Mark Little was born in Brisbane, Australia in October 1959. After growing up in Queensland and leaving school, Mark trained as an actor at the National Institute
of Dramatic Art (NIDA) in Sydney.
Throughout the 1980s, Mark appeared in Australian films and television productions including mini-series Waterfront and the film The Dunera Boys. His portrayal of Ron Miller in The Flying Doctors won Mark the Best Actor Award in the
Australian Television Society Awards in 1985. Alongside acting, Mark also performed his own routines in Melbourne’s comedy clubs.
In 1988, Mark landed what was to become his longest-running television role in Neighbours as lovable Joe Mangel. Joe became one of Neighbours’ most popular characters, with storylines such as his doomed relationship with animal
rights activists Kerry Bishop, his portrayal of a single dad to Toby and Sky and his on-off relationship with Melanie Pearson. Mark played the role for three years, leaving in 1991, and returned to the role of Joe for several weeks in 2005.
In 1990, Mark was nominated for the role of Best Actor in the Australian Television Awards for his portrayal of Joe - the role proved pivotal to Mark’s career as it hugely raised his profile, especially in the UK. Consequently Mark has spent much of his career since in the UK,
living for much of the time near Brighton, before moving to North London.
In the UK, Mark’s fame rose further after he became host of the popular Channel 4 show The Big Breakfast, taking over from Chris Evans.
Mark's stage and theatre work include Loves Labours Lost, A Chorus of Disapproval, Boy George's Taboo and Wind in the Willows, where he took on the role of Toad. Mark also starred in the West End production of
Defending the Caveman, which won him the Olivier Award for Best Entertainment. Mark toured nationally and internationally with this show for ten years.
Mark appeared as Roy in a production of Louis Nowra’s play Cosi in 2008, and, since 2009, he has appeared regularly on the discussion show The Wright Stuff.
Mark is still very active on the comedy circuit and has written numerous productions for the Edinburgh Fringe, and he also appeared in the documentary Neighbours 30th: The Stars Reunite in March 2015. He is married to Cath Farr, who is also
Mark's collaborator, having produced his live shows. They have two sons, Angus and Jasper Valentine. Angus is a stand-up comedian and performer in the percussion show Stomp, and Jasper is a musician and film-maker.
Profile by Debbie
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