{{distinguish|Le Nguyen|Nguyên Lê}} {{Short description|Australian actor, filmmaker and teacher(born 1968)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}} {{Use Australian English|date=November 2019}} {{Infobox person | name = Tony Le Nguyen | image = Tonylenguyen.jpg | caption = | birth_name = Lê Thiện Toàn | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1968|10|3}} | birth_place = Sa Đéc, Mekong Delta, Vietnam | occupation = Actor, filmmaker, teacher | years_active = 1985–present }} '''Tony Le Nguyen''' is a Vietnamese-Australian actor, film-maker and teacher. Le-Nguyen is perhaps best known for his role as Tiger in the 1992 Australian drama film ''Romper Stomper''.
==Early life== Le Nguyen was born in as Lê Thiện Toàn<ref>{{cite web |last1=Le Nguyen |first1=Tony |title=Birth name |url=https://pro.imdb.com/name/nm0498386 |website=IMDB |access-date=15 September 2021 |archive-date=15 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210915020958/https://pro.imdb.com/name/nm0498386 |url-status=live }}</ref>Sa Đéc, Mekong Delta, Vietnam on 3 October 1968.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ticketgo.vn/workshop-sang-tao-luc-giac-hop-nhat-cung-tony-le-nguyen|title=Workshop sáng tạo: 'Lục giác Hợp nhất' cùng Tony Lê Nguyễn|website=ticketgo.vn|language=vi|access-date=2019-06-17}}</ref> In 1978, Le-Nguyen and his family migrated from Vietnam to Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, as refugees, when he was ten years old.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.refugeecouncil.org.au/tonys-story/|title=Tony's story|date=2011-04-01|website=Refugee Council of Australia|language=en-AU|access-date=2019-06-17|archive-date=17 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190617105955/https://www.refugeecouncil.org.au/tonys-story/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1985 he changed his name to Tony Lee as he began working as an actor.
==Career== Le Nguyen is the first Vietnamese-Australian to be appointed as an Official Prison Visitor to Port Phillip and Fulham Correctional Centres by the Minister for Corrections, the Honourable Andre Haermeyer in 2003 to act as an independent voice for the prison system in Victoria.{{cn|date=February 2022}}
Le Nguyen played Tiger in Geoffrey Wright’s 1992 Australian drama film ''Romper Stomper''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Le Nguyen |first1=Tony |title=Biographies of living person |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0498386/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm |website=IMDb.com |publisher=IMDb |access-date=15 September 2021 |archive-date=15 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210915025513/https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0498386/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm |url-status=live }}</ref> He has also appeared in other television productions including: ''Stingers'', ''SeaChange'', ''Raw FM'', ''G.P.'', ''Fast Forward'', ''All Together Now'', ''Embassy'', ''Secrets'', ''The Damnation of Harvey McHugh'', ''Paradise Beach'', ''Australia’s most wanted'' & ''Sword of Honour''<ref>{{cite web |last1=Le Nguyen |first1=Tony |title=Biographies of living person |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0498386/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm |website=IMDb.com |publisher=IMDb |access-date=15 September 2021 |archive-date=15 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210915025513/https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0498386/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm |url-status=live }}</ref>
Between 1986 and 1987, Le Nguyen toured with Mary Coustas in Handspan Theatre’s<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://handspantheatre.com.au/|title=Handspan Theatre|website=handspantheatre.com.au|access-date=2019-06-16|archive-date=21 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190621090428/http://www.handspantheatre.com.au/|url-status=live}}</ref> production ''A Change of Face''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.handspantheatre.com.au/info/A+Change+of+Face|title=Handspan Theatre {{!}} A Change of Face|website=Handspan Theatre|language=en|access-date=2019-06-16|archive-date=3 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190303030454/http://handspantheatre.com.au/info/A+Change+of+Face|url-status=live}}</ref> written by Andrea Lemon and directed by Carmelina di Guglielmo. He worked on the Victorian Opera 1990 production of ''Madama Butterfly'' and performed in Theatreworks 1993 production of Titus, directed by David Pledger and Robert Draffin.
In May 1994, he founded Australian Vietnamese Youth Media<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ausstage.edu.au/pages/organisation/8139|title=AusStage|website=www.ausstage.edu.au|access-date=2019-06-16}}</ref> with the support of Huu Tran and David Everist, the theatre coordinator at the Footscray Community Arts Centre.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://footscrayarts.com/|title=Footscray Community Arts Centre|last=Twenty4|website=Footscray Community Arts Centre|language=en-US|access-date=2019-06-16|archive-date=8 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110208011154/http://footscrayarts.com/|url-status=live}}</ref> The company received its first funding from the Queens Trust in 1995 to produce ''Chay Vong Vong'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ausstage.edu.au/pages/event/99849|title=AusStage|website=www.ausstage.edu.au|access-date=2019-06-16|archive-date=16 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190616054436/https://www.ausstage.edu.au/pages/event/99849|url-status=live}}</ref> a play he wrote and directed with the Vietnamese Community in Footscray, Melbourne. The following year, this organisation received funding from the Australia Council for the Arts and the Sidney Myer Foundation to re-stage ''Chay Vong Vong''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ausstage.edu.au/pages/event/28689|title=AusStage|website=www.ausstage.edu.au|access-date=2019-06-16|archive-date=16 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190616054456/https://www.ausstage.edu.au/pages/event/28689|url-status=live}}</ref> as a fully professional production at the Napier Street Theatre, in South Melbourne. In 1998 he was commissioned by Urban Theatre Projects to write and direct ''"Chay Vong Vong''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://urbantheatre.com.au/critical-writing/the-middle-years-death-defying-theatre-transformed/|title=The middle years: Death Defying Theatre transformed – By Ian Maxwell|date=2012-12-02|website=Urban Theatre Projects|language=en-AU|access-date=2019-06-16|archive-date=16 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190616054427/http://urbantheatre.com.au/critical-writing/the-middle-years-death-defying-theatre-transformed/|url-status=live}}</ref>''"'' with the Vietnamese Community in Sydney, Australia.
