FEATURE FILM
1993 Heavenly Creatures, 'Laurie'
Wingnut Films, Dir. Peter Jackson
TELEVISION
2016 800 Words Series 2, 'Sean'
Weld Productions Ltd / Channel 7 (Aus), Various directors
Weld Productions Ltd / Channel 7 (Aus), Various directors
Great Southern Television, Dir. Danny Mulheron
Mediaworks TV
Lippy Pictures, Dir. Peter Burger
2013 Short Poppies, 'Trent Dash'
Augusto Limited, Various directors
2012 Golden, 'Elliot' (core cast)
South Pacific Pictures, Dir. Katie Wolfe
2010 Steven K Amos Show, 'Wilson Dixon' (comic character)
BBC 2
2010 Crunchie Comedy Gala, 'Wilson Dixon' (comic character)
TV2
2010 7 Days, 'Comedian/Panelist'
TV3
2009 Comedy Christmas Gala, 'Wilson Dixon' (comic character)
TV3
2009 Crunchie Comedy Gala, 'Wilson Dixon' (comic character)
TV2
2007 Crunchie Comedy Gala, 'Wilson Dixon' (comic character)
TV2
2007 Spicks & Specks, 'Panelist'
ABC Australia
2007 The World Stands Up, 'Wilson Dixon' (comic character)
Paramount Cable TV (UK & USA)
2006 Crunchie Comedy Gala, 'Wilson Dixon' (comic character)
TV2
2005 Spicks & Specks, 'Panelist'
ABC Australia
2004 Last Man Standing, 'Chich' (core cast)
Burberry Productions, Various directors
1999 Stingers, 'Callan Hill'
Beyond Simpson le Mesurier, Dir. Steve Jodrell
1999 Live at the Forum (pilot)
The 4 Noels / Channel 10
1999 Pigs Breakfast, 'Childrens Entertainer'
The 4 Noels / Channel 9
1999 Recovery: Comedy Channel, 'Sketch Performer'
ABC / The 4 Noels
1999 Late & Live, 'Sketch Performer'
Foxtel / The 4 Noels
1997 Blue Heelers, 'Michael Murphy'
Southern Star, Dir. Simon Phillips
1994 Extreme Close Up, 'Himself' (comedian)
K. T. V. Ltd
1994 The Trivia Company, 'Childrens Entertainer'
Johnston Productions Ltd, Various directors
1994 A Bit More After Ten, 'Himself' (comedian)
South Pacific Pictures, Various directors
1993 Oi, 'Childrens Entertainer'
Taylormade Television Ltd / Beyond Group
THEATRE
2007 La Soiree, 'John Juan'
Melba Spiegeltent, Melbourne
2002 Sailing on a Sea of Tears, 'Performer / Writer'
Melbourne Fringe Festival
01-02 Sailing on a Sea of Tears, 'Performer / Writer'
The Storeroom / 45 Downstairs / Peacock Theatre / Hobartc
1996 Bellhops, 'Barbershop Quartet'
Melbourne International Festival
1996 The Caucasian Chalk Circle, 'The Corporal'
John Bolton Theatre School
1994 East, 'Mike'
On the Verge Theatre, Dir. Tama Smith
1994 We'll Meet Again, 'Ensemble'
NZ South Island Tour
1993 Smoke on the Mountain, 'Dennis'
Fortune Theatre
1993 Bintang Bernard, 'Busker'
Otago Busking Competition
1993 Kiss of the Spider Woman, 'Luis Molina'
Wombat Theatre, Dir. Anna Cameron
1992 Life's Laughter, 'Lead'
Park Players / Toyama International Theatre Festival in Japan, Dir. Denise Walsh
1991 Rites of Passage, 'Lead'
NZ Theatre Federation One Act Play, Dir. Denise Walsh
STAND-UP COMEDY
2012 Wilson Dixon: Greatest Hits, 'Wilson Dixon' (comic character)NZ International Comedy Festival
2012 No Movement in the Waiting Room, 'Comedian'
NZ International Comedy Festival
2011 Wilson Dixon Up on Cripple Creek, 'Wilson Dixon' (comic character)
SkyCity Theatre / NZ International Comedy Festival
2011 Wilson Dixon's American Dream, 'Wilson Dixon' (comic character)
Glenroy Auditorium / Dunedin Fringe Festival
2010 Wilson Dixon's American Dream, 'Wilson Dixon' (comic character)
NZ International Comedy Festival
2007 Wilson Dixon Rides Again, 'Wilson Dixon' (comic character)
NZ International Comedy Festival
2006 The N. A. F. F. Film Festival, 'Comedian'
The 4 Noels / Melbourne Comedy Festival
2005 Wilson Dixon Show, 'Wilson Dixon' (comic character)
