Murray Bartlett

Early life and education

Bartlett was born in Sydney, New South Wales, around 1971. When he was four years old, he moved with his family to Perth, Western Australia.

He attended John Curtin College of the Arts in Fremantle, where he graduated from the drama program in 1988. Upon graduating, he was admitted to the National Institute of Dramatic Art in Sydney.

Career

Bartlett pursued an acting career in Australia for several years, including a role in the series headLand. In 1993, he played con man Luke Foster in Neighbours. In 2000, he relocated to the U.S. His first big break there came a few years later when he was cast as a guest star in the HBO series Sex and the City. He also played D.K., John Crichton's best friend, in four episodes of the Sci-Fi Channel series Farscape. In 2006, he joined Hugh Jackman in the Australian touring company production of Jackman's Broadway hit The Boy From Oz.

From March 2007 until the show's cancellation in September 2009, Bartlett was a cast member on the CBS daytime soap opera Guiding Light, where he played Cyrus Foley. He starred as Dominic "Dom" Basaluzzo in the HBO comedy-drama series Looking from 2014 to 2015, and then reprised his role in the series finale television film, Looking: The Movie in 2016. In 2017, he portrayed a recurring role in the musical drama series Nashville. Bartlett assumed the central role of Michael 'Mouse' Tolliver in the Netflix revival of Tales of the City.

In 2021, Bartlett starred in The White Lotus as Armond, the luxury resort manager and a recovering drug addict who has been "clean" for five years. Bartlett got the role through a self tape audition. For his portrayal, Bartlett received nominations at the Screen Actors Guild Awards and Independent Spirit Awards and won at the AACTA Awards, Critics' Choice Television Awards, and Primetime Emmy Awards.

In 2023, Bartlett appeared in the HBO post-apocalyptic drama series The Last of Us, portraying Frank in the episode "Long, Long Time". At the time of its airing, the episode received universal acclaim and was widely considered to be the best of the show's first season.

Other activities

Bartlett is a member of the jury panel for Adelaide Film Festival in Adelaide, South Australia, which runs from 15 to 26 October 2025.

Personal life

Bartlett came out as gay early in his career. When asked about the decision in a 2021 interview, he stated, "I didn't feel like I really had an alternative. I just never felt I could ever be anything but myself." He previously lived with his partner Matt in Provincetown, Massachusetts.

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and nominations

References

References

1. (9 September 2021). "'I want to show intimacy between men': how Murray Bartlett became a breakout star at 50". The Guardian.
2. (2 December 2022). "Alumni". John Curtin College of the Arts.
3. (25 November 2022). "Murray Bartlett is Shining Bright". GQ Australia.
4. (22 March 2015). ""Everybody is looking for something": Looking's Murray Bartlett on his series' universal appeal".
5. Andreeva, Nellie. (23 August 2013). "Scott Bakula Joins HBO's Michael Lannan Dramedy Series, Now Titled ''Looking''". [[Deadline Hollywood]].
6. (20 July 2016). "Looking the Movie: a fitting sendoff for HBO's slowburning show". [[The Guardian]].
7. Ausiello, Michael. (22 September 2016). "''Nashville'' Season 5: ''Looking'' Fave Joins Cast... as Will's New Love?".
8. Petski, Denise. (16 October 2018). "''Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City'': Paul Gross To Reprise Role In Netflix Revival; Full Cast Set".
9. (13 August 2021). "Murray Bartlett on filming The White Lotus: 'How do we deal with our white privileged guilt?'".
10. Liebman, Lisa. (16 August 2021). "Murray Bartlett on All the Shit That Goes Down in the White Lotus Finale".
11. Vaillancourt, Daniel. (26 January 2022). "How Murray Bartlett avoids camp with his 'White Lotus' hotel manager".
12. Lussier, Germain. (10 January 2023). "The Last Of Us Is the Best Video Game Adaptation Ever, But It's So Much More". [[G/O Media]].
13. Opie, David. (10 January 2023). "The Last of Us is so much more than just The Walking Dead meets The Mandalorian". [[Hearst Communications]].
14. Nugent, John. (10 January 2023). "The Last Of Us Review". [[Empire (magazine).
15. Cote, David. (29 January 2023). "In The Last Of Us, Nick Offerman and Murray Bartlett prove that true love survives the apocalypse". [[G/O Media]].
16. (28 April 1996). "AFF Juries".
17. (16 August 2021). "Murray Bartlett On Letting Loose As Armond in The White Lotus". [[GQ]].
18. (10 May 2021). "New HBO Limited Series THE WHITE LOTUS From Mike White Debuts July 11". [[WarnerMedia]].
19. Feinberg, Scott. (19 June 2023). "From 'The Last of Us' to 'Succession': The Stacked Race for Drama Guest Actor".
20. Jackson, Angelique. (26 January 2022). "Nicole Kidman, 'The Power of the Dog' Win Top Prizes at 11th Annual AACTA International Awards".
21. Hill, Libby. (13 March 2022). "'Succession' Won Big at the Critics Choice TV Awards, but So Did These Shows".
22. Petski, Denise. (6 December 2022). "Critics Choice TV Nominations: 'Abbott Elementary' Leads Field With 6, Followed By 'Better Call Saul' With 5".
23. Lincoln, Ross A.. (14 June 2023). "'The Last of Us,' 'Somebody Somewhere' Lead Nominees at 2023 GALECA: Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics Dorian TV Awards". [[TheWrap]].
24. Petski, Denis. (7 July 2022). "'This Is Us', 'Succession', 'Severance', 'Ted Lasso' lead 2022 HCA TV nominations". [[Deadline Hollywood]].
25. Moye, Clarence. (11 July 2023). "2023 Hollywood Critics Association TV Awards: 'Yellowjackets,' 'The Boys' Lead All Nominees with 14 Nominations". [[Awards Daily]].
26. (14 December 2021). "Indie Spirit Awards 2022: Full List of Nominations".
27. Sederholm, Jillian. (5 December 2023). "2024 Film Independent Spirit Awards nominations: See the full list".
28. Carey, Matthew. (12 September 2022). "Australian Actor Murray Bartlett, 'The White Lotus' Standout, Wins First Emmy, Thanks Mom Down Under".
29. Lewis, Hilary. (12 July 2023). "Emmys 2023: List of Nominees".
30. (18 December 2023). "IPA Reveals Nominations for the 28th Satellite Awards". [[International Press Academy]].
31. (12 January 2022). "SAG Nominations: 'House of Gucci' and 'Power of the Dog' Score Big; 'Succession' and 'Ted Lasso' Lead TV".