Community hub
0 subscribers7 pages, 0 posts
Recent from talks
All channels
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Contribute something
Welcome to the community hub built to collect knowledge and have discussions related to Jack Finsterer.
Nothing was collected or created yet.
Jack Finsterer
View on Wikipediafrom Wikipedia
Jack Finsterer (born 1968) is an Australian film and TV actor. He has been acting since the age of 25 and has appeared in some of Australia's best-known television series and films since 1993.
Key Information
Early life
[edit]Finsterer was born John Finsterer in Australia in 1968.
Finsterer grew up in Dickson, Canberra, where he attended Daramalan College, before going on to study drama at the Victorian College of Arts in Melbourne.
Career
[edit]Finsterer's screen debut was in the film Gross Misconduct in 1993, playing the role of a policeman. His first significant acting role, however, was as the character Bobby Webster in the 1994 television series Law of the Land. The same year, he appeared in the TV series Janus (1994–95). Following this, he had roles in long-running TV series Blue Heelers (1996) and the film Zone 39.
Further appearances included a role in Dangerous (2007), and his best known role to date as Jack Scholt in the Australian historical film Kokoda (2006). He also performed voice-over work in short film The Hunter (2011).
Filmography
[edit]Television
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Law of the Land | Bobby Webster | Season 3, episode: "Whisper" |
| 1994~95 | Janus | Bronowski | 10 episodes |
| 1996 | Blue Heelers | Det. Const. Johnny Kowalski | 4 episodes |
| 1998 | Good Guys Bad Guys | Christie Maginnis | Episode: "Blood is Thicker than Walter" |
| 1999 | Stingers | Patrick De Groot | 2 episodes |
| 2001 | Love Is a Four Letter Word | Evan Green | 5 episodes |
| 2002 | Tanya and Floyd | Floyd | TV movie |
| 2002 | The Lost World | Captain Melric | Episode: "Phantoms" |
| 2002 | Farscape | Gleeg | Episode: "Lava’s a Many Splendoured Thing" |
| 2001~02 | McLeod’s Daughters | Marty O'Rourke | 2 episodes |
| 2002 | Young Lions | Tony Kennedy | Episode: "Lone Star Blues" |
| 2003 | Life Support | Dr. Rudi | 10 episodes |
| 2004 | Jessica | Michael Malloy | TV movie |
| 2004 | Big Reef | Nick | TV movie |
| 2005~06 | All Saints | Damien Trelawny | 2 episodes |
| 2007 | Dangerous | Nathan Walsh | 8 episodes |
| 2008 | Dream Life | Number 11 | TV movie |
| 2010 | Sea Patrol | Karl Butherworth | Episode: "Big Fish" |
| 2010 | City Homicide | Jeremy Burns | 2 episodes |
| 2010 | Rush | Michael Shmitt | Episode #3.20 |
| 1992~2011 | Neighbours | Garland Cole / Russell Sykes | 12 episodes |
| 2012 | Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries | Peter the Painter | Episode: "Death at Victoria Dock" |
| 2013 | Mr & Mrs Murder | Dwayne Nash | Episode: "A Dog’s Life" |
| 2014 | The Doctor Blake Mysteries | Lyle Townsend | Episode: "Smoke and Mirrors" |
| 2020~21 | Home and Away | Paul | 10 episodes |
Film
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Gross Misconduct | Policeman | Feature film | |
| 1996 | Zone 39 | Central Officer | Feature film | |
| 1998 | Tulip | Jack | Short film | |
| 1999 | Strange Fits of Passion | Francis | Feature film | |
| 2003 | Preservation[1] | Nick | ||
| 2003 | Car Park | Jack | Short film | |
| 2006 | Kokoda[2][3] | Jack Scholt | $3,138,501 at the box office in Australia.
Feature film based on a true story[4] | |
| 2008 | Outside in | Daniel | Short film | |
| 2009 | Schadenfreude | Short film | ||
| 2009 | In Her Skin | Police Detective Neil Patterson | Feature film | |
| 2011 | The Hunter | The Hunter (voice) | Short film | |
| 2011 | Spider Walk | Joe | Short film | |
| 2013 | Destiny in the Dirt | John | Short film | |
| 2013 | Revolving Doors | Hotel Check-in Desk Attendant | Short film | |
| 2015 | Is This the Real World | Edgo | ||
| 2020 | Bloody Hell | Uncle | Feature film | |
| 2022 | Ishmael | Ishmael | Short film | |
| 2022 | All Silent Dogs | Mycah | Short film |
Personal life
[edit]In 1999, Finsterer married fellow Australian actress Justine Clarke who is also a singer, musician, and television host.
Finsterer and his wife have three children – Josef (b. 2001), Nina (b. 2003), and Max (b. 2009).[5][6]
He and his family live in Sydney, Australia.
