Helmut Bakaitis facts for kids

Helmut Bakaitis (born 26 September 1944) is a talented director, actor, and writer from Australia, originally from Germany. He is probably best known for playing the character called the Architect in the popular movies The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions.

Early Life and Learning

Helmut Bakaitis was born in 1944 in a place called Lauban, which was in Germany at the time (it's now Lubań, Poland). His parents were from Lithuania and were moving away from their home country during a difficult time. For his first five years, Helmut lived in special camps in Germany and Austria, as his father worked as a translator.

Moving to Australia

In 1950, when Helmut was six years old, his family moved to Australia. They first lived in places set up for new arrivals. His father, who was a very smart person and wanted to be a teacher, had to work digging sewers to support the family.

School Days

Helmut went to Fort Street High School in Sydney, where he earned a scholarship to help pay for his studies. School could be tough, and he was sometimes picked on. To escape this, he spent a lot of time reading books, learning languages, watching films, and getting involved in performing arts. He even started his own drama group at school, where he acted, directed plays, and began writing his own stories for the stage. When he was 16, he left home and worked as a stenographer (someone who writes down what people say very quickly) while still studying.

Becoming an Actor

Helmut won another scholarship, this time to the National Institute for Dramatic Art (NIDA). This is a famous school for actors and directors in Australia. While at NIDA, he and some friends, including Jim Sharman, started their own theatre company. NIDA supported their idea, and they even took one of their plays on tour. Before he even finished his studies in 1965, Helmut was offered his first professional acting job at the Theatre Royal in Hobart.

Career in Theatre and Film

After finishing NIDA, Helmut Bakaitis spent seven years working with the Melbourne Theatre Company. He was an actor and also led workshops for young people interested in theatre. He then worked with other famous theatre groups like the Old Tote Theatre and the Sydney Theatre Company. He also helped direct a youth festival in Adelaide called Come Out.

Learning and Teaching

Helmut continued his education, studying drama and education in England. There, he helped create youth programs in London. When he returned to Melbourne, he became the first artistic director of the St Martins Youth Arts Centre, where he worked for five years. Later, he directed the New Moon Company in Cairns for three years. Back in Sydney, he led the Q Theatre in Penrith for seven years.

From 1998 to 2007, Helmut was the Head of Directing at NIDA, the same school he attended. After that, he started teaching directing at the Australian Academy of Dramatic Art (AADA), which is now called the Australian Institute of Music – Dramatic Arts (AIMDA).

Acting Roles

Helmut Bakaitis has appeared in many films and TV shows.

Movies

He has acted in several feature films, including:

• 1971: Stork as Clyde
• 1972: Shirley Thompson vs. the Aliens as Harold
• 2003: The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions as The Architect
• 2006: Happy Feet as a Live Action Cast member
• 2015: Truth as Dick Thornburgh
• 2016: Hacksaw Ridge as a Minister

Television Shows

His TV roles include:

• 1967–70: Homicide (3 episodes)
• 1988: Home and Away as George Morris
• 1997–99: Home and Away as Peter Fraser
• 2003: All Saints (3 episodes)
• 2016: Rake as Judge Barton

Writing and Directing

Besides acting, Helmut Bakaitis is also a talented writer and director for the stage.

As a Writer

He wrote the screenplay for the 1972 film Shirley Thompson vs. the Aliens.

As a Playwright and Director

Helmut has written and directed many plays. Some of his notable works include:

• 1966, 1968: Pageant of Love Tree (Playwright)
• 1968: The Titillators (Director / Playwright)
• 1971–72, 1975: The Incredible Mind-Blowing Trial of Jack Smith (Playwright)
• 1975–76: Carlota and Maximilian (Director / Playwright)
• 1979: The Sensational South Yarra Show (Playwright / Director)
• 1984: Beach Blanket Tempest (Director)
• 1997: Mistletoe Magic (Director / Playwright)
• 2001: Titus Andronicus (Director)

See also

In Spanish: Helmut Bakaitis para niños