HEATH FRANKLIN
“Australia’s funniest comedy character.”★★★★★
~ Sunday Mail ~
WINNER The Piece of Wood Award Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2018
WINNER Comedy – Sketch or Light Entertainment AWGIE Awards 2014
NOMINEE Best International Guest New Zealand Comedy Guild 2010
NOMINEE Best Comedy Relase ARIA Awards 2010
NOMINEE Graham Kennedy Award for Most Outstanding New Talent Logie Awards 2006
Heath Franklin is a Logie-nominated actor, comedian, improviser and writer. Heath made his television debut on sketch show, The Ronnie Johns Half Hour, where his character, ‘Chopper’, a comedic impersonation of real-life criminal Mark ‘Chopper’ Read, became an international cult hit, selling over half a million tickets worldwide.
Heath’s debut Australian tour, Chopper’s Harden the F*ck Up Australia, went on to perform to sold-out seasons in London and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. His second national tour, the critically acclaimed Make Deadsh*ts History, had such a positive response, it led to a DVD recording in D-Division at Pentridge Prison in Melbourne, which was subsequently nominated for an ARIA Award for Best Comedy Release, and in 2018, Heath was awarded the prestigious ‘Piece of Wood Award’ at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival for his stand-up show, Bogan Jesus.
Following appearances on Thank God You’re Here and Spicks and Specks, Heath made his feature film debut in the lead role of ‘Mervyn Toebuck’, alongside Jemaine Clement of New Zealand’s Flight of the Conchords, in the multi-award-wining black comedy, Predicament. Heath was a guest comedian on the television series, A Night at the Classic, played ‘Galileo’ in the black comedy film, Ad Nauseam, appeared as ‘Chopper’ in the television movie, No Laughing Matter, and played various characters on the award-winning comedy series, Wednesday Night Fever. Heath’s hilarious stand-up/sketch series, Chopper’s Republic of Anzakistan, aired in New Zealand in 2015, and saw ‘Chopper’ uniting Australia and New Zealand as one country, with a cast of comedians reflecting on the unique aspects of our different cultures. Heath formed part of the ensemble cast of television’s, How Not To Behave and appeared on Jane Campion’s multi-award-winning ABC television series, Top of the Lake. Heath played varous characters on the series, Pilot Week, and is a much-loved guest on New Zealand’s comedy panel game shows, 7 Days and Patriot Brains. Heath has appeared as ‘Chopper’ on Give Us A Clue and was a celebrity contestant on Network Ten’s Celebrity Name Game. In 2020, Heath appeared on the ABC’s At Home Alone Together, where Ray Martin joined Australia’s best comedians to share advice on living your best life in the Covid era.
Heath’s television writing credits include 7 Days, Patriot Brains, Pilot Week, The Ronnie Johns Half Hour and Wednesday Night Fever. When he’s not touring, writing for television, or appearing on our TV screens, ‘Chopper’ is in high demand to host corporate events around the country.
With much of 2025 spent touring his current live show, The Last Hard Bastard on Earth, Heath continures his reign as one of Australia’s funniest comedians.
LIVE
LIVE TOURS
2025 | Chopper: The Last Hard Bastard on Earth
2024 | Chopper: Not Here To F*ck Spiders
2023 | Heath Franklin: Out of Character
2020-2021 | Chopper: The Silencer
2018 | Chopper: Bogan Jesus
2017 | Chopper: All Killer
2016 | Chopper’s Republic of Anzakistan
2016 | Captain Funpants (with Harley Breen)
2014 | Chopper’s Big F**ken Late Show
2014 | Chopper: Repeat Offender
2013 | Chopper’s Big F**ken Late Show 3: One and a Half Men
2012-2013 | Chopper: The (s)HITlist
2012 | Chopper: A Hard Bastard’s Guide to Life (UK Tour)
2012 | Chopper’s 3rd Annual Big F**ken Anzac Day
2012 | Chopper’s Big F**ken Late Night Show 2
2011 | Heath Franklin vs Chopper
2011 | Chopper: A Hard Bastard’s Guide to Life
2006-2011 | Chopper’s F**kin Bingo
2011 | Chopper’s Big F**ken Late Night Show
2010 | Chopper: Harden the F*ck Up, NZ!
