterson | ||
| 1991 | Spotswood (aka The Efficiency Expert) | Robert, Carey's Father | ||
| 1993 | Jack Be Nimble | Teddy | ||
| 1994 | Gino | Mr. Palizetti | Final film role | |
| 2001 | Blerta Revisited (aka Blerta – The Return Trip) | Various roles | Documentary film (archive footage) | |
| Also writer / original producer | url= https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/blerta-revisited-2001?collection=the-bruno-lawrence-collection | title= Blerta Revisited | website= NZ On Screen | access-date= 17 December 2025}} |
| :: |
Television
::data[format=table]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Tank Busters | Bruno | TV movie short | url= https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/tank-busters-1970/credits?collection=the-bruno-lawrence-collection |
| 1971 | Time Out | Johnny O’Keefe | TV documentary | |
| Pukemanu | Biker | Episode: "Pukemanu Welcomes You" | url= https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/pukemanu-episode-one-1971?collection=the-bruno-lawrence-collection | title= Pukemanu |
| 1974 | Percy the Policeman | Burglar Bill | 5 episodes | |
| Country Calendar | The Neighbour | Episode: "Fred Dagg" | ||
| 1975 | Armchair Cinema | Bert | Episode 6: "Tully" | |
| 1975–1983 | Close to Home | |||
| 1976 | Moynihan | Carpenter | 1 episode: "You Can't Win 'Em All" | |
| Blerta | The Wild Man | 6 episodes | ||
| Also producer / writer | ||||
| Luke’s Kingdom | Man at Inn | 2 episodes | ||
| Epidemic | Shamrock | Miniseries, episode 1: "Hemi Te Koaka" | ||
| 1977 | Three New Zealanders | Various roles | Episode: "Ngaio Marsh" | |
| 1978 | All Things Being Equal | Warwick | 1 episode | url= https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/all-things-being-equal-episode-1978/overview?collection=the-bruno-lawrence-collection |
| 1979 | The Neville Purvis Family Show | Various roles / Guru | ||
| 1980 | The Mad Dog Gang Spooks Wilkie, Wink Wink and the Wobbler | Wink Wink | TV movie | |
| A Woman of Good Character | TV movie | |||
| 1981 | Jocko | Stan | ||
| 1982 | Loose Enz | Ernest Lovelock | Anthology series, episode: "The Venus Touch" | url= https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/loose-enz-the-venus-touch-1982?collection=the-bruno-lawrence-collection |
| Pallet on the Floor (aka Pallet on the Floor) | Ronald Hugh Morrieson | Also composer / music director | url= https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/one-of-those-blighters-1982?collection=the-bruno-lawrence-collection | title= One of those Blighters |
| 1983 | It's Lizzie to Those Close | Younger Son | TV movie | |
| 1984 | Welcome to Paradise | Tony Blackwood | TV movie | |
| Inside Straight | Nick | Episode 7: "Card Game" | url= https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/inside-straight-card-game-episode-seven-1984?collection=the-bruno-lawrence-collection | title= Inside Straight |
| Special Squad | Arthur Poole | Episode 32: "Until Death" | ||
| 1985 | Kaleidoscope – Roger Donaldson in Hollywood | Himself | TV documentary special | |
| 1986 | Pokerface | Ray 'Creepy' Crawley | Miniseries, 3 episodes | |
| The Great Bookie Robbery | Cracka Park | Miniseries, 3 episodes | ||
| 1988 | The Rainbow Warrior Conspiracy | Terry Batchelor | TV movie | |
| 1989 | Night of the Red Hunter | Ish Murdie | 4 episodes | |
| 1990 | Winners | Thomas Barnes | 1 episode | |
| The Rogue Stallion | John Peterson | TV movie | ||
| Cowboys of Culture | Himself | TV documentary movie | url= https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/cowboys-of-culture-1990/credits | title= Cowboys of Culture |
