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Grant Bowler
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Grant Bowler (born 18 July 1968) is a New Zealand-Australian actor and television presenter who has worked in American, Australian, New Zealand, and Canadian film, television, and theatre.
Key Information
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He is known for playing the role of Constable Wayne Patterson in Blue Heelers and Wolfgang West in Outrageous Fortune. He also appeared as Wilhelmina Slater's love interest Connor Owens in Ugly Betty.[1] He starred as Joshua Nolan on the Syfy television series Defiance.[2]
As a presenter, he was best known for hosting reality game shows – including The Mole Australia and The Amazing Race Australia, both of which aired on the Seven Network.[3]
Bowler has been the voiceover narrator for Border Security: Australia for the Seven Network since 2004. He has also provided the narration for the Canadian version and the American version when those versions air in Australia and New Zealand as Border Security: International on 7two.
Personal life
[edit]Bowler was born in Auckland, New Zealand, but moved to Australia when he was young, and was raised in Brisbane.[4]
In 2011, he separated from his wife of nine years, Australian actress Roxane Wilson, with whom he has two children.[5]
Career
[edit]Bowler is a graduate of the National Institute of Dramatic Art.
He worked extensively in theatre with the Bell Shakespeare Company touring with the original company founded by John Bell.
His first television role was as Constable Wayne Patterson on Blue Heelers, from 1993 to 1996. After leaving that show, he spent time on Pacific Drive in 1996 and Medivac from 1996 to 1998. He had recurring roles on Always Greener and Stingers, starred in the television adaptation of On the Beach, spent a year on the ABC series Something in the Air, and starred in the 2004 miniseries Through My Eyes about the disappearance of Azaria Chamberlain. Bowler had a recurring role on All Saints from 2004 to 2005.
Bowler hosted the Australian version of The Mole from 2000 to 2003. He was replaced in the 2005 series by Tom Williams because of family commitments and his duties with Border Security: Australia's Front Line. He is the narrator of the latter show, having begun as on-camera host in 2004 and transitioning to the off-camera role after the first season.
Bowler appeared in the New Zealand series Outrageous Fortune[6] in the recurring role of Wolfgang West. He was in greater demand since joining the program, but turned down other work to remain with the show.[7]
Bowler guest starred as Gault, the captain of a freighter on the American television series Lost, starting with the season four episode "Ji Yeon".
In 2008, he began a recurring role on Ugly Betty as Connor Owens, corrupt CFO of Meade Publications and the love interest of the series' main villain. Bowler said of his character, "He's got a lot of evil secrets."[8] In December 2009, he was cast as Cooter, a werewolf, in the HBO urban fantasy series True Blood, for that show's third season.[9]
In late 2010, he was announced as the host of Seven Network's The Amazing Race Australia and remained for three seasons. He did not return for the 2019 Network 10 revival of the series, being replaced by Beau Ryan.
He played Hank Rearden in Atlas Shrugged: Part I (2011), the first part of a planned three-part film adaptation of Ayn Rand's novel of the same name.[10] He was also seen in 2011 in The City of Gardens, and the film Killer Elite.
In 2012, Bowler was cast as Richard Burton opposite Lindsay Lohan as Elizabeth Taylor in the biographical TV-movie Liz & Dick for Lifetime in the US.[11]
He was seen in the war drama Gallipoli, released in 2015 on Channel 9, Australia. Bowler was also seen in the psychological action film Swelter, alongside Jean-Claude Van Damme and Alfred Molina; in the sci-fi thriller 400 Days with Brandon Routh and Dane Cook; Lucky Dog with Amy Smart; and the family movie, Zooey to the Max.
In 2020, Bowler appeared in a recurring role in The Baker and the Beauty playing the Australian father of lead character Noa Hamilton, played by Nathalie Kelley.