2010 | The Ronnie Johns Half Hour Show – Live on Stage (Ensemble Cast)
2010 | Glenn Wool and Heath Franklin in Satan’s Workshop
2010 | Chopper’s Big F**king Late Show
2009 | Chopper’: Harden the F*ck Up
2009 | Chopper’s International Ambassador of Hard
2009 | Chopper: Live at Pentridge
2008 | Chopper: Harden the F*ck Up World 2: Make Deadshits History (UK Tour)
2008 | Chopper
2007 | Chopper: Harden the F*ck Up World (UK Tour)
2007 | Chopper: Harden the F*ck Up Australia
OTHER FESTIVAL APPEARANCES
2025 | New Zealand International Comedy Festival Gala
2024 | Grapes of Mirth Geelong
2024 | New Zealand International Comedy Festival Gala
2024 | Sydney Comedy Festival Gala
2023 | Canberra Comedy Festival Xmas Gala
2023 | New Zealand International Comedy Festival Gala
2023 | Grapes of Mirth Griffith
2023 | Grapes of Mirth Clare Valley
2023 | Sydney Comedy Festival Gala
2022 | Sunshine Coast Comedy Festival Opening Night Gala
2022 | Newcastle Comedy Festival Gala
2021 | Sydney Comedy Festival Gala
2021 | Gold Coast Laughs Festival Gala
2020 | Grapes of Mirth Howard’s Vineyard
2019 | Grapes of Mirth Newcastle
2019 | Grapes of Mirth Orange
2018 | New Zealand International Comedy Festival Gala
2018 | Grapes of Mirth Paxton Winery
2018 | Sydney Comedy Festival Gala
2017 | Rottofest
2017 | Rhythm and Vines Music Festival
2016 | Sydney Comedy Festival Gala
2015 | Tamworth Country Music Festival
2015 | Canberra Comedy Festival Gala
2013 | New Zealand International Comedy Festival Gala
2013 | Rottofest
2012 | Sydney Comedy Festival Gala
2011 | New Zealand International Comedy Festival Gala
2010 | New Zealand International Comedy Festival Gala
DIRECTING
2010 | Same Mother, Different Fathers (Smart Casual)
SCREEN
TELEVISION
2025 | 7 Days (Guest Panellist)
2025 | New Zealand International Comedy Festival Gala (Stand Up)
2024 | The Office (Jono)
2024 | 7 Days (Guest Panellist)
2024 | New Zealand International Comedy Festival Gala (Stand Up)
2023 | 7 Days (Guest Panellist)
2022 | Patriot Brains 2 (Guest Panellist)
2022 | 7 Days (Guest Panellist)
2021 | 7 Days (Guest Panellist)
2021 | Give Us A Clue (Guest)
2021 | The AM Show (Guest)
2020 | At Home Alone Together (Bunker)
2020 | 7 Days (Guest Panellist)
2019 | Celebrity Name Game (Guest Celebrity)
2019 | New Zealand vs The World (Guest Panellist)
2019 | 7 Days (Guest Panellist)
2019 | Social Justice (Host)
2019 | Drunk History – Don Bradman Story
2019 | Quimbo’s Quest (Pat, Voice)
2018 | The Café (Guest)
2018 | The Project New Zealand (Guest Host)
2018 | 7 Days (Guest Panellist)
2018 | Quimbo’s Quest (Platypus, Voice)
2018 | New Zealand International Comedy Festival Gala (Stand Up)
2018 | The Project (Guest)
2018 | Pilot Week (Various Characters)
2018 | Drunk History – Phar Lap
2017 | Growing Up Gracefully (Bar Owner)
2017 | Cram (Guest)
2017 | 7 Days (Guest Panellist)
2017 | The Project New Zealand (Guest)
2017 | New Zealand Allstar Family Feud (Guest)
2017 | Behave Yourself (Guest Panellist)
2017 | Just For Laughs Sydney (Stand Up)
2017 | Top of the Lake (North)
2016 | 7 Days (Guest Panellist)
2016 | The Café (Guest)
2016 | Top of the Lake: China Girl (North)
2016 | Gold Coast Commercial
2016 | Best Bits Oz (Panellist)
2016 | Sunrise TV (Guest)
2016 | Takeaways (Guest)
2016 | Stand & Deliver (Stand Up)
2016 | 20 to 1 (Guest)
2016 | Drug Driving Commercial (VO)
2016 | Jono & Ben (Guest)
2015 | 7 Days (Guest Panellist)
2015 | How Not To Behave (Ensemble Cast)
2015 | Chopper’s Republic of Anzakistan (Chopper)
2015 | Best Bits (Team Captain)
2014 | 7 Days (Guest Panellist)
2014 | Jono & Ben (Guest)
2014 | Back Seat Drivers (Guest)
2014 | Ad Nauseam (Galileo)
2013 | 7 Days (Guest Panellist)
2013 | Jono & Ben (Guest)
