He is the attractive American who played a memorable supporting role in the hit television series Seinfeld.
But fans Down Under fell in love with actor Patrick Warburton all over again when he appeared as a NASA scientist in Australian blockbuster The Dish.
And now the 59-year-old Hollywood veteran has revealed it was his role as slightly mad mechanic David Puddy in Seinfeld that helped him land a co-starring role in the Australian classic alongside Sam Neill.
Speaking to Television Tonight On Saturday, Warburton said The Dish director Rob Sitch was a fan of Seinfeld.
“I said, ‘Rob, I guess you only know me from Seinfeld at this point.'” He said, “Yeah.”
‘I’m Al Burnett, the NASA scientist, the least funny character in this movie (The Dish). What made you think I could do it?’
He says, “I guess you could.”
Warburton, who later gained a cult following voicing the character of Joe on the hit animated series Family Guy, praised his experience filming the cinematic classic Down Under.
Seinfeld star Patrick Warburton (pictured) has revealed how he ended up playing a major role in an Australian film classic.
“I felt very grateful because it was an opportunity and a pleasure,” he continued, adding that it was one of the best work experiences he has ever had.
During his talk, Warburton also praised Australians for being down-to-earth.
“I’ve always found in my travels that Australians in general have a certain level of authenticity and realism,” he said.
“They’re not really impressed by anything other than your own identity. I’ve always loved the authenticity I felt when I was here doing The Dish.”
Still, Warburton confessed that while filming The Dish in Australia he partied with Sam Neill, Australian Oscar winners Nicole Kidman and Geoffrey Rush and Tom Cruise.
Warburton had made very few films before appearing in the Australian favorite and was still best known as Elaine’s (Julie Louis-Dreyfus) boyfriend on Seinfeld when he landed the role.
The 59-year-old Hollywood veteran said he was cast as a NASA scientist in the hit 2000 series The Boyfriend because director Rob Sitch was a fan of Seinfeld. Pictured: A scene from The Dish with co-star Patrick Warburton (centre with Sam Neill), Tom Long (left) and Kevin Harrington (right).
Warburton had made very few films before appearing on the Australian favourite and was still best known as Elaine’s (Julie Louis-Dreyfus) boyfriend on Seinfeld when he landed the role (both pictured in a scene from the hit TV sitcom).
The Dish was filmed in Australia in 1999 in Melbourne and Parkes.
Set in 1969, the plot focuses on the team of Australian and American scientists who were part of the Apollo 11 moon landing and worked at the Parkes Observatory in the New South Wales outback.
In real life, it was the Parkes satellite dish that transmitted television images of astronaut Neil Armstrong’s first steps on the lunar surface.
Produced by Melbourne-based team Working Dog, best known as the creator of another Australian classic, The Castle, The Dish was directed by Rob Sitch, who co-wrote the script with Santo Cilauro, Tom Gleisner and Jane Kennedy.
Released in October 2000, The Dish captivated audiences and grossed a whopping $18 million at the Australian box office.
Warburton is currently in Australia to appear at the Metro Comic Con fan festival in Melbourne this weekend.
