Simon Burke

Cast (Morgan/Walter), The Inheritance

2024 marks Simon’s 50th year as a professional actor and Equity member. He won the 2023 Sydney Theatre Award for Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical for his performance as Harold Zidler in Moulin Rouge! The Musical in which he appeared throughout Australia from 2021-2024.

International Theatre Experience

• Starred in London’s West End with roles including:
• Captain von Trapp in The Sound of Music
• Raoul in The Phantom of the Opera
• Carl-Magnus in A Little Night Music with Dame Judi Dench
• Georges in La Cage Aux Folles
• Featured in UK premieres of:
• Holding the Man
• When The Rain Stops Falling (Almeida Theatre)

Australian Theatre and Musical Theatre Credits

• Stage performances include:
• Mary Stuart, Mrs Warren’s Profession, and 3 Wharf Revues (Sydney Theatre Company)
• The Homosexuals, October, and Satango (Griffin Theatre Company)
• The Misanthrope (Bell Shakespeare)
• Noises Off (Melbourne Theatre Company)
• Strangers In Between (Seymour Centre)
• Three Furies (Sydney, Perth, Adelaide Festivals)
• Musical theatre credits include:
• Marius in Les Misérables (original Australian cast)
• Billy in Anything Goes (Green Room Award for Best Actor – Musical)
• Billy in Chicago
• Mr. Banks in Mary Poppins
• Edna in Hairspray
• Bill Clinton in Clinton The Musical
• Frank Snr in Catch Me If You Can
• Charlemagne in Pippin

Simon’s countless screen credits range from The Devil’s Playground (1976 AFI Best Actor Award) to Devil’s Playground (Executive Producer/lead actor – 2015 AACTA and Logie Awards Best Mini-Series), and 25 years as one of ABCTV’s favourite Play School presenters. Five Minute Call, a comedy web series set backstage of a big musical that he produced, co-wrote and co-starred in, will premiere in late 2024. 

Simon has also held positions such as President of Actors Equity 2004-2014; Vice President International Federation of Actors (FIA) 2012-2016, Honorary Life Member of the MEAA. In 2015, Simon was named an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for distinguished service to the performing arts as an actor, singer and producer. 

Major Awards and Recognition

• Australian Film Institute Best Actor Award for The Devil’s Playground (1976)
• AACTA Award & Logie Award for Best Telefeature or Miniseries for The Devil’s Playground (2014)
• Green Room Award for Best Actor in a Musical for Anything Goes