One of Australia’s most accomplished, respected and versatile performers, Simon has has enjoyed great success both in Australia and the UK in film, television, stage, concert appearances and cabaret.
Simon began his career at the age of 13 when he starred in Fred Schepisi’s seminalS feature film The Devil’s Playground for which he won the AFI Award for Best Actor. Simon is currently starring in Foxtel’s highly acclaimed new drama series Devil’s Playground in which he reprises the role of Tom Allen that he created as a boy in 1975 in the original film. He is also an executive producer of the project.
In 2007 Simon travelled to the UK to star as Captain von Trapp opposite Connie Fisher in Andrew Lloyd Webber's production of The Sound of Music at the London Palladium. He went on to appear as Joe in When The Rain Stops Falling at the Almeida Theatre, starred as Georges opposite John Barrowman’s Albin in La Cage Aux Folles at the Playhouse Theatre, London, and in the West End premiere of Holding The Man at the Trafalgar Studios as well as reprising his role in The Sound of Music at Toronto’s Princess of Wales Theatre.
Earlier UK theatre credits include Carl-Magnus in A Little Night Music at the (Royal National Theatre, Raoul in Phantom of the Opera (Her Majesty’s Theatre), Leonardo in Leonardo – A Portrait of Love (Old Fire Station Oxford) Cliff in Cabaret (Crucible Theatre, Sheffield) Steve in Jeffrey (Greenwich Theatre) and The Life of the World to Come (Almeida Theatre)
Australian musical theatre credits include Marius in the original Australian cast of Les Miserables, Vernon in They’re Playing Our Song, Harry in Company, Billy Flynn in Chicago, Whizzer in Falsettos (nominated Best Musical Performance Sydney Theatre Critics’ Circle Awards), Dexter in High Society, Burrs in The Wild Party, George Puttnam in Take Flight and Billy Crocker in Anything Goes for which he received the Green Room Award for Best Actor in a Musical. Simon recently starred as Mr Banks in the Australian and New Zealand seasons Cameron Mackintosh’s production of Mary Poppins for Disney Theatrical and as Georges in La Cage Aux Folles opposite Todd McKenney as Albin for The Production Company.
Sydney Theatre Company productions include Mrs Warren’s Profession, The Wharf Revue 2013, Jonah Jones, The Herbal Bed, She Stoops to Conquer, Mr Kolpert and the world premiere of Up For Grabs. Simon played Mason Marzac in the Australian premiere of Take Me Out for the Melbourne Theatre Company and starred in the world premieres of October and Satango for Griffin Theatre Company. He created the role of Francis Bacon in Stephen Sewell’s acclaimed Three Furies directed by Jim Sharman for 2005 Sydney Festival, 2006 Perth and Adelaide Festivals (nominated Best Actor Sydney Theatre Awards 2006)
Simon’s countless television credits include Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, Hustle, Rescue: Special Ops, The Alice, All Saints, Small Claims III, Thank God You’re Here, South Pacific, Brides of Christ, Scales of Justice, Water Rats, Danielle Steele’s The Ring, The One That Got Away, Heroes Mountain, After the Deluge, Grass Roots, Preservation and Postcard Bandit, and his 23-year stint as one of the most popular presenters on ABC TV’s Play School. In 2006 he hosted his own television variety series Studio A With Simon Burke on Australia’s FOXTEL network. Feature films include Passion, Pitch Black, and Travelling Light.
From their inauguration in 2001 until 2006, and again in 2012, Simon hosted and co-wrote the Helpmann Awards - honouring excellence in live performance in Australia.
In January 2009 Simon was thrilled to make his debut at Carnegie Hall, where he hosted and performed in a gala concert Australia Plays Broadway.
His first solo album Something About Always, which he co-produced with Musical Director Daniel Edmonds, was released in 2009.
His solo cabaret show, also titled Something About Always, had its world premiere at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival in June 2011.
Federal President of Actors Equity 2004-2014. Proud Member since 1974.
Current Vice-President FIA (International Federation of Actors)