Le Nguyen has directed and produced such professional and community productions as ''A Time of Your Life'', St. Martins Youth Theatre and Flemington Community Centre 1996, ''Now I Lay Me Down'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ausstage.edu.au/pages/event/31263|title=AusStage|website=www.ausstage.edu.au|access-date=2019-06-16|archive-date=16 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190616054445/https://www.ausstage.edu.au/pages/event/31263|url-status=live}}</ref> La Mama 1997, ''Taboo'', Next Wave Festival 1998, ''"Aussie Bia Om'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ausstage.edu.au/pages/event/11851|title=AusStage|website=www.ausstage.edu.au|access-date=2019-06-16|archive-date=16 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190616054437/https://www.ausstage.edu.au/pages/event/11851|url-status=live}}</ref> 2001 Fringe Festival and directed segments for the BigWest Festival in 1997 and 2000, Children of the Dragon 2005,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ausstage.edu.au/pages/event/96017|title=AusStage|website=www.ausstage.edu.au|access-date=2019-06-16|archive-date=16 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190616054434/https://www.ausstage.edu.au/pages/event/96017|url-status=live}}</ref> Silent 2007<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ausstage.edu.au/pages/event/77966|title=AusStage|website=www.ausstage.edu.au|access-date=2019-06-16|archive-date=16 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190616054500/https://www.ausstage.edu.au/pages/event/77966|url-status=live}}</ref> He co-directed ''Worlds Apart'' in 1996 with Gary McKechnie, a half-hour Television drama about generation conflict within a Vietnamese Australian family. ''Worlds Apart'' was first screened on SBS Television in December 1997.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Le Nguyen |first1=Tony |title=Work |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0498386/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm |website=IMDb.com |publisher=IMDb |access-date=15 September 2021 |archive-date=15 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210915025513/https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0498386/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm |url-status=live }}</ref>
Le Nguyen began teaching drama at Blackbox, Hanoi in December 2013 and directed his first Vietnamese 30-minute drama "Mơ Chua" (Sour Apricots) in 2015. He is the director of The Drama Lab, Hanoi which he founded in 2021<ref>{{cite web |last1=Le Nguyen |first1=Tony |title=Current position |url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/drama-vn/ |website=linkedin }}</ref> and currently teaching life-skills using drama for KOTO, a not-for-profit social enterprise that empowers at-risk and disadvantaged youth in Vietnam founded by Jimmy Pham.
==Education== Le Nguyen studied Television Production at RMIT in 1989 and completed his Bachelor of Arts (Drama/Community Development) in 1998 and Diploma of Education in 2000 at Victoria University.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Le Nguyen |first1=Tony |title=Education |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0498386/ |website=IMDb.com |access-date=15 September 2021 |archive-date=4 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211004025533/https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0498386/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Awards== He was awarded the Community Cultural Development Fellowship by the Australia Council for the Arts in 2000.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Le Nguyen |first1=Tony |title=Awards |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0498386/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm |website=IMDb.com |publisher=IMDb |access-date=15 September 2021}}</ref>
He was inducted into the 2024 Victoria Multicultural Honour Roll by the [https://www.multiculturalcommission.vic.gov.au/multicultural-awards-for-excellence Victorian Multicultural Commission]
==Filmography==
===Films=== * ''Romper Stomper'' (1992) * ''A Royal Commission Into the Australian Economy'' (1993) (TV film)
===TV series=== * ''Sword of Honour'' (1986) (1 episode) * ''Embassy'' (1990) (1 episode) * ''Boys from the Bush'' (1991) * ''All Together Now'' (1991) (1 episode) * ''English at Work'' (1991) (1 episode) * ''Paradise Beach'' (1993) (1 episode) * ''Secrets'' (1994) (1 episode) * ''The Damnation of Harvey McHugh'' (1994) (1 episode) * ''G.P.'' (1995) (1 episode) * ''Raw FM'' (1997) (1 episode) * ''Stingers'' (2000) (1 episode) * ''SeaChange'' (2000) (1 episode)