Away from acting, Finsterer has worked in a Melbourne wine shop, started a business selling beauty products, and worked in corporate hospitality at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
References
[edit]- ^ Edwards, Russell (July 2003). "Preservation". Variety. Vol. 391, no. 8. p. 30. ProQuest 236304067.
- ^ Arrow, Michelle (1 January 2011). "Broadcasting the Past: Australian Television Histories". History Australia. 8 (1): 223–246. doi:10.1080/14490854.2011.11668365. ISSN 1449-0854. S2CID 143301399.
- ^ Arrow, Michelle (1 December 2013). "'I Just Feel It's Important to Know Exactly What he Went Through': In Their Footsteps and The Role of Emotions in Australian Television History". Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television. 33 (4): 594–611. doi:10.1080/01439685.2013.847651. ISSN 0143-9685. S2CID 162390877.
- ^ Nelson, Hank (1 June 2010). "Kokoda". The Journal of Pacific History. 45 (1): 89–104. doi:10.1080/00223344.2010.484173. ISSN 0022-3344. S2CID 219627356.
- ^ Dow, Steve (2 February 2017). "Justine Clarke: Growing up with a single mum taught me resilience". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
- ^ Cubby, Ben (30 January 2007). "I Like to Sing". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
External links
[edit]
 | This article about an Australian film and television actor is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by adding missing information. |
Jack Finsterer
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Early life and education
Upbringing
Jack Finsterer was born in 1968 in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory.[4] He grew up in the suburb of Dickson in Canberra alongside his siblings in a family with a strong creative bent.[5] His older sisters, composer Mary Finsterer and actress Anni Finsterer, along with brother Mark, a guitarist, and sister Kate, who worked in film casting, were all involved in the performing arts, providing an early environment rich in artistic influences.[5] Their parents raised the family in a suburban Canberra home, though details on their professions remain limited; Finsterer's father has since passed away, and his mother relocated to Sydney.[5] This familial immersion in music, acting, and related fields likely shaped Finsterer's initial interests, fostering a creative foundation before his transition to formal drama training.[5]Training
Finsterer pursued formal acting training at the Victorian College of the Arts in Melbourne, where he honed his skills in drama and theatre arts.[6] This period marked the beginning of his dedicated preparation for a professional career on stage and screen, building foundational techniques essential for his future performances.Acting career
Debut and early roles
Finsterer's screen debut came in 1992 with a recurring role as Russell Sykes across three episodes of the soap opera Neighbours.[7] His film debut followed in 1993 with a small role as a policeman in the Australian thriller film Gross Misconduct, directed by George T. Miller and starring Jimmy Smits and Naomi Watts.[8] The film, which explored themes of academic scandal and moral dilemma, marked his entry into film at the age of 25, following his drama training at the Victorian College of the Arts in Melbourne.[6] In 1994, Finsterer appeared as Bobby Webster in an episode of the rural drama series Law of the Land.[9] That same year, he joined the cast of the legal drama Janus in a recurring role as Bronowski across 10 episodes, portraying a character involved in the gritty underworld of Melbourne's criminal justice system.[10] These early television appearances helped him build a foundation in Australian screen acting during the mid-1990s. Finsterer's role expanded in 1996 when he appeared as Detective Constable Johnny Kowalski in four episodes of the long-running police procedural Blue Heelers, depicting a young officer navigating small-town law enforcement challenges. Later that year, he returned to film with the supporting part of Central Officer in the science fiction thriller Zone 39, a low-budget production set in a dystopian quarantine zone.[11] These roles in the 1990s established Finsterer as an emerging talent in Australian media, often cast in authoritative or ensemble supporting positions.Notable television appearances
Finsterer's television career gained momentum through guest and recurring roles in prominent Australian series, showcasing his versatility in drama and procedural formats. His early appearance as Detective Constable Johnny Kowalski in four episodes of the long-running police drama Blue Heelers in 1996 served as a foundational stepping stone, introducing him to audiences in a show that highlighted rural law enforcement challenges and character-driven storytelling.[1] This role contributed to his growing reputation in domestic television before branching into more specialized genres. A significant early foray into science fiction came with his portrayal of Gleeg, a minor but memorable alien character involved in a volcanic mining scheme, in the episode "Lava's a Many Splendored Thing" of the international series Farscape in 2002.[12] The role marked Finsterer's exposure to a cult-favorite production known for its innovative puppetry and interstellar adventures, broadening his appeal beyond Australian borders.[13] In the crime procedural City Homicide, Finsterer played Jeremy Burns across two episodes in 2010, depicting a suspect entangled in undercover operations that underscored the series' focus on intense Melbourne-based investigations.