| Magic Kiwis – Bruno Do That Thing | Himself | TV special | url= https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/magic-kiwis-bruno-do-that-thing-1990?collection=the-bruno-lawrence-collection | title= Magic Kiwis – Bruno Do That Thing |
| 1992 | The Rainbow Warrior | Terry Batchelor | TV movie | |
| 1993 | The Feds | Larry 'Icehouse' Porter | Miniseries, 1 episode | |
| 1994 | Frontline | Brian Thompson | 13 episodes | |
| 2000 | Numero Bruno | Himself | TV special (archive footage) | url= https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/numero-bruno-2000?collection=the-bruno-lawrence-collection |
| :: |
TVC
::data[format=table]
| Year | Title | Role | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Cadbury Crunchie – Great Crunchie Train Robbery | Man with no shirt | |
| 1989 | 1990 Commonwealth Games promo – Join Together | Betting soldier | url= https://www.nzonscreen.com/profile/bruno-lawrence/screenography |
| :: |
Theatre
::data[format=table]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Sausage and Mash | Performer | Star Boating Club, Wellington with Blerta & Acme Sausage Company | |
| 1980 | The State of the Nation | Musician (drums) | Circa Theatre, Wellington | |
| 1991 | Henceforward... | Lupus (appears on video) | Circa Theatre, Wellington | |
| :: |
Awards and nominations
::data[format=table]
| Year | Work | Award | Category | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | "Bruno Do That Thing" | Aotearoa Music Awards | Single of the Year | ||
| Loxene Golden Disc Awards | Best Song | ||||
| 1970 | "Ride the Rain" | Best Song | |||
| Time Out | Feltex Television Awards | Best Actor | |||
| 1982 | Smash Palace | Manila Film Festival | Best Actor | ||
| 1986 | The Quiet Earth | Fantafestival | Best Actor | ||
| 1987 | New Zealand Film and TV Awards | Best Male Performance in a Leading Role (shared with Bill Baer and Sam Pillsbury) | |||
| Best Screenplay Adaptation | |||||
| 1988 | Grievous Bodily Harm | Australian Film Institute Awards | Best Actor in a Supporting Role | ||
| As Time Goes By | Fantafestival | Best Actor | |||
| 1995 | Bruno Lawrence | New Zealand Film and TV Awards | Rudall Hayward Award | url= https://www.nzonscreen.com/profile/bruno-lawrence/awards | |
| :: |
References
References
- Steel, Gary. (12 May 2013). "Bruno Lawrence".
- Bollinger, Nick. (1 July 2021). "Bruno did his thing".
- Dix, John. (17 June 2015). "Remember Bruno".
- "Quincy Conserve".
- John Clare. (11 May 2002). "Jazz at the St James: Gales, Lawrence, McGann and Crayford". [[The Sydney Morning Herald]].
- "Bruno Lawrence". Bruce Sergent.
- Braunias, Steve. (17 April 2020). "The Friday Lyric: Bruno Lawrence's elegy for Billy T James".
- "About Thad Lawrence".
- "Great Crunchie Train Robbery – Cadbury Crunchie".
- (12 August 2009). "Bruno Lawrence's widow seeks commune stake".
- "Bruno Lawrence – Actor, Musician".
- Calder, Peter. (19 July 2000). "Film Festival: Numero Bruno". [[The New Zealand Herald]].
- "Hurry Hurry Faster Faster".
- "Wild Man".
- "Goodbye Pork Pie".
- "Smash Palace".
- "Battletruck".
- "Utu".
- "Wild Horses".
- "The Quiet Earth".
- "Blerta Revisited".
- "Tank Busters".
- "Pukemanu".
- "All Things Being Equal".
- "Loose Enz - The Venus Touch".
- "One of those Blighters".
- "Inside Straight".
- "Cowboys of Culture".
- "Magic Kiwis – Bruno Do That Thing".
- "Numero Bruno".
- "Bruno Lawrence – Screenography".
- "Sausage and Mash".
- "The State of the Nation".
- "Henceforward...".
- "Aotearoa Music Awards".
- "Winners & Nominees 1988".
- "Bruno Lawrence – Awards".
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