--- name: "Jack Thompson" canonical: "https://film.one/person/jack-thompson" fi1m_id: "jack-thompson" imdb_id: "nm0860233" tmdb_id: 12536 wikidata_id: "Q356383" roles: ["Actor"] born: "31 August 1940" reviewed_on_fi1m: 8 average_fi1m_score: 64 average_as: "actor" average_over: 8 updated: "2026-10-07T04:37:59.464400+00:00" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Jack Thompson ## Identity Jack Thompson - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/jack-thompson - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** jack-thompson - **IMDb ID:** nm0860233 - **TMDB ID:** 12536 - **Wikidata ID:** Q356383 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Thompson_(actor), https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q356383, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0860233/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/12536 Actor. Born 31 August 1940 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 31 August 1940, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia - **Active:** 1971–2013 - **Also known as:** 杰克·汤普森, جک تامپسون - **Average Fi1m score:** 64, as actor, over 8 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1970s 83 (2), 1990s 60 (2), 2000s 55 (3), 2010s 61 (1) - **Fi1m against the critics:** 62 to 59 across 5 titles - **Score spread:** 2 at 80+, 3 at 60–79, 3 under 60 - **Lead roles:** 0 of 6 acting credits billed first or second - **Genres:** Drama 6, Action 3, Romance 3, Thriller 3, Adventure 2, Crime 1 - **Screen time:** 17 hours of reviewed films - **Box office:** $1,375m across 8 films with figures - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Thompson_(actor), https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q356383, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0860233/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/12536 ## Streaming the US now - **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Wake in Fright*](https://film.one/film/wake-in-fright.md) (86), [*The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith*](https://film.one/film/the-chant-of-jimmie-blacksmith.md) (80) - **The Roku Channel:** [*Wind*](https://film.one/film/wind.md) (60) - **Disney+:** [*Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones*](https://film.one/film/star-wars-episode-ii-attack-of-the-clones.md) (54) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on Jack Thompson > Jack Thompson gives rugged men and official figures a persuasive voice and weight. We value that authority, especially in his Australian work, but it cannot rescue a part written chiefly to explain the plot. A drink is offered in *Wake in Fright* (1971), and refusing it becomes a problem. Jack Thompson's Dick has a supporting place in Ted Kotcheff's account of Australian men making company frightening. We were frightened by the pressure behind that hospitality, by the sense that taking part was becoming compulsory. Thompson's ruggedness belongs here, in a film suspicious of the masculine habits that would become central to his casting. The repeated lessons about men do grow predictable, though that scarcely makes the film more comfortable to watch. The leads in *Petersen* (1974) and *Sunday Too Far Away* (1975) followed during the Australian New Wave, when macho and larrikin roles helped establish him and risked limiting him. We like the firmness he brings to a part, but ruggedness is a narrow requirement to keep placing on an actor. As defence lawyer Major J.F. Thomas in *Breaker Morant* (1980), his authority has a more specific job to do. The performance brought him international notice. From the 1980s onward, Thompson moved between Australian leads and Hollywood supporting parts, often playing lawyers, officers or mentors. Steven Soderbergh's *The Good German* (2006) gives him little to work with, despite the striking imitation of old studio films around him. As Congressman Breimer, he gets one of the rooms in which Paul Attanasio's screenplay has men explain the plot, while its central character remains largely passive. We stopped caring which piece of paper mattered, and Thompson's presence could not make us care again. The fault is in the writing, but there is little here to recommend as an encounter with his acting. His four films with director Bruce Beresford and three with writer David Williamson offer a more promising route into the work than a list of Hollywood appearances. Those recurring collaborations are worth attending to when so many of the familiar parts ask for much the same masculine assurance. We would start with *Breaker Morant* to see that assurance put to work by a defence lawyer, then try *Wake in Fright* for considerably less reassuring