Chum Ehelepola is an Australian actor, film maker and teacher. Ehelepola has recently starred as Dennis in the ABC TV series, The Newsreader, and is also cast as Jagadish in the streaming series Nautilus.
Early life
Ehelepola was born in New Zealand and raised in both Sri Lanka and Australia. Ehelepola attended Hampton Senior High School in the Perth suburb of Morley, Western Australia.
Career
Ehelepola has also starred in a number of Australian TV series, including No Activity, Stateless, The Straits, and as Lionel in the Australian comedy series Preppers.
Due to greater opportunities for actors from diverse backgrounds, Ehelepola relocated to Los Angeles and appeared in a number of US television shows whilst residing there, including the AMC series Lodge 49 and the Netflix series Lady Dynamite. He was also cast in the role of Ramtish in the Disney live action film, Mulan.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Nautilus | Jagadish | 6 episodes | |
| 2021–present | The Newsreader | Dennis Tibb | 12 episodes | |
| 2023 | One Night | Andrew | 4 episodes | |
| We Interrupt This Broadcast | Antiques Roadshow Host | 4 episodes | ||
| 2021 | Preppers | Lionel | 6 episodes | |
| 2020 | Stateless | Oshan | 2 episodes | |
| 2018-19 | Lodge 49 | Anil | 4 episodes | |
| 2017 | Lady Dynamite | Dr. Ronjon Runningstream | 1 episode | |
| Throwing Shade | Banker 3 | 1 episode | ||
| 2016 | No Activity | Steve | 3 episodes | |
| Doctor Doctor | Daniel | 1 episode | ||
| Rake | Jeffery | 1 episode | ||
| 2014 | Sequestered | Ramesh | 12 episodes | |
| How to Talk Australians | Mr D'Silva | 1 episode | ||
| Courtside | Naveen | 6 episodes | ||
| 2013 | Bones | Mo Khan | 1 episode | |
| 2012 | The Moodys | Chris | 4 episodes | |
| Redfern Now | Ubit | 1 episode | ||
| The Straits | Joseph | 5 episodes | ||
| 2011 | Sea Patrol | Vadara | 1 episode | |
| Laid | Van | 1 episode | ||
| 2007 | Comedy Inc. | 1 episode | ||
| All Saints | Chris | 1 episode | ||
| 2005 | The Surgeon | Dr. Ravi Jayawardener | 8 episodes |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Mulan | Ramtish | ||
| 2016 | Another Time | Tim | Short | |
| Open House on Beverely | Shuman | Short | ||
| 2015 | Super Awesome | Shae da Silva | ||
| 2012 | Intersecting Beauty | Hussain | Short | |
| Four Season of Love | The Tree | Short | ||
| Status Update: A Facebook Fairytale | Amit | Short | ||
| 2009 | Traces | Gunn | Short | |
| Frances and Annie | Ambulance Officer #2 | Short | ||
| Natural Selection | Nick | Short | ||
| Franswa Sharl | George | Short | ||
| 2008 | Scary Loney Wolves | |||
| 2007 | Spider | Gas Station Attendant | Short | |
| Cross Life | Roman | |||
| 2006 | Playing with Piranhas | Keith | ||
| Happy Birthday | El | Short | ||
| 2005 | Don't Say a Word | Mahesh |
Personal life
Ehelepola is a qualified Civil Engineer, having attended Curtin University. Ehelepola followed his passion of acting, taking the path of washing dishes, serving coffee and acting classes on the way to building a successful acting career. After residing in Los Angeles for a period of time, Ehelepola returned with his family to Australia and currently resides in NSW.
Ehelepola also founded the Sydney Actors Collective, providing acting classes to aspiring Australian acting talent.
References
- ^ Quinn, Karl (2023-09-12). "The one 1980s detail The Newsreader gets deliberately wrong". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2024-11-05.
- "Ch02.Podcast03 Chum Ehelepola". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 2024-11-05.
- ^ "Meet The Acting Coach Team". Sydney Actors Collective. Retrieved 2024-11-05.
- ^ Quinn, Karl (2023-04-13). "Not so black and white: The changing face of Australian film and TV". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2024-11-05.
- Mathieson, Craig (2021-09-01). "ABC drama The Newsreader is an exceptional high-wire act". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2024-11-05.
- "Nautilus cast | Full list of characters and actors in Prime Video series | Radio Times". www.radiotimes.com. Retrieved 2024-11-05.
- ^ Haring, Bruce (2019-07-12). "Chum Ehelepola Signs With APA, Will Appear In Disney's Live-Action 'Mulan'". Deadline. Retrieved 2024-11-05.
- ^ "Getting chummy with Chum Ehelepola – BELLO Mag". Retrieved 2024-11-05.
- Knox, David (2016-09-08). "Returning: No Activity | TV Tonight". TV Tonight. Retrieved 2024-11-05.
- Carlson, Bronwyn (2021-11-09). "Preppers is a deep reading of colonial violence – and a hilarious, must-watch Aussie TV comedy". The New Daily. Retrieved 2024-11-05.
- David Serero (2020-06-14). Interview actor Chum Ehelepola from Disney's Mulan 2020 - On the phone with David Serero (2020). Retrieved 2024-11-05 – via YouTube.
- Staff Writer. "Nautilus cast | Full list of characters and actors in Prime Video series | Radio Times". www.radiotimes.com. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
- Knox, David (2024-01-12). "Filming underway on The Newsreader S3 | TV Tonight". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
- Knox, David (2020-11-26). "Filming underway on The Newsreader | TV Tonight". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
- Knox, David (2023-09-04). "One Night | TV Tonight". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
- Haring, Bruce (2019-07-12). "Chum Ehelepola Signs With APA, Will Appear In Disney's Live-Action 'Mulan'". Deadline. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
- Staff Writer (2012-02-05). "SPIDER (2007) Short Film: Nash Edgerton, Mirrah Foulkes, Joel Edgerton | FilmBook". Retrieved 2024-11-13.