Marlon Williams is a renowned singer-songwriter and actor hailing from Lyttelton, New Zealand, where his creative journey began. Born to a talented mother, Jenny Rendall, a visual artist, and a father, David Williams, a librarian and musician, Marlon grew up with a rich cultural background. His early life was filled with music, as he sang in the Christchurch cathedral choir before his punk rock-loving father introduced him to country music during his teenage years.
Before venturing into acting, Marlon showcased his musical talents by starring and directing in his own music videos, which are now an integral part of his acclaimed discography. In 2015, he made his acting debut by contributing live recordings to the Australian ABC original TV Mini-Series, The Beautiful Lie, which featured his music as the original soundtrack.
Marlon's breakthrough in the film industry came in 2016 when he starred in the New Zealand drama film, The Rehearsal, directed by Alison Maclean and based on Eleanor Catton's novel of the same name. The film premiered at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival and received critical acclaim.
In 2018, Marlon was handpicked by Oscar-winning actor and director, Bradley Cooper, for his directorial debut, A Star Is Born, after being impressed by Marlon's music on NPR radio and attending his concert at the Troubadour in Los Angeles. Marlon acted alongside Cooper in a pivotal scene, paying tribute to Roy Orbison at the Grammy Awards. The film received widespread critical acclaim and earned seven Oscar nominations, including Best Picture.
Marlon has since appeared in the Justin Kurzel-directed film, True History of the Kelly Gang, alongside George MacKay, Essie Davis, Russell Crowe, Charlie Hunnam, and Nicholas Hoult. He played the role of George King, which premiered at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival before its global release. Marlon also contributed an original song to the film, which is based on the novel by Peter Carey.
Upcoming, Marlon will star in the Jonathan Ogilvie-written and directed film, Lone Wolf, alongside Hugo Weaving and Tilda Cobhan-Hervey. The Australian drama, set in Melbourne, is scheduled to premiere at the 2020 Melbourne International Film Festival.