Melbourne Fringe Festival / Edinburgh Fringe Festival
02-05 The 4 Noels, 'Comedian'
Company Member
1999 The Magnificent Seventeen, 'Comedian'
Edinburgh Fringe Festival / Gilden Ballroom
1999 The Magnificent Seventeen, 'Comedian'
Victoria Tour / Melbourne International Festival
1999 The Magnificent Seventeen, 'Comedian'
Nelson Arts Festival
1999 The Magnificent Seventeen, 'Comedian'
Wellington International Fringe Festival / BATS
1998 NHOJ Namrof: Space Explorer & Brian the Musical, 'Comedian'
La Mama / Melbourne Fringe Festival
1998 NHOJ Namrof: Space Explorer & Brian the Musical, 'Comedian'
New Zealand Tour / Silo Theatre / BATS
1997 The 4 Noels Theatre (devised comic theatre), 'Comedian'
Theatreworks / The Fringe Festival / Royal Melbourne Show / Kilda Festival
1994 Centennial Capping Show, 'Comedian'
Regent Theatre, Dir. Jesse Griffin
1993 Spleen, 'Comedian'
NZ Tour
SHORT FILM
2006 Shane's Big Swim, 'Shane'The 4 Noels, Dirs. Jesse Griffin, James Pratt & John Forman
2003 The Visual Artists, 'Guapo Windcheater'
The 4 Noels, Dirs. Jesse Griffin, James Pratt & John Forman
2000 Busting, 'The Man'
The 4 Noels, Dir. Simon Price
1999 Fishman, 'Colin the Fisherman'
VCA, Dir. Simon Price
1998 Fall of the Light, 'Featured'
VCA, Dir. Simon Price
1996 What the Butler Saw, 'The Butler'
SubTerrain / Melbourne International Arts Festival
1994 The World According to Pete, 'Lindsey'
Homebake Films, Dir. Simon Price
AWARDS
2010 Fred Award for performance as 'Wilson Dixon'
NZ International Comedy Festival Awards
2010 Best Auckland Show NZ Comedy Festival for 'Wilson Dixon's American Dream'
NZ International Comedy Festival Awards
2010 Best Show Nomination for 'Wilson Dixon's American Dream'
Leicester Comedy Festival (UK) Awards
2010 Press Critics Choice Award Nomination
NZ World Buskers Festival Awards
2010 Chortle Award Nomination for Best Character / Variety Act
Chortle Awards (UK)
2009 Barry Award Nomination for Best Show 'Wilson Dixon Rides Again'
Melbourne Comedy Festival Awards
2009 Chortle Award Nomination for Best Character / Variety Act
Chortle Awards (UK)
2009 Best Local Show Nomination for 'Wilson Dixon Rides Again'
NZ International Comedy Festival Awards
2006 Mervyn Sutter Spirit of the Edinburgh Fringe Award
Edinburgh Fringe Festival Awards
2005 Best Overseas Show Nomination
NZ International Comedy Festival Awards
2004 Best Overseas Show Nomination
NZ International Comedy Festival Awards
2003 Tropfest Shortlist for 'The Visual Artists'
Melbourne Tropest Film Festival Awards
2003 St Kilda Finalist
Melbourne St Kilda Film Festival Awards
2002 Barry Award Nomination for 'A Night at Fat Willy's'
Melbourne Comedy Festival Awards
2000 Finalist for 'Busting'
Melbourne Comedy Festival Short Film Competition
2000 Dendy Award Best Australian Short Film Nomination for 'Busting'
Sydney International Film Festival Awards
2000 Best Overseas Show Nomination
NZ International Comedy Festival Awards
2001 General Manager's Choice Award for 'Sailing On a Sea of Tears'
Melbourne Fringe Festival Awards
1999 Barry Award Nomination for 'The Magnificent Seventeen'
Melbourne Comedy Festival Awards
1999 Stella Award for Best Comedy Nomination for 'The Magnificent Seventeen'
Melbourne International Comedy Festival Awards
1999 Best Comedy for 'The Magnificent Seventeen'
Wellington International Fringe Festival Awards
1999 Moosehead Award recipient for 'The Magnificent Seventeen'
Moosehead Awards
1998 Best Comedy for 'NHOJ: Space Explorer & Brian the Musical'
Melbourne Fringe Festival Awards
1993 First Place for 'Spleen'
