Peter Rowsthorn (actor)

Peter Rowsthorn (born 1963) is an Australian stand-up comedian, actor, writer, producer, MC, host and theatre.

Peter Rowsthorn
Born1963 (age 60–61)
Melbourne, Australia
Education
Occupations
  • Comedian
  • actor
  • presenter
  • MC
  • host
  • theatre
Years active1983–present
Known forThe Comedy Company, Kath and Kim
SpouseGabrielle Rowsthorn
Children4

Early life and education

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Rowsthorn attended Trinity Grammar School in Kew, before pursuing tertiary education at Rusden College (now part of Deakin University[1]), where he obtained a teaching degree. He worked as a drama teacher, prior to his show business career.[2] He grew up in the Melbourne suburb of Mount Waverley.

Career

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Rowsthorn started performing as half of the comedy and singing duo The Cactus Brothers in 1983 while studying for his degree.

He first came to prominence as a stand-up comic and as a writer and performer on The Comedy Company (1989). Rowsthorn appeared with Warren Mitchell in the film Crackers (1998), was a lead in the Australian children's television show The Gift (1997), had small roles in Bad Eggs and Take Away (both 2003) and played an outrageous hairdresser called 'Miss Kafka' in the Sigrid Thornton telemovie Little Oberon (2005). He played Warren Cronkshonk in hospital spoof Let the Blood Run Free (1990–1992).

He is probably best known for his TV work, particularly as Brett Craig in the hit series Kath & Kim (2002–2007)[3][4] and 2012 movie, Kath & Kimderella.[5]

Rowsthorn was the host of factual show, Can We Help?, on ABC TV between 2006 and 2011.[6]

Rowsthorn has also appeared on Thank God You're Here, Celebrity Name Game, Talkin' 'Bout Your Generation, Studio 10, Show Me the Movie! and Hughesy, We Have a Problem.

In 2018, Rowsthorn appeared on the fourth season of the Australian version of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!.[7][8] On 7 March 2018, Rowsthorn was evicted after 40 days in the jungle, coming 6th place.[9]

In 2023, Rowsthorn competed on the celebrity edition of The Amazing Race Australia with his daughter, Frankie.[10] In December 2023, Rowsthorn played the character Amos in the theatrical production of Chicago.[11]

Personal life

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Rowsthorn supports various charity and community groups including Oxfam.[12]

Rowsthorn is a featured guest on SBS genealogy series Who Do You Think You Are?.[citation needed]

As of 2013, he resides in Perth, Western Australia.[13]

His older brother is prominent Melbourne businessman Mark Rowsthorn. His father is Peter Rowsthorn Snr.

He is a keen follower of AFL club Hawthorn.[14]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1989 Bonza Terry Short film
1998 Crackers Bruno
2003 Roy Hollsdotter Live Comic Television film
Bad Eggs Wacka
Take Away Barry Burgie
2005 Little Oberon Miss Kafka Television film
Da Kath & Kim Code Brett Craig Television film
2011 The Applicant Applicant Short film
2012 Kath & Kimderella Brett Craig
Exchange Student Zero Denmead (voice) Television film
2014 Paper Planes Mr. Hickenlooper
Timothy Colin Garrett Television film
Welcome to Dookie Ray Short film
2015 Looking for Grace Steve
2017 Crumbs Courier Short film
Three Summers Tony
2020 I Met a Girl Mr. Rocket Television Film
Cadet Dad Short film

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1988-90 The Comedy Company Newsplanet Frontman
1990 Catalyst Himself
1990-93 Let the Blood Run Free Warren Cronkshonk 26 episodes
1991 Tuesday Night Live: The Big Gig Himself
1995 Something Hot Before Bed Himself
1997 The Gift Ralf 26 episodes
1998 Hessie's Shed Himself 1 episode
1999 All Star Squares Panelist
Law of the Land Scott 1 episode
2000 Introducing Gary Petty Dylan 1 episode
Chuck Finn Drake 1 episode
2001-05 Rove Live Himself 2 episodes
2002-07 Kath & Kim Brett Craig 32 episodes
2003 Show Us Your Roots Himself TV special
2004 All Saints John Morton 1 episode
2005 Australia Unites: Reach Out to Asia Himself TV special
Telethon Himself 1 episode
2005-06 The Footy Show Himself 3 episodes
2006 Bert's Family Feud Himself 3 episodes
2006-07 Get This Himself Podcast Series, 9 episodes
2006-09 Thank God You're Here Himself 7 episodes
2006-12 Can We Help? Himself
2006-16 20 to 1 Actor & Comedian 12 episodes
2007 The Nation Himself 1 episode
2008 Spicks and Specks Himself 1 episode
2009 Snake Tales Jake Johnson 13 episodes
Celebrity MasterChef Australia Contestant 10 episodes
2009-19 Talkin' Bout Your Generation Himself 4 episodes
2010 The Bounce Himself 1 episode
2010-11 Statesmen of Comedy Himself Himself 2 episodes
2011 The Jesters Kenny Ford 1 episode
Adam Hills in Gordon St Tonight Himself 1 episode
Between the Lines Himself
Henry & Aaron's 7 Steps to Superstardom Magnus 1 episode
Mal.com Franky 1 episode
2013 Underbelly Eric Harrison 1 episode
The Silic & Lee Show Himself, Brett Craig 1 episode
It's a Date Michael 1 episode
2015 Open Slather Special Guest 5 episodes
Who Do You Think You Are? Actor & comedian 1 episode
2018 I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! Contestant 31 episodes
Hughesy, We Have a Problem Himself 1 episode
2019 Show Me the Movie! Himself 1 episode
2020 Funny in Failure Himself Podcast series
2022 Kath and Kim: Our Effluent Life Brett Craig 2 episodes
2023 Would I Lie to You? Himself 1 episode
The Project Himself 1 episode
The Amazing Race Australia Contestant 12 episodes
2024 Thrash 'n Treasure Himself 1 episode

References

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  1. ^ "History of Deakin · Victoria College merger · Deakin History". history.deakin.edu.au. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  2. ^ ABC Local Radio, Nicolas Rothwell and Peter Rowsthorn, 27 February 2007. Retrieved 18 April 2013.
  3. ^ Bucklow, Andrew (13 May 2020). "Peter Rowsthorn reveals who almost played Brett Craig in Kath And Kim". News.com.au.
  4. ^ "Pete Rowsthorn looks back on Shane Warne's iconic Kath & Kim appearance". 6PR. 7 March 2022. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  5. ^ "Opening date for Kath and Kim film". ABC News. 22 February 2012. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
  6. ^ "ABCTV – Can We Help? – Meet Pete". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
  7. ^ Nick Bond (28 January 2018). "I'm A Celeb 2018 contestants revealed". News.com.au. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  8. ^ "I'm A Celebrity launches and Australia has a lot of questions". Kidspot. 28 January 2018.
  9. ^ "Funny man Peter Rowsthorn voted off I'm A Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here!". News.com.au. 7 March 2018. Retrieved 7 March 2018.
  10. ^ "The Amazing Race Australia Celebrity Edition: Meet The 11 Teams". 10Play. 9 June 2023. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  11. ^ Brennan, Rosamund (3 December 2023). "Chicago review – masterful star-studded production kicks off Australian tour". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  12. ^ "Rowsthorn promotes a Christmas idea with legs – Media Oxfam Australia". Retrieved 10 February 2017.
  13. ^ Peter Rowsthorn in Perth, 12 September 2019, retrieved 20 October 2022
  14. ^ "Pete's here to help". The West Australian. 11 February 2011. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
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