Bruno Lawrence Movies and Career Information

Bruno Lawrence (12 February 1941 – 10 June 1995, Wellington, New Zealand) was a New Zealand musician and actor. Initially notable as founder of 1970s musical and theatrical "Blerta" he had well-regarded roles in several major films, and starred on the 1990s Australian satirical TV series Frontline. Born David Charles Lawrence in Worthing, West Sussex, England, his family migrated to New Zealand in 1946, settling in New Plymouth before moving to Wellington in 1948. He spent most of his life in New Zealand but also worked extensively in Australia. Bruno was a renowned jazz and rock drummer, playing drums in many bands, including Max Merritt & The Meteors, Blerta, and The Crocodiles. His last recording was with Bernie McGann, Larry Gales and Jonathan Crayford on "Jazz at the St. James" in 1989. In the 1970s, Lawrence founded Blerta ("Bruno Lawrence's Electric Revelation and Traveling Apparition"), a musical and theatrical co-operative active. There he performed with many of those he would work with later as an actor, including future film director Geoff Murphy and actor Ian Watkin. Lawrence gradually moved into TV and film, and by the late 80s had become one of the most famous actors