John Polson is an Australian actor and film and television director. He founded the short film festival Tropfest in 1993.
Career As an actor, Polson is perhaps best known for his role starring opposite Russell Crowe and Jack Thompson in The Sum of Us (1994).
In 2005 he directed the film Hide and Seek, which achieved number one box-office status in America. He also directed the feature film Tenderness starring Russell Crowe and Laura Dern, which was released in 2009.
Polson is the founder of Tropfest, the world's largest short film festival, in 1993.
Awards
In February 2001, Polson's film Siam Sunset won the Minami Toshiko Award at the 12th Yubari International Fantastic Film Festival in Hokkaidō, Japan.
At the APRA Music Awards of 2013 Screen Music Awards ceremony he was presented with the International Achievement Award.
Filmography As director Year TitleNotes 1999 Siam Sunset 2002 Swimfan 2005 Hide and Seek 2006–2009 Without a Trace 7 episodes 2009–2011 The Mentalist 5 episodes2009 Tenderness Fringe Episode: "The No-Brainer" The Good Wife Episode: "Unorthdox"2010 FlashForward 4 episodes Happy Town Episode: "This Is Why We Stay" No Ordinary Family Episode: "No Ordinary Mobster"2011 Lie to Me Episode: "Rebound" Body of Proof Episode: "All in the Family" 2011–2013 Blue Bloods 6 episodes 2013–2019 Elementary 19 episodes 2015 Zoo Episode: "Wild Things" 2017 The Walking Dead Episode: "The King, the Widow, and Rick" 2018 Fear the Walking Dead Episode: "What's Your Story?" 2019 The Code Episode: "Maggie's Drawers" 2019–2022 Chicago Med 4 episodes 2020 The Wilds 3 episodes2021 FBI 2 episodes FBI: Most Wanted Episode: "Hustler" FBI: International Episode: "Voice of The People" 2021–2022 Law & Order: Organized Crime 5 episodes 2025 The Last Anniversary 6 episodes 2026 Every Year After Episode: "Goodbye..."
As actor Year Title RoleNotes 1986 Shout! The Story of Johnny O'Keefe Deejay Saxophone 2 episodes For Love Alone Leo Call Me Mr. Brown Brian Day1987 Vietnam Serge 10 episode Captain James Cook George Forster Episode: "#1.3" Dangerous Game Tony1988 Rafferty's Rules Garth Manso Episode: "Peace of Mind" Always Afternoon JohnTelevision film Dadah Is Death Kevin Barlow1989 Tender Hooks Tony Candy Regentag Cyril1990 Prisoners of the Sun Private Jimmy Fenton Originally released as Blood Oath The Flying Doctors Michael Jordan Episode: "Rest in Peace"1991 G.P. Brendan Episode: "So Makes the Man" The Flying Doctors Barry Maclntyre Episode: "Open Day" 1992 Embassy Vince Cooper 13 episodes1993 Gino Stan A Country Practice Robbie Angnew 4 episode1994 Heartland Patrick Sirens Tom The Sum of Us Greg1995 G.P. Nick Episode: "The Carrot the Stick" Back of Beyond Nick 1996 Idiot Box Jonah1997 Big Sky Jimbo's Competition Episode: "Navstar" Kangaroo Palace Richard Turner Television film 1998 The Boys Glenn Sprague 2000 Mission: Impossible 2 Billy Baird 2020 The Dry Scott Whitlam
Video games Year Title Voice role Notes 2003 Mission: Impossible – Operation Surma Billy Baird
References
External links
How John Polson revived Tropfest (ABC, 9 May 2026) Interview with John Polson on the best and worst ever Tropfest films on WHO.com