Mark Little in Defending the Caveman
Mark Little
actor, comedian and TV personality
MARK LITTLE was born in Brisbane, Australia in October 1959. He spent his childhood in rural Queensland where he attended Oakey State High School and the National Institute of Dramatic Art in Sydney. In 1982 Mark began performing his self-devised shows in Melbourne comedy clubs. He presented Flabbadadabbadadaddyo at Melbourne's inaugural Comedy Festival in 1987.
Mark's numerous television performances have included Alan in the mini series Waterfront, and Wally in The Dunera Boys and in 1985 Mark was presented with the Australian Television Society Best Actor Award for his portrayal of Ron in The Flying Doctors. Mark is perhaps best known as Joe Mangel in the Australian soap opera Neighbours, a part that he played for three years until 1991 and which helped to make him a house-hold name in the UK. He reprised the role of Joe Mangel again briefly in 2005.
Mark has been to the Edinburgh Fringe on six occasions, debuting in 1990, through to his critical and sell out success Spontaneous Human Combustion in 1998 and in 2001 with Mark Little is a Whingeing POHM. He has toured all his shows nationally.
After settling in Britain in 1992, Mark went on to present a number of programmes on British television, including Channel 4's The Big Breakfast which he presented for two and a half years. He had previously hosted ABC's Countdown Revolution, Australia's top rating pop show.
Mark has appeared in fifteen feature films including An Indecent Obsession and Short Changed. Australian Film Institute nominations for Best Actor have been awarded on two occasions. He played Constable Morris in Fred Schepsi’s A Cry in the Dark and the lead role of Boady in the highly acclaimed, Nirvana Street Murder. He also appeared as an Aussie lawn bowls champion in Blackball.
Mark's theatre appearances have included Costard in Loves Labours Lost, Bottom in A Midsummer Night's Dream, Crispin in A Chorus of Disapproval, and Laurie Blake in The Temple. In 2002 Mark celebrated the Australian performance artist, Leigh Bowery, playing him in Taboo in London’s West End and again on tour in 2003-2004. His live show, Mark Little’s Boogie Woogie Beach Bum Bar played to capacity crowds in Brighton and London. The final performance taking place during the 2003 Brighton Comedy Festival. Mark also enjoys traditional British pantomime and his panto roles have included Chuckles in Snow White and Abanazar in Aladdin.
Mark’s West End debut was in 1999 in Defending the Caveman at the Apollo Theatre. The following year Mark was awarded the Olivier Award for Best Entertainment for his one-man show which has since become a worldwide hit and the longest running solo play in Broadway history. Mark will be reprising the role at the Leicester Square Theatre from 2nd - 21st February, 2010.
Mark has written his own play called The Test, about cricket and set at Lords, he has also written pieces for the New Statesman, The Guardian and The Independent.
Mark is married with two children, Angus and Jasper, and he now lives in Hove (near Brighton) on the south coast of England.
