While performing in a Shakespearean play in London, Brown was spotted
by John Cleese, who was so impressed by his performance, that he personally
asked him to take part in Cleese's new film Fierce Creatures (1997)
He began his professional acting career with the Queensland Theatre
Company, in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. One of his fellow actors,
in the QTC, was Geoffrey Rush.
His first play, as a writer for the Royal Shakespeare Company, was "The
Swan Down Gloves", which was chosen for a Royal Command performance at
the Barbican in March 1982.
He has been a visiting Professor at the State University of New York
College at New Paltz, which commissioned Bille Brown's play "Almost a
Joke". He appeared on Broadway, in New York, as Dr. Triletsky in "Wild
Honey".
During his years with the Queensland Theatre Company, he played many
Shakespearean roles, including: John Falstaff in "The Merry Wives of
Windsor"; the title role of King Henry V in "Henry V"; and Benedick in
"Much Ado About Nothing".
He was awarded the Australian Centenary Medal in the 2001 Queen's New Years Honours List for his services to Australian arts.
He has just directed the Australian stage production of "Over
the Top with Jim." It was an extremely successful production - it
smashed box office expectations. (1996)
Starring as King Arthur in the Australian production of Spamalot. (December 2007)