The science fiction film District 9 launched Sharlto Copley to international prominence when he improvised all his dialogue for the lead role of Wikus van der Merwe. Born in Pretoria on 27 November 1973, Copley maintains citizenship in both South Africa and the United States, balancing an extensive acting career with work as a director, screenwriter, and producer.
Early Connections and Production
Copley attended St. Andrew's Preparatory School in Makhanda and Redhill School in Johannesburg. Following high school, he established a professional relationship with Neill Blomkamp, who was six years his junior. Copley provided the computing resources at his production company to support Blomkamp's pursuit of 3D animation and design projects, a collaboration that eventually facilitated their joint work on feature films.
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In 2009, Copley starred as an Afrikaner bureaucrat in District 9, a film centered on the relocation of extraterrestrial refugees in Johannesburg. His performance earned him accolades at the 2009 IGN Summer Movie awards. His work with Blomkamp continued in 2013 with the film Elysium, where he portrayed the villain Agent Kruger alongside Matt Damon and Jodie Foster. In 2015, he performed the voice, reference work, and cast interactions for the titular character in Chappie.
Diverse Roles and Television
Copley’s filmography includes diverse characters such as H. M. Murdock in the 2010 adaptation of The A-Team, where he utilized multiple dialects including Scottish, Australian, and Swahili. He appeared as King Stefan in the 2014 film Maleficent, played Jimmy in Hardcore Henry in 2015, and portrayed Mitch Rusk in the 2018 film Gringo. His television work includes starring as Christian Walker in the series Powers from 2015 to 2016, a guest appearance on Russian Doll, a role in the 2024 season of Curb Your Enthusiasm, and playing Leo Bonhart in the 2025 season of The Witcher.
Fast facts
- Born: 27 November 1973, Pretoria
- Citizenship: South Africa, United States
- Education: St. Andrew's Preparatory School, Redhill School
- Notable work: District 9
- Spouse: Tanit Phoenix (m. 2016; filed for divorce 2023)
Questions readers ask
Did Sharlto Copley write his own lines for District 9?
Yes, Copley improvised all of his dialogue for the role of Wikus van der Merwe.
What major television roles has Copley held?
He starred in the superhero series Powers and played Leo Bonhart in the fourth season of The Witcher.
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