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[https://thedramalab.com The Drama Lab] *{{IMDb name | id=0498386 | name=Tony Le Nguyen}} *[https://www.youtube.com/LeNguyenProductions Youtube Le-Nguyen Productions] *[https://tonylenguyen.wordpress.com/ Tony Le-Nguyen Blog] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20130806211944/http://www.refugeecouncil.org.au/r/pro-ind/tnguyen.php Refugee Council of Australia] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20060821195213/http://www.milkbar.com.au/globalhistory/tony.htm Australian Content] *[https://www.abc.net.au/rn/arts/deepend/stories/s777648.htm The Deep End, Radio National, ABC 2003] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20060716151756/http://www.ozco.gov.au/ Australia Council for the Arts.] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20140228150642/http://theblackbox.vn/ The Blackbox Theatre Vietnam] *[http://giaitri.vnexpress.net/tin-tuc/san-khau-my-thuat/dao-dien-goc-viet-tony-le-nguyen-day-dien-xuat-o-vn-2915004.html Đạo Diễn Úc Góc Việt] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20160308013911/http://tapchilifestyle.com/dao-dien-tony-le-nguyen-va-cuoc-hanh-trinh-tim-kiem-nhung-giac-mo/ Cuộc Hành Trình-Tìm Kiếm Những Giấc Mơ] *[http://dienanhvietnam.com.vn/chan-dung/chi-tiet-dao-dien-tony-le-nguyen-%E2%80%93-%E2%80%9C-toi-la-mot-dao-dien-bi-khung%E2%80%9D.html/ Tôi là một đạo diễn bị khùng] *[https://www.sbs.com.au/yourlanguage/vietnamese/vi/audiotrack/second-generations-68-director-tony-le-nguyen?language=vi Thế hệ thứ Hai (Bài 68): Đạo diễn Tony Lê Nguyễn và duyên nợ với nghệ thuật] *[https://vietnamnet.vn/en/entertainment-sports/an-ardent-love-for-the-seventh-art-577128.html An Ardent Love for the Seventh Art] *[https://fulbright.edu.vn/tag/bridge/ Fulbright University Vietnam’s Bridge Program] *[https://ued.udn.vn/moi-truong-su-pham/giao-luu-cung-dao-dien-tony-le-nguyen-sang-tao-de-duoc-ton-tai-279.html Sáng tạo để được tồn tại] *[https://gdnt.ued.udn.vn/tintucchung/hoc-kich-nghe-cung-nghe-si-tony-le-nguyen-xay-dung-ky-nang-to-chuc-hoat-dong-trai-nghiem-cho-sinh-vien-nganh-su-pham-am-nhac-41.html Xây dựng kỹ năng cho sinh viên ngành sư phạm âm nhạc] *[https://ued.udn.vn/moi-truong-su-pham/buoi-thi-dien-tieu-pham-thuoc-chuyen-de-kich-nghe-cua-cac-ban-sinh-vien-nganh-su-pham-am-nhac-khoa-giao-duc-nghe-thuat-898.html Buổi thi diễn tiểu phẩm thuộc chuyên đề kịch nghệ của sinh viên ngành sư phạm âm nhạc – khoa giáo dục nghệ thuật] *[https://www.danang.gov.vn/web/guest/chinh-quyen/chi-tiet?id=48753&_c=3 Lan tỏa tình yêu thiên nhiên và bảo vệ Voọc chà vá chân nâu qua nghệ thuật] *[https://greenviet.org/tin-tuc/nghe-thuat-sang-tao-trong-giao-duc-bao-ton-thien-nhien/ Chương trình kịch nghệ trong giáo dục bảo tồn thiên nhiên] *[https://vannghedanang.org.vn/chuong-trinh-nghe-thuat-ban-hoa-tau-thien-nhien-9816.html Bản hòa tấu thiên nhiên] *[https://genk.vn/hanh-trinh-48h-day-cam-xuc-voi-cuoc-thi-lam-phim-nhanh-cung-sony-20220906161557062.chn Hành trình 48h đầy cảm xúc với cuộc thi Làm phim nhanh cùng Sony] *[https://vov3.vov.vn/am-nhac-viet-nam-ca-khuc/thieu-nhi/nhac-kich-the-jungle-book-he-2023-mang-san-choi-3-trong-1-den-tre-em-324.vov Nhạc kịch the Jungle Book của Art-town]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Le Nguyen, Tony}} Category:1968 births Category:20th-century Australian male actors Category:20th-century Australian male writers Category:20th-century Vietnamese male actors Category:20th-century Vietnamese male writers Category:21st-century Australian male actors Category:21st-century Australian male writers Category:21st-century Vietnamese male actors Category:21st-century Vietnamese male writers Category:Australian film producers Category:Australian male film actors Category:Australian male television actors Category:Australian people of Vietnamese descent Category:Australian male screenwriters Category:Film directors from Melbourne Category:Living people Category:Male actors from Melbourne Category:Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology alumni Category:Victoria University (Australia) alumni Category:Vietnamese emigrants to Australia Category:Vietnamese film directors Category:Vietnamese male film actors Category:Vietnamese male television actors Category:People from Đồng Tháp province