Biography

Brad McCarthy is a South African-born Australian actor, writer, and director with a passion for bold storytelling. Based in Melbourne, he began his acting career on stage at the Adelaide Fringe, earning leading roles in productions such as After Dinner and Tinder Surprise. His portrayal of Gary Hennessey in Puberty Blues-adapted for the stage by Deadset Theatre Company-garnered critical acclaim, leading to multiple sold-out seasons and performances across schools statewide.

Brad made his feature film debut in TypeFace Production's Offstage, playing Arlen, a young theatre director struggling to bring his vision to life. The film gained recognition locally and in Los Angeles, setting the stage for his foray into filmmaking. Shortly after, Brad founded Vinny Walsh Films and, alongside TypeFace, co-created Etiquette, a dramedy short that earned him the Best Writer award at the Launch Film Festival and a Best Actor nomination at Serbia's New Generation Film Festival. His screen presence continued to grow with roles in Downpour (Adelaide Film Festival) and Alice Maio Mackay's riveting international horror short The Serpent's Nest. This, alongside Vinny Walsh's other short films Run Nine, Capital, Learning to Taste and Quirkey Turkey. Recently, Brad co-wrote and starred in Donnie Doesn't Know, collaborating once again with TypeFace and South Australian based Scuti Productions acting alongside Nick Buckland (Limbo, Neighbours).

On the big screen, Brad plays a leading role in Emotion Is Dead, directed by Pete Williams (The New Breed, Making Their Mark), alongside Adam Tuominen (Underbelly Razor, Escape From Pretoria) and Tatiana Goode (A Sunburnt Christmas, Maverix). Premiering to sold-out crowds at the Adelaide Film Festival and garnering an encore screening, the film is now set for North American distribution and a streaming release. He also appears as Harvey in the upcoming thriller Numbered Lives, starring alongside Jeremy Piven (Entourage, Serendipity, The Performance), set for a 2025 cinematic release.

Brad has recently teamed up with Myles McEwen Films, lending Vinny Walsh's support in producing the young directing duo's (Myles McEwen, Ripley Stevens) terrifying film Nightfall: A Paranormal Investigation. The film has been a powerhouse contender at film festivals all across the globe winning numerous awards and gaining stellar reviews. Brad is currently co-writing an original feature film concept of his own alongside Myles McEwen titled Penrose, which he will also star in, promising to continue the directing duo's incredible run in the horror space.

Beyond film and theatre, Brad has featured in music videos for platinum artist 360 (Made Me Like This) and rising star YNG Martyr (5 Years), further cementing his versatility across the entertainment industry. With a dynamic career spanning theatre, film, and creative storytelling, Brad McCarthy continues to push artistic boundaries-both on-screen and behind the camera.

- IMDb mini biography by: Brad McCarthy