Tony Briggs


Tony Briggs is an Australian actor, writer and producer. He is a former track and field athlete. He is best known for creating the stage play The Sapphires telling the true story of an Aboriginal singing group, including his mother and aunt, who toured Vietnam during the war.

Career

Television

Between 1987 and 1988, Briggs had the recurring role of banker Pete Baxter
on television soap opera Neighbours. This was followed by many roles in television series such as Blue Heelers, Stingers and The Man From Snowy River. From 1997 he appeared in children's television series Ocean Girl as Dave Hartley. From 2009, Briggs appeared in the television series The Circuit as Mick Mathers. In 2011, Briggs played Bilal in The Slap, based on the book by Christos Tsiolkas. He also had a small role in Redfern Now in 2012. In 2016, he played the role of Boondee in the television drama series Cleverman and Brett in Nowhere Boys: Two Moons Rising. In 2017 he had a role in Seven Types of Ambiguity and was involved in creating and writing the series The Warriors as well as appearing in a small role.

Theatre

Briggs wrote the Helpmann Award winning play The Sapphires which was first performed in 2004. It tells the story of The Sapphires, a singing group of four Koori women who tour Vietnam during the war. It is inspired by the true story of his mother, Laurel Robinson, and aunt, Lois Peeler, who toured Vietnam as singers in 1968. Briggs adapted the play for the 2012 film The Sapphires.

Film

His movie roles include Australian Rules in 2002, Bran Nue Dae in 2009 and Healing in 2014.
A terrific little classic Joey in 1997.

Athletics career

Briggs was a successful 400m hurdler and was runner-up at the Australian Athletics Championships from 1990 to 1992. He also finished third at the 1990 Championships in the 110m hurdles. He was an Australian Institute of Sport athletics scholarship holder from 1986 to 1987.