company. The latter comes with a firm warning about its real animal cruelty. ## Biography Jack Thompson, AM (born 31 August 1940) is an Australian actor. He studied at the University of Queensland before beginning his career in television series such as Spyforce. He became a leading figure in the Australian New Wave with roles in films including Wake in Fright (1971), Sunday Too Far Away (1975), Breaker Morant (1980) and The Man from Snowy River (1982). Thompson won Best Actor awards at the AFI Awards and Cannes Film Festival for Breaker Morant. He later appeared in international productions such as Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002), Australia (2008) and The Good German (2006), in which he played Congressman Breimer. He received a Living Legend Award at the 2005 Inside Film Awards and was made an honorary member of the Australian Cinematographers Society in 2002. *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, themoviedb.org, watch.plex.tv.* ## On Fi1m (8) - *The Great Gatsby* (2013), Fi1m 61, as Dr. Walter Perkins — [page](https://film.one/film/the-great-gatsby.md) - *Australia* (2008), Fi1m 58, as Kipling Flynn — [page](https://film.one/film/australia.md) - *The Good German* (2006), Fi1m 53, as Congressman Breimer — [page](https://film.one/film/the-good-german.md) - *Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones* (2002), Fi1m 54, as Cliegg Lars — [page](https://film.one/film/star-wars-episode-ii-attack-of-the-clones.md) - *Broken Arrow* (1996), Fi1m 60, as Chairman, Joint Chief of Staff — [page](https://film.one/film/broken-arrow.md) - *Wind* (1992), Fi1m 60, as Jack Neville — [page](https://film.one/film/wind.md) - *The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith* (1978), Fi1m 80, as Rev. Neville — [page](https://film.one/film/the-chant-of-jimmie-blacksmith.md) - *Wake in Fright* (1971), Fi1m 86, as Dick — [page](https://film.one/film/wake-in-fright.md) ## Complete filmography (96) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *Runt* (2024), as Earl Robert-Barren - *Faraway Downs* (2023), series, as Kipling Flynn - *Poker Face* (2022), as Shaman Bill (Paje) - *High Ground* (2021), as Moran - *Never Too Late* (2020), as Angus Wilson - *Home* (2019), Actor - *On The Ropes* (2018), series, as Strick - *Swinging Safari* (2018), as Mayor - *Don't Tell* (2017), as Bob Myers - *Blue World Order* (2017), as Harris - *The Light Between Oceans* (2016), as Ralph Addicott - *Blood on the Coal* (2015), as Narrator - *Ruben Guthrie* (2015), as Peter Guthrie - *Gallipoli: The Last Anzacs Tell All* (2015), as Narrator - *Devil's Playground* (2014), series, as Cardinal Neville - *Around the Block* (2013), as Mr. O'Donnell - *Mystery Road* (2013), as Charlie Murray - *The Great Gatsby* (2013), as Dr. Walter Perkins — Fi1m 61, [page](https://film.one/film/the-great-gatsby.md) - *Blinder* (2013), as Charlie "Chang" Hyde - *Oakie's Outback Adventures* (2011), as Orpheus - *The Telegram Man* (2011), as Bill Williams - *Don't Be Afraid of the Dark* (2010), as Harris - *Mao’s Last Dancer* (2009), as Judge Woodrow Seals - *Bombora - The Story of Australian Surfing* (2009), series, Actor - *Australia* (2008), as Kipling Flynn — Fi1m 58, [page](https://film.one/film/australia.md) - *Ten Empty* (2008), as Bobby Thompson - *Leatherheads* (2008), as Harvey - *December Boys* (2007), as Bandy - *Bastard Boys* (2007), series, Actor - *The Good German* (2006), as Congressman Breimer — Fi1m 53, [page](https://film.one/film/the-good-german.md) - *Whaledreamers* (2006), as Narrator (voice) - *Feed* (2005), as Richard · Executive Producer - *Gallipoli: The Untold Stories* (2005), as Narrator - *Man-Thing* (2005), as Schist - *Oyster Farmer* (2004), as Skippy - *Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson* (2004), as Other Voices (voice) - *The Assassination of Richard Nixon* (2004), as Jack Jones - *Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones* (2002), as Cliegg Lars — Fi1m 54, [page](https://film.one/film/star-wars-episode-ii-attack-of-the-clones.md) - *My Brother Jack* (2001), series, as Bernard Brewster - *Original Sin* (2001), as Alan Jordan - *South Pacific* (2001), as Captain George Brackett - *Yolngu Boy* (2001), as Policeman - *The Magic Pudding* (2000), as Buncle (voice) - *Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil* (1997), as Sonny Seiler - *Breaking Up* (1997), Thanks - *Under the Lighthouse Dancing* (1997), as Harry - *Excess Baggage* (1997), as Alexander - *McLeod's Daughters* (1996), as Jack McLeod - *Last Dance* (1996), as The Governor - *Flight of the Albatross* (1996), as Mike - *The Thorn Birds: The Missing Years* (1996), as The Judge - *Broken