Nicholas Bufalo

Before his acting career began, Bufalo lived with his retired parents, his elder brother and younger sister in Melbourne.{{cite magazine|last=Ussher|first=Marie|date=7 June 1986|title=A tale of two cities|magazine=TV Week|pages=72–73}} After leaving school, Bufalo gained a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Melbourne,{{cite magazine|last=Cook|first=Stephen|date=3 August 1985|title=New chums|magazine=TV Week|page=16}} and planned to get his Diploma of Education. He originally intended to become a teacher and had not considered an acting career, until he took a year long drama course and became a cast member and writer for a university revue group called Let's Talk Backwards.{{cite web|url=https://must.unimelb.edu.au/1984/03/31/lets-talk-backwards-20031984-2/|title=Let's Talk Backwards|publisher=University of Melbourne|access-date=29 February 2024}}

Bufalo's first major television role was veterinarian Dr. Ben Green in A Country Practice, which he played from 1985 until 1988.{{cite news|url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A105152149/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=2d445c3e|title=Actor takes new role behind scenes|last=Booth|first=Doug|date=21 January 1998|work=Herald Sun|access-date=25 February 2024|via=Gale|url-access=subscription}} Bufalo was introduced to the series alongside Annie Davies as Kelly Shanahan. Stephen Cook of TV Week reported that they beat out more than 500 other actors for the roles. Bufalo's character was intended as a replacement for fellow vet Vicky Bowen, played by Penny Cook. Bufalo relocated from Melbourne to Sydney for filming. During his time on A Country Practice, Bufalo also worked as a dialogue coach. Bufalo left A Country Practice after contract negotiations with the production company broke down. Seven Network wanted him to stay on until the new nurse played by Brett Climo won audience approval, however, he left as originally planned by producers.{{cite magazine|last=Brown|first=David|date=5 September 1987|title=Will Vicky return with Simon?|magazine=TV Week|page=3}}

Bufalo was a founding member of the sketch comedy show The D-Generation.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-path-of-compromise-to-rich-and-f/142248822/|title=Path of compromise to rich and famous lands|last=Burchall|first=Greg|date=31 January 1992|work=The Age|access-date=27 February 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}{{free access}} He signed a music publishing contract with MCA Records in mid-1986, with his debut recording being the theme from The D-Generation. Bufalo is the lead vocalist on the track, which he also wrote. When the series was due to be re-broadcast, Bufalo recorded a new song for the single's B-side.{{cite magazine|date=20 September 1986|title=Nick rocks on|magazine=TV Week|page=3}} From 1992 until 1993, he starred in the sitcom Bingles as "would-be Italian Stallion" mechanic Tony.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-a-return-to-comedy-of-everyday-l/142187666/|title=A return to comedy of everyday life|last=Gill|first=Raymond|date=3 December 1992|work=The Age|access-date=27 February 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}{{free access}} He also starred as the titular character in the 1993 feature film Gino opposite Zoe Carides.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-zoe-carides-out-of-the-shadow/142198119/|title=Zoe Carides... out of the shadows|last=Thomas|first=Brett|date=20 June 1993|work=The Age|access-date=27 February 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}{{free access}}

In addition to his screen roles, Bufalo also appeared in various theatre productions. He toured with Australian play Wogs Out of Work. In 1991, he starred in Neil Simon's The Good Doctor, which is based on eight Anton Chekhov short stories.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-awareness-of-c/142247119/|title=Awareness of Chekhov checked|last=Evans|first=Bob|date=13 March 1991|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=27 February 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}{{free access}} The following year, he appeared in 3 Men Naked from the Waist Down alongside Rhys Muldoon and Marty Fields at the Universal Theatre in Melbourne.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-revelations/142248360/|title=Revelations|last=McGuinness|first=Karen|date=25 January 1992|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=27 February 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}{{free access}} He also appeared in Steve Martin's Picasso at the Lapin Agile which was staged at the Belvoir street theatre.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-picasso-meets/142261554/|title=Picasso meets Einstein|last=Payne|first=Pamela|date=27 November 1994|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=28 February 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}{{free access}} Director Neil Armfield later asked Bufalo to become a rehearsal director for the production.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-cue-a/142262986/|title=Cue & A|last=Nader|first=Carol|date=17 August 1997|work=The Age|access-date=28 February 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}{{free access}}

In 1995, Bufalo directed Rio Would Be Nice, a play written and starring Cliff Ellen.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-front-up/142262433/|title=Front Up|date=7 October 1995|work=The Age|access-date=28 February 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}{{free access}} In 1996, after completing the Grundy's director training course, Bufalo was hired as a director on the soap opera Neighbours. The serial's producer Peter Dodds commented "Nick's experience with actors made him the right choice. We wanted a trainee director who was performance-orientated rather than a technical director." In 2002, Bufalo directed the seven-part comedy series Flipside.{{cite news|url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A85229090/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=86d4b9b9|title=Let's give 'em Curry|date=1 May 2002|work=Herald Sun|access-date=25 December 2024|via=Gale|url-access=subscription}} He has gone on to direct a number of Australian television shows, including Home and Away, All Saints, McLeod's Daughters, City Homicide, Winners & Losers, and Packed to the Rafters.{{cite news|url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A325704580/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=03fae00b|title=Quick Scenes|date=11 April 2013|work=The Mercury|access-date=25 February 2024|via=Gale|url-access=subscription}}

In 2008, Bufalo received a nomination for Best Direction in a TV Drama Series at the Australian Directors' Guild Awards for All Saints episode "Caught In A Trap".{{cite web|url=https://if.com.au/adg-announces-awards-finalists/|title=ADG announces Awards finalists|date=18 September 2008|work=IF Magazine|access-date=28 February 2024}} In 2024, his series I Challenge You was a finalist for the AACTA Reg Grundy Award, which awards $50,000 for the best original idea for Australia's next unscripted television show.{{cite web|url=https://if.com.au/rachel-bergers-seriously-funny-wins-aacta-reg-grundy-award/|title=Rachel Berger's 'Seriously Funny' wins AACTA Reg Grundy Award|date=24 January 2024|work=IF Magazine|access-date=28 February 2024}}

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Category:1960s births

Category:Living people

Category:Male actors from Melbourne

Category:20th-century Australian male actors

Category:Australian male television actors

Category:Australian male film actors

Category:Australian television directors

Category:University of Melbourne alumni