Universities Comedy Competition
1993 First Place for 'Bintang Bernard'
Otago Busking Comeptition
1992 Best Comedy for 'Life's Laughter'
Toyama International Arts Festival Awards
1991 Best Actor for 'Rites of Passage'
NZ Theatre Federation One Act Play Awards
VOICE WORK
2010 Rhod Gilbert's Bursting Barrel of Fun, 'Wilson Dixon' (comic character)
BBC Radio 2
08-10 Loose Ends, 'Panelist / Guest Performer'
BBC Radio 4
2009 The Wilson Dixon Line: four part comedy series
BBC Radio 2
2008 Sean Lock & Friends Live from Edinburgh
BBC Radio 2
2008 Rhod Gilbert's 4 Stands Up
BBC Radio 4
TRAINING
1996 Diploma from the John Bolton Theatre School
John Bolton Theatre School, Melbourne
1994 Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Studies
Otago University
TELEVISION COMMERCIALS
2016 Tropicana
Nth America
2016 Codral
NZ & Australia
2015 Dairy Australia
Australia
2015 Codral
NZ & Australia
2012 Instant Kiwi
NZ
2007 Suncorp
Australia
2006 McCain Steam Time
Australia / NZ
Biography
Jesse is an Actor, Comedian, Writer & Director - who has worked throughout the UK, Australia and NZ since the mid 1990’s.
He studied at the John Bolton School in Melbourne training in physical theatre in '95 and 96, which lead on to co-founding the Melbourne based physical comedy trio The 4 Noels, who had a critically acclaimed and box-office successful performance run between 1998 and 2008. The trio won best comedy awards at the Melbourne and Wellington Fringe Festivals, a Moosehead Award, a Spirit of the Fringe Award at the Edinburgh Fringe and were twice nominated for the Barry Award for best show at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
American Country Music character Wilson Dixon is one of Jesse's most recognisable creations. Wilson Dixon has appeared on BBC Radio, toured around NZ, and been a guest comedian on 7 Days. He has won best comedy awards at the NZ International Comedy Festival, been nominated for best comedy at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and won a Spank Award at the Edinburgh Fringe for musical comedy.
Jesse currently has multiple projects on the boil both here and in Australia, with NZ comedy series Educators currently shooting its third season. Earlier seasons of Educators have been nominated for multiple awards in NZ, and they scooped a bronze medal in the Worldwide Best Streaming Comedy category in the 2020 New York Festival.
Watch this space for more exciting announcements coming soon!
Additional notable credits:
Talkback, comedy series for TVNZ, 2021, Director and Exec Producer.
Last @ 11, comedy special for TVNZ, 2021, Director and Writer.
Comedy for Cure Kids, comedy specials for TV3, 2012-2015, Director, Writer, Exec Producer.
Skills
- Actor
- After Dinner Speaker
- Comedian
- Debater
- Director
- Entertainer
- Host
- Improvisor
- Live Performance Host
- MC
- Panelist
- Satirist
- Writer
Skills
- Abseiling
- Basketball
- Body Surfing
- Carpenter
- Comedian (Stand-Up)
- Cricket
- Indoor Cricket
- Cross Country Running
- Cycling
- Director
- Full Licence
- Fishing
- Golf
- Landscape Gardener
- Mime
- Mountain Biking
- Bass Guitar
- Drums
- Guitar
- Harmonica
- Recorder
- Tambourine
- Petanque
- Physical Theatre
- Pool
- Presenter
- Rock Climbing
- Skate Boarding
- Skiing
- Singer
- Bass Baritone
- Snooker
- Soccer
- Swimming
- Table Tennis
- Tennis
- Theatre Sports
- Writer
- Yoga
Notes:
Creator of the 'Dare the Open Air' outdoor theatre programme for Melbourne Fringe Festival. Clown & mask work. Accomplished improvisation & contact improvisation artist.