14-970: David Charles Lawrence (12 February 1941 – 10 June 1995) known as Bruno Lawrence was an English-born musician and actor, who was active in the industry in New Zealand and Australia. Initially notable as a musician and founder of 1970s ensemble Blerta , he went on to well-regarded roles in several major films. His television work included starring in 1990s era Australian satirical series Frontline . Born in Worthing , West Sussex, England in February 1941 he moved with his family to New Zealand in 1946. The family settled in New Plymouth before relocating to Wellington in 1948. Lawrence spent most of his life in New Zealand, but also worked extensively in Australia. He
28-483: A blind man), and 1986 miniseries The Great Bookie Robbery (playing gun-loving robber Cracka Park). In 1990, he portrayed John Peterson in the film, The Rogue Stallion . His last and, at least in Australia, best-known screen role was as devious, golf-loving TV producer Brian Thompson in 1990s satirical TV series Frontline . In 1994 while enjoying the success of the Australian television series Frontline , Lawrence
42-485: Is a selection of notable appearances. The Aotearoa Music Awards (previously known as New Zealand Music Awards (NZMA)) are an annual awards night celebrating excellence in New Zealand music and have been presented annually since 1965. Blerta Blerta ( "Bruno Lawrence's Electric Revelation and Travelling Apparition" ) was a New Zealand musical and theatrical co-operative active from 1971 until 1975. It
56-510: The New Zealand String Quartet . In the early 1970s, Lawrence founded Blerta ("Bruno Lawrence's Electric Revelation and Travelling Apparition"). The multi and theatrical co-operative toured New Zealand and in parts of Australia. Blerta saw him performing alongside many people he would work with later as an actor, including director Geoff Murphy , and actors Martyn Sanderson and Ian Watkin . Lawrence began acting in short films in
70-534: The eastern seaboard of Australia, and performing at the 1973 Aquarius Festival at the Northern Rivers NSW hippie town of Nimbin . The group lived in a commune for many years. Three families lived together, including those of Bruno Lawrence and Geoff Murphy. The group came to the attention of the New Zealand film industry and were employed at times to create work for TVNZ. The group were labelled as hippies during that time and were looked down upon by some in
84-556: The industry, despite the quality and nature of their work. Nevertheless, the band had a significant hit with their song "Dance All Around The World", which reached #13 in the N.Z. music charts in June 1972. The line-up changed throughout the years that Blerta travelled. Members included Lawrence, Fane Flaws , Beaver , Geoff Murphy , Tony Barry , Patrick Bleakley , Ian Watkin and Mick Lieber, as well as many others, of which some had previously worked with Bruno in bands and others joined along
98-420: The late 1960s. He won his first acting award, for television play Time Out , in 1971, although at this point music took up the majority of his time. By the late 1980s he had become one of New Zealand's most recognised actors on his own soil. Between 1981 and 1986 he was a much loved feature of many local films; he continued to act in occasional NZ productions through until 1993. Lawrence's breakthrough movie role
112-604: The script. He had earlier acted in Murphy's Utu (1983), about the New Zealand Wars of the 1860s, and cameoed in his breakthrough film Goodbye Pork Pie (1981). The Los Angeles Times compared his work in 1984 drama Heart of the Stag to that of "a young Brando". Bruno's Australian roles included Anthony Hopkins movie Spotswood (aka The Efficiency Expert ), Colleen McCullough adaptation An Indecent Obsession (playing
126-442: The way. The original line up was Bruno Lawrence, Corben Simpson , Kemp Turirangi, Geoff Murphy, Alan Moon, Tony Littlejohn, Beaver, Eric Foley, and Chris Seresin. The great adventure and experience of Blerta finished in 1975, with the troupe embarking on one last tour. Although Bruno Lawrence and Geoff Murphy were friends for many years, the two had a falling out five years prior to Lawrence's death. They never reconciled, and Murphy
140-542: Was a jazz and rock drummer in many bands, including two years with Max Merritt & The Meteors in Sydney, Quincy Conserve , Blerta , and The Crocodiles . His last recording was with Bernie McGann , Larry Gales and Jonathan Crayford on "Jazz at the St. James " in 1989. A remarkable show, it was repeated in 1990, this time with Vince Jones on vocals, Dave Addis on saxophone, Jonathan Crayford on piano, Rolf Stube on bass and added
154-537: Was absent from Lawrence's funeral. Blerta Revisited Blerta Revisited is a 2001 New Zealand documentary starring Bruno Lawrence and Ian Watkin . It was directed by Geoff Murphy . This is a collection of comedy skits, musical interludes and films from the Blerta archives. BLERTA was the 'Bruno Lawrence Electric Revelation and Travelling Apparition'. The production includes archive footage of Bruno Lawrence who had died in 1995. Extracts were taken from
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#1732870029652168-452: Was diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer. He died in Wellington , New Zealand , on 10 June 1995 at the age of 54. A biography, Bruno: The Bruno Lawrence Story by Roger Booth, and television documentary Numero Bruno (2000, directed by Steve La Hood), cover his life and work. Lawrence is also featured in compilation documentary Blerta Revisited (2001, directed by Geoff Murphy ). This
182-532: Was relationship drama Smash Palace (1981). Playing the former race car driver who leaves with his daughter after the breakdown of his marriage, Bruno won an award at the Manila Film Festival, and acclaim from American critic Pauline Kael . Further acclaim came with his leading role as the lone scientist in Geoff Murphy 's end-of-the-world tale, The Quiet Earth (1985), for which Bruno also helped write
196-592: Was the idea of Bruno Lawrence to arrange a group of musicians, actors and friends, who would travel around New Zealand on a tour to get away from the pressure of the music and movie scene. He organised the travelling group, and in October 1971, they departed on their tour. The group travelled around New Zealand in a very distinctive red bus, concluding in January 1973 at the first large outdoor music festival in New Zealand , The Great Ngaruawahia Music Festival , before heading up
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