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Ned | Town priest | |
| 2003 | Calling Gerry Molloy | Oliver Laird | |
| 2004 | One of the Oldest Con Games | Sam | |
| 2004 | Through My Eyes: The Lindy Chamberlain Story | Black Rat | |
| 2007 | The Fall of Night | Harry | |
| 2011 | Killer Elite | Warwick Cregg | |
| 2011 | City of Gardens | Jesus Christ | |
| 2011 | Atlas Shrugged: Part I | Hank Rearden | |
| 2011 | Steve Niles's Remains | Tom | |
| 2012 | I Do | Peter | |
| 2014 | Swelter | Cole | |
| 2014 | Lucky Dog | Preston Spencer | |
| 2015 | 400 Days | Walter | |
| 2015 | One & Two | Daniel | |
| 2018 | Painkillers | Herb Morris | |
| 2019 | The Car: Road to Revenge | Rainer | |
| 2019 | Guns Akimbo | Degraves | |
| 2020 | Bad Impulse | Henry Sharpe |
Television
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993–1996 | Blue Heelers | Wayne Patterson | Main role (seasons 1–3) |
| 1996 | Pacific Drive | Garth Stephens | Episode: "#1.10" |
| 1996–1998 | Medivac | Dr. Arch Craven | Main role |
| 1997 | Halifax f.p: Someone You Know | Bob Palance | Episode 13 |
| 1998 | Wildside | Peter Simms | Episode: "#1.27" |
| 1999 | Farscape | Shaman Liko | Episode: "That Old Black Magic" |
| 1999 | Close Contact | Mike Heyns | Television film |
| 1999–2001 | Stingers | Sean Peck | 3 episodes |
| 2000–2003 | The Mole | Himself (host) | 40 episodes |
| 2000 | On the Beach | Lt. Peter Holmes | Television film |
| 2000 | The Lost World | Montague Fitzsimmonds | Episode: "London Calling" |
| 2001 | Finding Hope | Jack | Television film |
| 2001–2002 | Something in the Air | Mark Waters | 26 episodes |
| 2002 | White Collar Blue | Steve Petrovic | Episode: "#1.9" |
| 2002 | Always Greener | Greg Steele | 11 episodes |
| 2004 | McLeod's Daughters | Jarred Wuchowski | Episode: "Fool for Love" |
| 2004–2005 | All Saints | Nigel "Mac" MacPherson | 20 episodes |
| 2004–present | Border Security: Australia's Front Line | Narrator | 105 episodes |
| 2005–2009 | Outrageous Fortune | Wolfgang West | Main role |
| 2008 | Lost | Captain Gault | 3 episodes |
| 2008 | Canal Road | Detective Ray Driscoll | 10 episodes |
| 2008–2010 | Ugly Betty | Connor Owens | 17 episodes |
| 2010 | True Blood | Cooter | 7 episodes |
| 2011 | Panic at Rock Island | Jim Quinn | Television film |
| 2011 | The Cape | Razer | Episode: "Razer" |
| 2011–2012 2014 |
The Amazing Race Australia | Himself (host) | 34 episodes |
| 2012 | The Great Mint Swindle | Ray Mickelberg | Television film |
| 2012 | GCB | Mason Massey | 2 episodes |
| 2012 | Liz & Dick | Richard Burton | Television film |
| 2013–2015 | Defiance | Joshua Nolan | 38 episodes |
| 2015 | Gallipoli | Lieutenant Colonel William Malone | 7 episodes |
| 2015 | Getting On | Dr. Ron Rudd | 8 episodes |
| 2016 | Still Star-Crossed | Damiano Montague | Main role |
| 2016 | J.L. Family Ranch | Sheriff Henry Whitlock | Television film |
| 2019 | Harrow | Francis Chester | 10 episodes |
| 2019 | Reef Break | Carter Eastland | 6 episodes |
| 2022 | Super Volcano | Eric | TV Movie |
| 2022 | 20.0 Megaquake | Eric | TV Movie |
| 2023 | Ice Storm | Eric | TV Movie |
Video games
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Defiance | Chief Lawkeeper Jeb Nolan | Voice |
References
[edit]- ^ Shattuck, Kathryn (4 December 2009). "What's On Today > 9 p.m. (ABC) Ugly Betty". The New York Times. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
- ^ "'Defiance' Star Grant Bowler Reveals His Gaming Habits". Comcast TV Blog. 20 March 2013. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
- ^ Coster, Alice (11 May 2011). "Grant Bowler hosts Channel 7 and Active TV's The Amazing Race Australia". Herald Sun. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
- ^ "Grant Bowler Video: Celebrity Interview and Paparazzi". OV Guide. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
- ^ "Amazing Race's Grant Bowler splits with wife". Herald Sun. Melbourne, Australia. 30 March 2011. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
- ^ "More New Blood – Both Vamp & Lycan Added to True Blood". Dreadcentral.com. Retrieved 14 August 2010.
- ^ "Wolf at the door". Otago Daily Times. 17 June 2008. Retrieved 1 October 2008.
- ^ "SPOILER ALERT: The Ugly Betty Cast Dishes on Season 3". People. 16 September 2008. Retrieved 14 August 2010.
