14 Facts About Hugh Keays-Byrne

Hugh Keays-Byrne began his career on stage in his native England, where he was member of the Royal Shakespeare Company between 1968 and 1972.

Hugh Keays-Byrne was born in Srinagar, in the state of Jammu and Kashmir to British parents; his family returned to Britain when India was partitioned.

Hugh Keays-Byrne was raised mainly in Surrey, and picked up an interest in acting after being spotted by a drama teacher at the comprehensive school he was attending.

Hugh Keays-Byrne got his first professional acting roles with a Theatre in Education troupe, and was mentored by Bernard Miles at the Mermaid Theatre in London.

Between 1968 and 1972, Hugh Keays-Byrne had parts in Royal Shakespeare Company productions including As You Like It, The Balcony, King Lear, Hamlet, Much Ado About Nothing, A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Tempest or The Enchanted Island, Doctor Faustus, The Man of Mode, Troilus and Cressida, Enemies, The Revenger's Tragedy, and Bartholomew Fair.

Hugh Keays-Byrne made his first television appearance in 1967 on the British television programme Boy Meets Girl.

Hugh Keays-Byrne was part of Peter Brook's production of A Midsummer Night's Dream with the Royal Shakespeare Company, which toured Australia in 1973.

Hugh Keays-Byrne decided to remain in Australia after the tour ended.

Hugh Keays-Byrne then continued to act in post-apocalyptic and science fiction films such as The Chain Reaction, Strikebound, Starship and The Blood of Heroes.

Hugh Keays-Byrne played Grunchlk in the science fiction television series Farscape and its conclusion Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars.

Hugh Keays-Byrne returned to the Mad Max franchise in the 2015 film Mad Max: Fury Road as the main villain Immortan Joe.

The film was nominated for ten Academy Awards, including Best Picture, winning six, and Hugh Keays-Byrne was nominated for the MTV Movie Award for Best Villain.

Hugh Keays-Byrne died on 2 December 2020 at Gosford Hospital in NSW, at the age of 73.

Hugh Keays-Byrne's death was announced by his friend, The Man from Hong Kong director Brian Trenchard-Smith.