Tom E. Lewis

Tom E. Lewis (born 1958, Ngukurr, Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, Australia) is a Murrungun man (an Indigenous Australian tribe), who is an actor and musician. His first major role was the title role in the 1978 Fred Schepisi film The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith.

He was born and grew up at Ngukurr (Roper River) in South Eastern Arnhem Land. Lewis worked as a bricklayer and stockman before moving into theatre.

He spent many years working in the Melbourne theatre scene, having worked with Playbox, Melbourne Theatre Company, Melbourne Workers Theatre, Arena and Handspan Theatres. With Handspan, he devised the internationally successful Lift Em Up Socks, a semi-autobiographical multi-media work. He is currently playing Othello in the Darwin Theatre Company's production of Shakespeare's classic.

In 2013, Tom played "an indigenous version of King Lear" in the Darwin Theatre Company's production 'The Shadow King'.

Lewis is also a musician and plays didgeridu, flute, clarinet and guitar. Past musical projects include the band Circle of Breathing. In the 1990s he toured in acclaimed jazz duo, Lewis & Young through Europe, Asia and Australia. He has played with Jane Rutter, Eve Duncan, Uli Klein and composer George Dreyfus.

In 2000 he was chosen to run with the Olympic torch in Melbourne.

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