Arrow* (1996), as Chairman, Joint Chief of Staff — Fi1m 60, [page](https://film.one/film/broken-arrow.md) - *A Woman of Independent Means* (1995), series, as Sam Garner - *Peter Allen: The Boy From Oz* (1995), as Narrator (voice) - *The Sum of Us* (1994), as Harry Mitchell - *The Dwelling Place* (1994), series, as Richard - *A Far Off Place* (1993), as John Ricketts - *Ruby Cairo* (1992), as Ed - *Wind* (1992), as Jack Neville — Fi1m 60, [page](https://film.one/film/wind.md) - *Turtle Beach* (1992), as Ralph - *Resistance* (1992), as Mr Wilson - *Trouble in Paradise* (1989), as Jake - *The Rainbow Warrior Conspiracy* (1988), as Stuart Irving - *The Riddle of the Stinson* (1988), as Bernard O'Reilly - *Beryl Markham: A Shadow on the Sun* (1988), as Tom Campbell Black - *Ground Zero* (1987), as Trebilcock - *Kojak: The Price of Justice* (1987), as Aubrey Dubose - *The Last Frontier* (1986), series, as Nick Stenning - *Short Circuit* (1986), as Party Guest - *Burke & Wills* (1985), as Robert O'Hara Burke - *Flesh + Blood* (1985), as Hawkwood - *Waterfront* (1984), as Maxey Woodbury - *Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence* (1983), as Hicksley - *Bad Blood* (1982), as Stan Graham - *The Letter* (1982), as Robert Crosbie - *A Woman Called Golda* (1982), as Ariel - *The Man from Snowy River* (1982), as Clancy - *The Club* (1980), as Laurie Holden - *The Earthling* (1980), as Ross Daley - *Breaker Morant* (1980), as Major J.F. Thomas - *The Journalist* (1979), as Simon Morris - *The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith* (1978), as Rev. Neville — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/the-chant-of-jimmie-blacksmith.md) - *Because He's My Friend* (1978), as Geoff - *Mad Dog Morgan* (1976), as Detective Manwaring - *Caddie* (1976), as Ted - *Tully* (1975), as Vic Parkes - *That Lady from Peking* (1975), as Flunky - *Scobie Malone* (1975), as Scobie Malone - *Sunday Too Far Away* (1975), as Foley - *Petersen* (1974), as Tony Petersen - *The Evil Touch* (1973), series, Actor - *Libido* (1973), Actor - *Spyforce* (1971), series, Actor - *Wake in Fright* (1971), as Dick — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/film/wake-in-fright.md) - *Where Dead Men Lie* (1971), as Commentator (voice) - *Riptide* (1969), series, as Ted ## Gallery - ![Jack Thompson](https://film.one/media/person/9689/gallery-46e87092f0ad.jpg) Jack Thompson — Hpeterswald, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a0/Jack_Thompson_speaks_at_the_media_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![walk of fame, Randwick, Sydney (2014)](https://film.one/media/person/9689/gallery-2b6c8fea9906.jpg) walk of fame, Randwick, Sydney (2014) — Sardaka (talk) 06:02, 14 October 2014 (UTC), CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a2/Film_Walk_of_Fame_Ritz_Cinema_Sydney_021.JPG/1280px-Film_Walk_of_Fame_Ritz_Cinema_Sydney_021.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![w:Jack Thompson (actor) with his son Bill Thompson (2011)](https://film.one/media/person/9689/gallery-74a416bd2dbc.jpg) w:Jack Thompson (actor) with his son Bill Thompson (2011) — Eva Rinaldi, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c0/Jack_Thompson_%28actor%29_with_his_son_Bill_Thompson.jpg/1280px-Jack_Thompson_%28actor%29_with_his_son_Bill_Thompson.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![w:Jack Thompson (actor) with his son 2011](https://film.one/media/person/9689/gallery-c6424758f332.jpg) w:Jack Thompson (actor) with his son 2011 — Eva Rinaldi, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6e/Jack_Thompson_Red_Carpet_-_Flickr_-_Eva_Rinaldi_Celebrity_and_Live_Music_Photographer.jpg/1280px-Jack_Thompson_Red_Carpet_-_Flickr_-_Eva_Rinaldi_Celebrity_and_Live_Music_Photographer.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Jack Thompson](https://film.one/media/person/9689/gallery-2b3890ea8416.jpg) Jack Thompson — Image via TMDB - ![Creative ambassador for the New Year’s Eve Fireworks, veteran actor Jack Thompson speaks at the media briefing on New Years Eve. (2015)](https://film.one/media/person/9689/gallery-3bdfa2f900b4.jpg) Creative ambassador for the New Year’s Eve Fireworks, veteran actor Jack Thompson speaks at the media briefing on New Years Eve. (2015) — Hpeterswald, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/62/Jack_Thompson_speaks_at_the_media.jpg/1280px-Jack_Thompson_speaks_at_the_media.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) ## Awards ### Other awards — 1 won - Member of the Order of Australia 1986: Member of the Order of Australia (won) *From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.* --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/jack-thompson