- ^ "Final True Blood Season 3 Promo Poster Revealed". Dreadcentral.com. 11 June 2010. Retrieved 14 August 2010.
- ^ Chocano, Carina (29 April 2011). "Atlas Shrugged Part One (2011) : A Utopian Society Made Up of Business Moguls in Fedoras". The New York Times. Retrieved 4 October 2014.
- ^ "Grant Bowler to play Richard Burton opposite Lindsay Lohan's Liz Taylor". Tvtonight.com.au. 27 May 2012. Retrieved 4 October 2014.
External links
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Grant Bowler.
- Grant Bowler at IMDb
- Outrageous Fortune Official site
- Sue Barnett & Associates | Grant Bowler
- "Grant Bowler Signs On For Lead In Syfy's Upcoming Epic Science Fiction Series, 'Defiance'". Syfy press release via Zap2It.com. 17 January 2012. Archived from the original on 21 January 2012. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
- "Grant Bowler on Gallipoli, the 2015 TV miniseries". Stuff/Fairfax. 9 February 2015.
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Grant Bowler
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Early life and education
Childhood and upbringing
Grant Bowler was born on July 18, 1968, in Auckland, New Zealand.[5] His family immigrated to Australia when he was a very young child, initially settling in Perth before moving to Brisbane, Queensland, where he spent his formative years.[5] Bowler was raised by his father, a tradesman, and his mother, an insurance agent.[1] Bowler later self-identified as an "Aussiwi" due to his dual cultural influences from New Zealand and Australia.[1] During his early adulthood, Bowler studied communications at university in Queensland and subsequently took a job writing commercials, reflecting his initial interests in media and storytelling before developing aspirations in acting.[1]Acting training
Prior to pursuing acting, Bowler studied communications at university in Queensland and subsequently worked as a junior copywriter, where an impromptu opportunity to fill in for an absent actor in a low-budget television commercial ignited his interest in the profession.[1][6] Bowler enrolled at Australia's National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) in Sydney, a prestigious institution founded in 1958 as the country's first professional theatre training school, renowned for producing leading performers such as Mel Gibson and Cate Blanchett.[5][7][8] During his three-year Bachelor of Dramatic Art (Acting) program, Bowler participated in student productions, including a 1990 staging of Émile Zola's Thérèse Raquin at NIDA Theatre, directed by Nicholas Parsons, which provided hands-on experience in classical and contemporary theatre techniques.[9][7] He graduated from NIDA in 1991, equipped with a rigorous foundation in acting that emphasized classical training and prepared him for professional engagements in theatre and screen.[5][6][10]Professional career
Early roles in Australia
He quickly followed this with a prominent recurring role as Constable Wayne Patterson in the police procedural Blue Heelers, from 1993 to 1996, where he played a young officer navigating small-town law enforcement and personal relationships. This part in the long-running Seven Network series helped establish his presence in Australian drama, appearing in over 100 episodes and earning him recognition for his portrayal of an idealistic recruit.[11] Throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s, Bowler built on this momentum with guest and recurring appearances across multiple major Australian productions, transitioning from brief cameos to more developed supporting characters. Notable roles included Max Kubel in the soap opera Pacific Drive (1996), Arch Brennan in the medical drama Medivac (1996–1998), and various parts in Wildside (1998), episodes of the crime series Halifax f.p., the hospital drama All Saints (starting 1998), and Tom Deerson in Something in the Air (2000–2001).[8][12][2] These engagements in high-profile series on networks like ABC and Network Ten allowed him to diversify his portfolio amid the competitive landscape of Australian television, where actors often faced typecasting in procedural genres while auditioning extensively to secure steady work.[13]Television hosting
Bowler began his television presenting career in Australia with the reality competition series The Mole, which he hosted for its first four seasons from 2000 to 2003 on the Seven Network.[14] The format featured a group of contestants completing high-stakes challenges to build a cash prize pot, while one player, secretly designated as the "Mole," worked to sabotage efforts and diminish the winnings; players were eliminated through quizzes testing their ability to identify the saboteur, with the survivor who best accumulated funds and unmasked the Mole claiming the prize.[15] The show quickly gained popularity as a staple of early 2000s Australian reality television, praised for its psychological intrigue and suspenseful twists, earning a 7.6/10 rating on IMDb from viewer reviews that highlighted Bowler's engaging and charismatic hosting style.