Heath Franklin
Heath Franklin (born 23 December 1980) is an Australian comedic performer, improviser and writer.[1]
| Heath Franklin | |
|---|---|
| Born | 23 December 1980 Sydney, Australia  | 
| Nationality | Australian | 
| Years active | 2005–present | 
| Genres | Sketch Comedy, Stand Up | 
| Notable works and roles | The Ronnie Johns Half Hour, Chopper Read impersonation | 
Career
    
He appeared on The Ronnie Johns Half Hour sketch comedy show,[2] ABC TV's Spicks and Specks,[3] Working Dog's Thank God You're Here[4] and in New Zealand, on 7 Days.[5] He also appeared in the show Randling with the teammate: Felicity Ward. Heath is in the team: Ducks of war.
He is best known for his impersonation of the infamous Australian criminal Mark Brandon "Chopper" Read.[2]
In 2010, Franklin starred in the New Zealand crime comedy, Predicament.[2]
Career appearances
    
    
As 'stage persona', "Chopper Read"
    
- Network Ten The Christmas Panel special (2006)
 - The Comedy Channel's Stand Up Australia (2007).
 - The Comedy Channel's Cracker Festival Gala (2008)
 - C4's Jono's New Show, New Zealand (2009)
 - The Comedy Channel's Sydney Comedy Festival Gala, (2009)
 - Network 10's 9am with David & Kim (2009)
 - The Comedy Channel's Make Deadshits History - Pentridge Interstituals (2009)
 - ABC's Spicks and Specks Xmas Special - "A Very Specky Christmas" (2009)
 - TV3's Aotearoha-ha Christmas Comedy Gala (NZ) (2009)
 - The Comedy Channel's Sydney Comedy Festival Cracker Gala (2010–11)
 - TV3's New Zealand Comedy Festival Gala (2010 and 2011)
 - C4's Jono's New Show, New Zealand (2012)
 - TV3's 7 Days (NZ) (2009–present, Recurring Panelist)
 - 10's Chopper's Republic Of Anzakistan, Australia (2016, Live Show with skits added for TV)
 
As himself
    
- The Ronnie Johns Half Hour, (2005–06) writer; performer[2]
 - Network 10's 9am with David & Kim (2008)
 - ABC's Spicks and Specks (2008, two episodes)
 - ABC's Spicks and Specks "A Very Specky Christmas" 2008 Christmas special (2008)[6]
 - Network 10/Roving Enterprises' The 7pm Project (2009)
 - Channel Seven/Working Dog's Thank God You're Here (2009)[4]
 - C4's Wanna-Ben (NZ) (2012)
 - ABC's Randling (2012, 6 episodes)[7]
 
As both
    
- Network 10/Southern Star's The Spearman Experiment (2009)
 - Review with Myles Barlow (2010)
 
Film appearances
    
- Predicament, a 2010 film (directed by Jason Stutter) − Mervyn Toebuck[2]
 
Radio appearances
    
- Triple M LocalWorks Merrick & Australia (2015-)
 
Awards and nominations
    
In 2006, Franklin was nominated for the Inaugural Graham Kennedy Logie Award for "Most Outstanding New Talent" regarding his work on The Ronnie Johns Half Hour.[8] He also performed warm-up duties for the Logies.
ARIA Music Awards
    
The ARIA Music Awards are a set of annual ceremonies presented by Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), which recognise excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of the music of Australia. They commenced in 1987.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARIA Music Awards of 2010 | Heath Franklin's Chopper: Make Deadsh*ts History | ARIA Award for Best Comedy Release | Nominated | [9][10] | 
References
    
- "Heath Franklin "Chopper" - The Sit Down Comedy Club"". Retrieved 21 October 2012.
 - "Giving Chopper the chop". Sydney Morning Herald. 21 September 2011. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
 - "Spicks and Specks: episode guide - Episode Three (11/02/2009)". Retrieved 21 October 2012.
 - "Thank God You're Here (Aus) Season 4 Episode 6 Heath Franklin, Kate Langbroek, Angus Sampson, Tony Truslove". ovguide.com. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
 - "Heath Franklin Is Chopper in A Hard Bastard's Guide to Life". biglittlecity.co.nz. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
 - "A Very Specky Christmas 2008". ABC TV. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
 - "Heath Franklin - The Teams - Randling - ABC TV". Retrieved 21 October 2012.
 - "Ronnie Johns Half Hour, The series 2 (2006)". Screen Australia. Retrieved 20 October 2012.
 - "ARIA Awards Best Comedy Release". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Retrieved 17 April 2022.
 - "24 hours - The arts diary", The Sydney Morning Herald, 24 September 2012