Wayne Pygram

Wayne Pigram , better known by his stage name Wayne Pygram, is an Australian actor. He is known for his role as Scorpius in the science fiction series ''Farscape'' (2000–2003) and the miniseries that followed, '' Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars'' (2004). He briefly appeared in '' Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith'', playing Grand Moff Tarkin in 2005; he also appeared in the TV show '' Lost'' in 2008.

He has played the drums in numerous bands, including Signal Room, and has taught percussion, including at the Riverina Conservatorium of Music.

Early life and education

Wayne Pigram was born in Cootamundra, New South Wales, and raised in Wagga Wagga. As a teen, he was a drummer in a dance group in Wagga Wagga.

He initially studied art at Riverina College of Advanced Education, but later changed majors to primary school education. While in college, Pygram became a member of a theatre troupe known as the Riverina Trucking Company.

He left Wagga Wagga in the early 1980s.

Career

Acting

Before acting in films and television, Pygram was a regular on the Australian theatre circuit, and has continued to appear on stage until at least 2005. Productions he has appeared in include ''The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui'' (1985) and ''All's Well That Ends Well'' with Nimrod Theatre Company, as well as ''The Rocky Horror Show'', '' Sweet Bird of Youth'', ''King Lear'', and ''The Threepenny Opera''. He also performed in several productions by The Sydney Theatre Company, Belvoir St Theatre, the Nimrod, and Griffin Theatre Company.

He appeared in the films '' Farewell to the King'' (1989) and '' Return to the Blue Lagoon'' (1991), and '' Doing Time for Patsy Cline'' (1997).

In 1995 he played the role as firefighter Quentin "Spit" Jacobsen in the TV series ''Fire'', and was one of the few to return for its second series in 1996. In 1998, he guest-starred as Sam Kristovsky in episode 24 of '' Wildside''.

In 2001 he played Ian Woodford in the long-running Australian soap ''Home and Away'' from 2001,

He played Scorpius in the science fiction series ''Farscape'' (2000–2003) and the miniseries that followed, '' Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars'' (2004). He returned to ''Home and Away'' after ''Farscape''.

In 2005, Pygram made a brief cameo appearance in '' Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith'' as a young Grand Moff Tarkin, the character which Peter Cushing had played 28 years earlier in '' A New Hope''. For this role, he wore extensive facial prosthetics to make him look more like Peter Cushing, the original actor in this role in the first three movies.

In 2006, he appeared in an episode of '' Lost'' called "S.O.S." as a faith healer named Isaac of Uluru. He has also had guest roles on the series '' My Place'', '' A Country Practice'', '' All Saints'', '' Water Rats'', '' Stingers'', '' Murder Call'', '' Medivac'', '' Time Trax'', and '' The Lost World'' (1999–2001). In 2010 he was in '' Underbelly: The Golden Mile''.

In 2018 he played Ryland Webster, Prime Minister of Australia, in the final season of '' Rake''.

After moving back to Wagga Wagga, he became a member of the Lichen Collective, a collective of actors, creators, and designers. They produced a theatrical piece called ''Rush'', which was written and performed by Pygram, Samantha Dowdeswell, and Dominique Sweeney, at the Riverina Playhouse in 2020.

In 2022, he was a voice actor in the video game '' High on Life''.

Music

Pygram has played the drums in numerous bands, including with ''Farscape'' co-star Anthony Simcoe in Signal Room. He has also collaborated with musicians such as Lloyd Swanton (The Necks), Klaus Bussman, and Michael King. He has worked with producer Tim Winton of Powderfinger, and as a member of the bands Ha Ha Ha and Edot. He toured southeast Asia with the dance collective Kix Interactive, and did drumming work for Kodak, Visa Corporation, Foster's, and Heineken.

he has been teaching Percussion at the Riverina Conservatorium of Music in Wagga Wagga.

Personal life

Pygram lived and worked in Los Angeles for three years from around 2003 to 2006/7.

He has a son.

Filmography

Film

* ''Warming Up'' (1985) – Wombat
* '' The First Kangaroos'' (1988) – Abie Rosenfeldt
* '' Farewell to the King'' (1989) – Bren Armstrong
* '' Return to the Blue Lagoon'' (1991) – Kearney
* '' Hammers Over the Anvil'' (1993) – Snarley Burns
* '' The Custodian'' (1993) – Det. Massey
* '' Doing Time for Patsy Cline'' (1997) – Geoff Spinks
* '' The Day of the Roses'' (1998, TV Mini-Series) – Sgt. Joe Beecroft
* ''Risk'' (2000) – Mick
* '' Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith'' (2005) – Wilhuff Tarkin
* ''Heatstroke'' (2008) – Mental Blanakoff

Television

* '' The Last Resort'' (1988)
* '' Heroes II: The Return'' (1991) – Lt Bruno Reymond (Rimau member)
* '' The Girl From Tomorrow'' (1992) – Guard
* ''Fire'' (1995) – Senior Station Officer Quentin 'Spit' Jacobsen
* ''Roar'' (1997) – Goll
* '' The Lost World'' (1999–2001) – Captain Tark, Noru
* ''Home and Away'' (2001–2008) – Ian Woodford / Ian Muir
* ''Farscape'' (2000–2003) – Scorpius / Harvey
* ''Heroes' Mountain'' (2002, TV Movie) – Col Langdon
* '' Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars'' (2004) – Scorpius / Harvey
* '' Through My Eyes'' (2004) – Rice
* '' Lost'' (2006) – Isaac of Uluru
* '' Underbelly: The Golden Mile'' (2010) – Police Commissioner

References

External links

*

Wayne Pygram
photos on Movie Stills database

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pygram, Wayne
Year of birth missing (living people)
Australian male film actors
Australian male stage actors
Australian male television actors
Living people
People from Wagga Wagga
Male actors from New South Wales