[14] In addition to The Mole, Bowler took on other presenting roles in the early 2000s, including serving as the on-camera host for the debut season of the documentary-style series Border Security: Australia's Front Line in 2004 on the Seven Network, before transitioning to voiceover narration for subsequent seasons.[2] This unscripted program followed real-life operations of Australian border agencies, showcasing interceptions at airports and ports, and Bowler's narration continued for over a decade, contributing to the series' long run of 14 seasons.[16] While no major awards or nominations were bestowed specifically for his hosting work during this period, viewer reception was positive, with audiences appreciating his smooth delivery and ability to maintain tension in fast-paced formats.[14] Bowler later hosted the Australian version of The Amazing Race for three seasons from 2011 to 2013 on the Seven Network, earning the 2012 International Emmy Award for Non-Scripted Entertainment.[2][1] These presenting opportunities built on Bowler's emerging on-screen presence from prior acting roles, helping him develop essential media skills such as improvisation and audience interaction.[2] The public recognition from The Mole and related gigs elevated his profile in Australian television, opening doors to higher-profile projects and demonstrating his versatility as a broadcaster beyond scripted performances.[15]Breakthrough in drama series
Grant Bowler was cast as Wolfgang "Wolf" West in the New Zealand television series Outrageous Fortune, which premiered on TV3 on 12 July 2005 and ran for six seasons until 2010, spanning 107 episodes.[1][17] As the patriarchal figure of the dysfunctional West family, Bowler's portrayal depicted Wolf as a charismatic yet volatile criminal who begins the series incarcerated, prompting his wife Cheryl and children to attempt a life of legitimacy.[1][18] His character's arc evolves from a hardened gangster—frequently absent due to imprisonment or schemes—to a reformed family man navigating reintegration, romantic rivalries, and the pull of old habits, all while embodying the show's blend of comedy, crime, and domestic drama.[1][17] Bowler's performance earned critical acclaim for capturing Wolf's raw energy and unfiltered demeanor, which he described as a "lot of fun to play" due to the character's direct, no-nonsense approach reflective of the series' cultural tone.[1] The role marked a significant breakthrough, cementing Bowler's status in New Zealand television and serving as a pivotal turning point in his career, as he noted in a 2014 interview.[19] His prior experience as a television host contributed to the charisma he brought to the lead dramatic role, enhancing Wolf's magnetic presence.[19] For his work, Bowler received a nomination for Best Actor at the 2007 Air New Zealand Screen Awards and a nomination for Best Supporting Actor in Television at the 2010 Qantas Film and Television Awards.[20][2] Outrageous Fortune itself achieved unprecedented success as New Zealand's most acclaimed drama series, becoming a consistent ratings leader after building momentum over its first three seasons and amassing over 700,000 viewers for its finale.[18][17][21] The show dominated the Qantas Film and Television Awards, securing 16 nominations in 2008 alone and winning multiple times for its scripting, drama, and production elements, while embedding itself in national culture through iconic family dynamics and themes of aspiration amid crime.[22][23] Bowler's commitment underscored the series' impact; in 2008, he turned down a guest role on HBO's Big Love to remain with Outrageous Fortune, prioritizing its creative pull despite rising international offers.[24] This dedication not only sustained his involvement across seasons but also propelled his trajectory toward global projects.[24][1]International and film work
Following the success of his role in the New Zealand series Outrageous Fortune, which provided leverage for auditions in the United States, Grant Bowler expanded his career into international television and film projects starting in 2005. Bowler's breakthrough in American television came with a recurring role as Connor Owens, the corrupt chief financial officer and love interest of the antagonist Wilhelmina Slater, on the ABC series Ugly Betty from 2007 to 2009. Appearing in 14 episodes across the third and fourth seasons, his character added layers of corporate intrigue and romance to the dramedy, earning praise for Bowler's charismatic yet villainous portrayal. He followed this with a memorable guest appearance as Captain Gault, the enigmatic skipper of the freighter Kahana, in three episodes of Lost's fourth season in 2008, contributing to the show's mythology surrounding the island's mysteries.