[14] This appearance highlighted his ability to embody complex, morally ambiguous figures in high-stakes narratives. Similarly, his guest role as Peter the Painter—an anarchist artist linked to a 1920s bombing plot—in the episode "Death at Victoria Dock" of Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries in 2012 added depth to the show's period mystery elements, blending historical intrigue with personal drama.[13] Finsterer took on the character of Lyle Townsend in the episode "Smoke and Mirrors" of The Doctor Blake Mysteries (season 2) in 2014, portraying a figure connected to a magician's death in 1950s Ballarat, which enriched the series' exploration of post-war Australian society and forensic puzzles.[15] His recurring role as Paul, a menacing antagonist targeting the Parata family in a kidnapping and revenge storyline, spanned 10 episodes of the soap opera Home and Away from 2020 to 2021, amplifying the show's signature blend of family dynamics and suspenseful arcs.[13] Throughout his career, Finsterer built his standing in Australian television via roles in enduring soaps and dramas, such as multiple appearances in Neighbours as Garland Cole and Russell Sykes across 12 episodes from 1992 to 2011, and as Marty O'Rourke in two episodes of McLeod's Daughters in 2001–2002, where he contributed to narratives of rural life and interpersonal conflicts that solidified his presence in the genre.[1]Film roles and recent work
Finsterer's breakthrough in film came with his portrayal of Jack Scholt, a resilient soldier in the World War II drama Kokoda (2006), directed by Alister Grierson, where he depicted the harrowing experiences of Australian troops during the Kokoda Track campaign, earning praise for his authentic embodiment of historical grit and camaraderie.[16][17] In 2008, Finsterer appeared as Paterson in How to Change in 9 Weeks (later released as In Her Skin in 2009), a psychological drama based on the true story of a teenager's disappearance, where he played a detective unraveling the mystery, contributing to the film's examination of identity and deception through his grounded performance.[18][13] His film career evolved through supporting roles that highlighted Australian narratives, such as his early appearance in Gross Misconduct (1993), which provided initial exposure to dramatic storytelling.[3] By the 2020s, Finsterer transitioned to more prominent and genre-diverse characters, including the menacing Uncle in the horror-comedy Bloody Hell (2020), also directed by Grierson, where his portrayal of a sinister family member added dark humor and tension to the story of an ex-convict's nightmarish escape abroad, helping the film gain international acclaim at festivals.[19] This progression culminated in his role as Victor Petrov, a key operative in the high-stakes action thriller Land of Bad (2024), directed by William Eubank, alongside Russell Crowe and Liam Hemsworth, where he embodied tactical precision amid a rescue mission gone awry in the Philippines, underscoring his versatility across war epics, psychological depths, and modern action genres.[20]Filmography
Television
Finsterer's television career spans several decades, featuring guest appearances and recurring roles in Australian series, often portraying complex characters in drama and crime genres.| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Neighbours | Russell Sykes | 1 episode |
| 1994 | Law of the Land | Bobby Webster | 1 episode, "Whispers"[21] |
| 1994–1995 | Janus | Bronowski | 10 episodes[22] |
| 1996 | Blue Heelers | Det. Const. Johnny Kowalski | 4 episodes[23] |
| 2001 | Love is a Four Letter Word | Evan Green | 5 episodes[24] |
| 2001 | McLeod's Daughters | Marty | 1 episode[13] |
| 2002 | Farscape | Gleeg | 1 episode, "Lava's a Many Splendored Thing"[12] |
| 2003 | Jessica | Malloy | Miniseries[13] |
| 2004 | Big Reef | Nick Ritten | TV movie[25] |
| 2005 | All Saints | Damien | 1 episode[13] |
| 2006 | Dangerous | Nathan Walsh | Miniseries[13] |
| 2008 | Dream Life | Number 11 | TV movie[26] |
| 2009 | Sea Patrol | Butterworth | 3 episodes[13] |
| 2010 | City Homicide | Jeremy Burns | 2 episodes[27] |
| 2010 | Neighbours | Garland Cole | Recurring role[13] |
| 2010 | Rush | Shmitt | Series 3, 1 episode[13] |
| 2011 | Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries | Peter the Painter | 1 episode[13] |
| 2013 | The Doctor Blake Mysteries | Lyle | Series 2, 1 episode[13] |
| 2014 | Winter | Paul Pagent | Miniseries[13] |
| 2020–2021 | Home and Away | Paul | Recurring role, multiple episodes[13] |
Film
Jack Finsterer's feature film appearances span a range of genres, from thrillers to war dramas and horror-comedies. His roles often portray authoritative or supporting characters in Australian and international productions.| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Gross Misconduct | Policeman [](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107046/fullcredits/) |
| 1996 | Zone 39 | Central Officer [](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120554/fullcredits/) |
| 1999 | Strange Fits of Passion | Francis [](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0201951/fullcredits/) |
| 2006 | Kokoda | Jack Scholt [](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0481390/fullcredits/) |
| 2009 | In Her Skin | Patterson [](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0995851/fullcredits/) |
| 2015 | Is This the Real World | Edgo [](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2899142/fullcredits/) |
| 2020 | Bloody Hell | Uncle [](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9772374/fullcredits/) |
| 2024 | Land of Bad | Victor Petrov [](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt19864802/fullcredits/) |