Deniz Akdeniz
Deniz Akdeniz | |
|---|---|
| Born | 16 May 1990 Melbourne, Australia |
| Citizenship | Australian |
| Education | TAFTA NIDA St Martins Youth Theatre Melbourne Acting Studio |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 2005–present |
Deniz Akdeniz (born 16 May 1990) is an Australian actor. He starred in the Australian remake of As the Bell Rings, from 2007 to 2009. In 2010, Akdeniz gained wider recognition for his leading role in Stuart Beattie's feature film adaptation of the novel Tomorrow, When the War Began. He then starred in the fantasy horror I, Frankenstein and drama film The Water Diviner (both 2014), before portraying Aladdin in the ABC fantasy series Once Upon a Time (2016–2017).
Akdeniz has since appeared in various film and television projects, including the television series The Flight Attendant (2020–2022) and High Potential (2024–present), and the 2023 independent films You Hurt My Feelings and Dumb Money.
Early life
Akdeniz is of Turkish descent. His parents hail from Izmir, Turkey[1] and when the family emigrated to Australia, they enrolled his older brother in drama classes to help him integrate socially. Akdeniz followed his brother's lead[2] and began performing at the age of eight. He developed his performance skills at The Australian Film and Television Academy (TAFTA), NIDA, St Martins Youth Theatre, and with Bruce Alexander at Melbourne Acting Studio. He made his professional debut in a 2007 production of Angels with Dirty Faces.[3] He was discovered while he was with the Victorian Youth Theatre.[4]
Prior to acting, Akdeniz trained and competed professionally in mixed martial arts.[5] He is a Victorian Jiujitsu champion.
Career
Akdeniz's first role was in the Australian film Puppy in 2005. He followed this with a role as Raff on the Disney television series As the Bell Rings from 2007 to 2009.
He was nominated for Best Actor at the 2010 Inside Film Awards for his role as Homer in the film Tomorrow, When the War Began.
In 2014 Akdeniz appeared in I, Frankenstein, and The Water Diviner.
He played a recurring role as Aladdin in season six of the ABC television series Once Upon a Time from 2016 to 2017, and as Robb Wellens on season three of Siren in 2020.
Beginning in 2022 Akdeniz played Max in seasons 1 and 2 of the HBO Max comedic thriller The Flight Attendant.
He appeared in 2022 Australian–American co-production Interceptor, and in 2023 films You Hurt My Feelings and Dumb Money.
He currently plays Lev 'Oz' Ozdil on television series High Potential.
Personal life
Akdeniz is engaged to long term partner, American actress Riley Dandy.[6]
He is now based in Los Angeles, but is still coached via Skype by Bruce Alexander, who now operates his studio in London.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Puppy | Omar | Feature film |
| 2010 | Tomorrow, When the War Began | Homer Yannos | Feature film |
| 2013 | April Rain | Tariq | |
| 2014 | I, Frankenstein | Barachel | Feature film |
| 2014 | The Water Diviner | Imam | Feature film |
| 2020 | Sightless | Nurse Omar | Feature film |
| 2023 | You Hurt My Feelings | Vince | Feature film |
| 2023 | Dumb Money | Briggsy | Feature film |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007–2009 | As the Bell Rings | Raff | Main cast, 27 episodes |
| 2007 | Pass the Plate | Himself | Short series, episode: "Banana" |
| 2008 | Disney Channel Games | Himself (Team Inferno) | Short series, 5 episodes |
| 2013 | Kristin's Christmas Past | Maverick | TV movie |
| 2014 | Graceland | Wayne 'Bates' Zelanski | 3 episodes |
| 2015 | Perception | Jesse Branson | Episode: "Romeo" |
| 2015 | Jessie | Marco | Episode: "Rossed at Sea, Part 2" |
| 2016 | Code Black | Manny Petrosian | Episode: "The Fifth Stage" |
| 2016–2017 | Once Upon a Time | Aladdin | Recurring role, 7 episodes |
| 2017 | Jane the Virgin | Alex | |
| 2017 | Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. | Virgil | Episode: "Orientation: Part 1" |
| 2019 | S.W.A.T. | Micah | Episode: "Micah" |
| 2019 | For All Mankind | Paul Santoro | Episode: "Red Moon" |
| 2020 | Siren | Robb Wellens | Recurring role |
| 2020–2022 | The Flight Attendant | Max Park | Recurring role (season 1) Main role (season 2) |
| 2022 | The Cleaning Lady | Tarik Bersamian | 2 episodes |
| 2022–2023 | The Rookie: Feds | Mark Atlas | 5 episodes |
| 2024–current | Ghosts | Chris | 4 episodes: "The Polterguest", "Isaac's Wedding", "The Bachelorette Party" & "St Hetty's Day" |
| 2024–current | High Potential | Lev 'Oz' Ozdil[7] | Main role |
Theatre
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Angels with Dirty Faces | Fairfax Studio, Melbourne with 9Minds |
Video games
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare | PO1 Dan "Wolf" Lyall | Campaign Mission: "Rising Threat" |
| Battlefield 1 | Matteo Cocchiola | Model |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Work | Award | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Tomorrow When the War Began | Inside Film Awards | Best Actor | Nominated[9] |
References
- ^ "Deniz Akdeniz". The Australian Film & Television Academy.
- ^ Levine, Ilana. "Listen: Deniz Akdeniz on Little Known Facts". BroadwayWorld.com.
- ^ Seth, Kenisha (2 May 2021). "Deniz Akdeniz starring in HBO Max's The Flight Attendant". PhotoBook Magazine.
- ^ "Bells ringing for boys". Herald Sun. 14 July 2008. ProQuest 361149844. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
- ^ "ABC Press".
- ^ Dasilva, Karen (29 September 2022). "Yucaipa High grad stars in 'That's Amor' on Netflix". Redlands News.
- ^ Cordero, Rosy; Andreeva, Nellie (16 May 2023). "ABC Picks Up Kaitlin Olson-Led 'High Potential' Series From Drew Goddard". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
- ^ "AusStage". ausstage.edu.au.
- ^ Screen Daily. "Mao's Last Dancer and Animal Kingdom lead pack for IF Awards". Retrieved 15 September 2012.