[25][26] Bowler continued his US television work with the role of Cooter, the leader of a werewolf pack, in five episodes of HBO's True Blood in 2010. He then starred as the lawman Joshua Nolan in the Syfy sci-fi series Defiance (2013–2015), a post-apocalyptic drama that integrated television and video game formats, leading the show over three seasons and earning critical recognition for his performance in genre television.[1][2] In film, Bowler took on supporting roles that showcased his versatility in action and thriller genres. He appeared as Davo, a tough enforcer, in the 2011 espionage thriller Killer Elite, directed by Gary McKendrick and starring Jason Statham, Robert De Niro, and Clive Owen. That same year, he voiced the corrupt cop Jefferson Skeevers in the DC animated feature Batman: Year One, based on Frank Miller's graphic novel, and played the menacing Doyle in the Australian thriller Swerve, which gained international distribution. His later film work included the role of Captain Sterling, a ruthless lawman, in the 2019 action-comedy Guns Akimbo, opposite Daniel Radcliffe, where he navigated high-stakes absurdity in a dystopian game of survival. Transitioning to the U.S. market presented significant challenges for Bowler, including financial hardships and the competitive nature of Hollywood. After moving to Los Angeles in the early 2000s with his family, he endured years of rejections, odd jobs like cleaning elevators, and periods of near-bankruptcy, which strained his role as a father. In a 2014 interview, Bowler described the initial four years as "crushing," noting the cultural shift from the more grounded Kiwi and Australian values to LA's image-obsessed environment, particularly concerning for raising his children. Despite these obstacles, his persistence led to steady international work, though he later returned to Australia for family reasons.[13]Recent television projects
In the later seasons of the Australian forensic drama Harrow (2018–2021), Bowler portrayed the recurring antagonist Francis Chester, a convicted serial killer whose posthumous influence and twisted vendetta against the protagonist Dr. Daniel Harrow drove much of the series' tension.[27] His performance, spanning seasons two and three, highlighted Chester's manipulative psyche and added layers of psychological thriller elements to the procedural format.[2] Bowler returned to American television in 2020 with a recurring role as Gideon Hamilton, the authoritative Australian father of lead character Noa Hamilton, in the romantic comedy series The Baker and the Beauty.[8] This role marked a lighter, family-oriented contrast to his darker dramatic work, showcasing his versatility in ensemble casts.[28] From 2022 to 2023, Bowler took on lead roles in a series of high-stakes disaster television films produced by The Asylum, including Super Volcano (2022), 20.0 Megaquake (2022), and Ice Storm (2023), where he played the resilient protagonist Eric in each. These projects, centered on cataclysmic natural events threatening urban centers, emphasized Bowler's ability to anchor action-driven narratives amid escalating crises.[29][30][31] In Super Volcano, Eric leads efforts to avert a Hawaiian eruption; in 20.0 Megaquake, he navigates San Francisco's seismic devastation; and in Ice Storm, he confronts a deadly winter catastrophe.[2] As of November 2025, Bowler has no major announced television projects for 2024 or 2025, though his international experience has continued to inform selections for mature, authoritative roles in ensemble television formats.[8]Filmography
Feature films
Grant Bowler has taken on a mix of supporting and leading roles in feature films, spanning action, thriller, drama, and genre productions. His film credits include Australian and international projects, often featuring intense or authoritative characters.[8][32] The following is a chronological list of his feature film appearances:| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Remains | Tom | Post-apocalyptic horror thriller.[33] |
| 2011 | Atlas Shrugged: Part I | Henry "Hank" Rearden | Adaptation of Ayn Rand's novel, portraying a steel industrialist.[34] |
| 2011 | Killer Elite | Warwick Cregg | Action thriller co-starring Jason Statham and Robert De Niro.[35] |
| 2012 | I Do | Peter | Romantic drama.[36] |
| 2012 | 186 Dollars to Freedom | Jesus Christ | Drama based on a true story of escape from a Peruvian prison.[37] |
| 2014 | Swelter | Cole | Psychological action film alongside Jean-Claude Van Damme.[38] |
| 2014 | Lucky Dog | Preston Spencer | Family adventure film.[39] |
| 2015 | 400 Days | Walter | Sci-fi thriller about astronauts in isolation.[40] |
| 2015 | One & Two | Daniel | Psychological horror film about a family in isolation. |
| 2016 | JL Ranch | Brady Landsburg | Family drama about ranch life and relationships. |
| 2018 | Painkillers | John Clarke | Sci-fi thriller involving memory and trauma; lead role. |
| 2019 | Bad Impulse | Henry Sharpe | Thriller about betrayal and revenge. |
| 2019 | The Car: Road to Revenge | Frank | Action film centered on a driver pursued by a self-driving car.[41] |
| 2019 | Guns Akimbo | Degraves | Action comedy starring Samara Weaving, involving forced gunfighting. |