2013 | Wednesday Night Fever (Various Characters)
2013 | A Night at the Classic (Guest Comedian)
2013 | New Zealand International Comedy Festival Gala (Stand Up)
2013 | Comedy for Cure (Guest Comedian)
2012 | 7 Days (Guest Panellist)
2012 | Randling Boot Camp (Guest Comedian)
2012 | Jono & Ben (Guest)
2011 | 7 Days (Guest Panellist)
2011 | New Zealand International Comedy Festival Gala (Stand Up)
2011 | Drew & Shannon Live (Stand Up)
2011 | NRL Footy Show (Guest Comedian)
2011 | Live at The Classic (Stand Up)
2010 | 7 Days (Guest Panellist)
2010 | New Zealand International Comedy Festival Gala (Stand Up)
2005-2006 | The Ronnie Johns Half Hour (Various Characters)
FILM
2013 | No Laughing Matter (Chopper)
2010 | Predicament (Mervyn Toebuck)
SHORT
2011 | Squeeze (Gary)
VIDEO
2019 | Bogan Jesus (Chopper)
2013 | Chopper’s Hitlist (Chopper)
2009 | Make Deadsh*its History: Live at Pentridge (Chopper)
2008 | Harden the F*ck Up Australia (Chopper)
PRODUCING
2013 | Chopper’s Hitlist (Executive Producer, Video)
2009 | Make Deadsh*ts History: Live at Pentridge (Executive Producer, Video)
RADIO & PODCAST
RADIO
2025 | Thank God It’s Friday (Guest Panellist, ABC Radio National)
2015-2016 | Merrick and Australia (Weekly Guest Segment, Triple M)
2011 | Pub Quiz with Jeremy Corbett (Guest Comedian, More FM Radio IV)
2010 | Triple J Live (Guest Comedian, Triple J)
PODCAST
2023 | Picture Discuss (Guest)
2022 | The Chaser (Guest)
2021 |Mates Talking About Stuff (Guest)
2021 | The Jab Gab (Guest)
2019 | That’s The Drink Talking (Guest)
2019 | Confessions of the Idiots (Guest)
WRITING
WRITING
2021 | 7 Days (TV Series)
2020 | Patriot Brains (TV Series)
2019 | Bogan Jesus (Video)
2018 | Pilot Season (TV Series)
2018 | Skit Happens (TV Series)
2016 | Best Bits Oz (TV Series)
2013 | Chopper’s Hitlist (Video)
2013 | Wednesday Night Fever (TV Series)
2009 | Make Deadsh*ts History: Live at Pentridge (Video)
2008 | Harden the F*ck Up Australia (Video)
2005-2006 | The Ronnie Johns Half Hour (TV Series)
CORPORATE
Previous Corporate Clients:
2025 | Mushroom Studios
2025 | Circular Head Football Club
2022 | Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union
2021 | South Newcastle League Club
2020 | Brennan IT
2019 | Vodafone
2019 | ATE Tankers
2019 | Godfrey Hirst Flooring Foundation
2018 | Harvey Norman
2018 | Big Blokes Lunch
2017 | South Sydney Rabbitohs
2017 | Moraitis Fresh Foods
2017 | Vulture Culture
2016 | Henley Lifesaving Club
2016 | Peter Shaw Golf
2016 | Otago University Students’ Association
2016 | Mitre 10
2016 | Triple M
2016 | Johnson Earthmoving
2016 | Versatile Homes and Building
2016 | CITIC Pacific Mining
2016 | North Ryde JFC
2015 | Lincoln University Student Association
2015 | Reckiit Benckiser
2015 | Lions Richland
2015 | WorldXchange Communications
2015 | Firth Humes Group
2015 | Kiwiana
2015 | Mike Greer Homes
2015 | Royal New Zealand Armed Forces
2014 | Mobil
2014 | Karalyka Centre
2014 | Auckland University of Technology
2014 | Junipers Casino
2014 | Mounties RSL
2014 | Urban Development Industry Australia
2013 | Wrigley’s UK
2013 | Suicide Prevention Australia
2013 | Harvey Norman
2013 | Eaton’s Hill
2012 | Australasian University Safety Association
2012 | Auckland University
2012 | Green Faces
2012 | University of Canterbury
2012 | Otago University
2012 | British American Tobacco Australia
2012 | Nifty Copper Mines
2011 | Kennards
2011 | James Hardie
2011 | Auckland University of Technology
2011 | FHM
2011 | Nelson
2011 | Australian Financial and Property Solutions
2011 | Monadelphous
2011 | BMW
2010 | Harvey Norman
2010 | Green Faces
2010 | WFI Media
2010 | Northern Suburbs Rugby Club
2010 | Comedy Channel
2010 | Fosters
