Sharlto Copley
Birthdate: Nov 27, 1973
Birthplace: Johannesburg, South Africa
South African-born Sharlto Copley, known for his vivid portrayals and work in features made in the U.S., South Africa, Russia, and India, made a striking feature in his friend Neill Blomkamp’s sci-fi thriller, District 9 (2009). It established Copley as a specialist in science fiction and fantasy, followed by his supporting roles in The A-Team (2010), Liam Neeson and Bradley Cooper, and Sebastian Cordero’s Europa Report (2013).
Copley reunited with Blomkamp for his anticipated Hollywood debut, the dystopian sci-fi thriller, Elysium (2013), with Matt Damon, Jodie Foster, Alice Braga, Diego Luna, and Wagner Moura, and earning $286 million worldwide. Copley’s visibility in Hollywood and the U.S. features escalated, with a supporting role in Spike Lee’s American remake of Park Chan-wook’s 2003 original, Oldboy (2013), with Josh Brolin, Elizabeth Olsen, Samuel L. Jackson, and Rami Malek; and then his first starring role, in the post-apocalyptic horror film, Open Grave (2013), with Thomas Kretschmann; and in his biggest movie yet, Disney’s Maleficent (2014), with Angelina Jolie, Elle Fanning, Janet McTeer, Imelda Staunton, and Juno Temple.
Perhaps Copley’s most unusual role came in his third feature with co-writer-director Blomkamp, the dystopian sci-fi film, Chappie (2015), in which Copley played the title character, a robot, which Copley enacted with the cast (and was later used as a reference by CGI animators), including High Jackman, Dev Patel, and Sigourney Weaver.
In his second feature with Russian filmmaker-producer Timur Bekmambetov, Copley starred in the sci-fi thriller, Hardcore Henry (2015), with Haley Bennett and Tim Roth. In a major change of pace, Copley joined the fine ensemble of John Krasinski’s indie comedy-drama, The Hollars (2016), with Richard Jenkins, Margo Martindale, Krasinski, and Anna Kendrick.
Yet again surprising expectations, Copley was a major part of the mayhem in Ben Wheatley’s black comedy, Free Fire (2016), with Brie Larson, Armie Hammer, and Cillian Murphy. A different kind of crime comedy was Copley’s next feature, Gringo (2018), under Nash Edgerton’s direction with cast members David Oyelowo, Charlize Theron, Joel Edgerton, Amanda Seyfried, and Thandiwe Newton.
Perhaps Sharlto Copley’s most striking and ambitious performance to date is his electrifying portrayal of The Unabomber aka Ted Kaczynski in Tony Stone’s striking indie feature, Ted K (2021), which Copley also produced. Copley returned to his native Africa opposite Idris Elba in the action thriller, Beast (2022), directed by Baltasar Kormákur. In 2021, Copley rejoined fellow actor Dev Patel, but this time with Patel as co-writer-producer-director, for Monkey Man (2022 release), with Patel and Sobhita Dhulipala.
Under producer Sam Raimi, Copley joined the cast of the action-thriller Boy Kills World (2023), with Bill Skarsgård, Jessica Rothe, and Yayan Ruhian, followed by writer-director Rupert Wyatt’s exotic adventure, Desert Warrior (2022), with Anthony Mackie, Ben Kingsley, Sami Bouajila, and Ghassan Massoud.
Copley co-starred with star/director/writer/producer Dev Patel in the India-based thriller, Monkey Man (2024), which executive producer Jordan Peele arranged (through his Monkeypaw Productions shingle) to be theatrically released by Universal Pictures, and featured an Indian cast including Pitobash, Sobhita Dhulipala, Sikander Kher, and Vipin Sharma, and premiered at the South by Southwest film festival.
Personal Details
Born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa, Sharlto Copley’s mother is Linda Stocks and his father is a retired university professor, Dr. Bruce Copley. Copley attended Johannesburg-based St. Andrew’s Preparatory School and Redhill School. Copley has a musician brother, Donovan. Copley has been married to actor-model Tanit Phoenix since 2016; the couple has one daughter, Sielle Phoenix-Copley. His height is 6’.
Filmography
actor
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- 2024 | Boy Kills WorldasGlen Van Der Koy
Boy Kills World
A fever dream action film that follows Boy, a deaf person with a vibrant imagination. When his family is murdered, he is trained by a mysterious shaman to repress his childish imagination and become an instrument of death.
- 2024 | Monkey ManasTiger
Monkey Man
An anonymous young man unleashes a campaign of vengeance against the corrupt leaders who murdered his mother and continue to systematically victimize the poor and powerless.
- 2022 |
- 2021 | Desert Warrioras Emperor Kisra
- 2021 | Seal Teamas Switch
- 2018 | Sapien Safari
- 2018 |
- 2017 |
- 2016 | The Hollarsas Ron Hollar
- 2016 | Hardcore HenryasJimmy
Hardcore Henry
Henry is resurrected from death with no memory, and he must save his wife from a telekinetic warlord with a plan to bio-engineer soldiers.
- 2015 |
- 2014 | MaleficentasStefan
Maleficent
A vengeful fairy is driven to curse an infant princess, only to discover that the child may be the one person who can restore peace to their troubled land.
- 2013 | Europa Reportas James Corrigan
- 2013 | Oldboyas Adrian
- 2013 | Open Graveas John
- 2013 |
- 2010 | Spoon
- 2010 | The A-Teamas Murdock
- 2010 | The A-TeamasMurdock
The A-Team
A group of Iraq War veterans look to clear their name with the U.S. Military, who suspect the four men of committing a crime for which they were framed.
- 2009 | District 9as Wikus van de Merwe
Some Facts About Sharlto Copley
Life Before Acting: Before he began a professional acting career at age 35, Sharlto Copley was South Africa’s youngest television producer.
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