Joseph Zada
Joseph Zada | |
|---|---|
| Born | Joseph Cumpston 2005 Sydney, Australia |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 2019–present |
Joseph Zada is an Australian actor. He has appeared in television series such as Total Control (2024) and Stan Australia series Invisible Boys (2025), as well as Australian movies Bilched (2019) and The Speedway Murders (2023). He is set to appear in Netflix series East of Eden, Amazon Prime Video television show We Were Liars and star in the Lionsgate movie adaptation of Sunrise on the Reaping, a prequel to The Hunger Games, as Haymitch Abernathy.
Early and personal life
[edit]Zada was born and raised in Sydney, Australia.[1] His father, Jeremy Cumpston, is a director, actor, and doctor.[2] His mother is a film producer. He has 3 siblings, including Hal Cumpston.[2] Zada previously used the name 'Joseph Cumpston' in his acting career. He has Afghan-Aboriginal heritage through his paternal great-grandmother.
Career
[edit]His first notable acting role was as Toby in the 2019 comedy drama Bilched.[1] The film was directed by his father Jeremy and starred his brother Hal.[3] He later appeared as Daniel in several episodes of Australian political drama series Total Control, at the start of the third season.[4] In 2025, Zada starred in the Stan series Invisible Boys as Charlie Roth. The series follows the challenges of teens in Geraldton following the Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey, a survey designed to gauge the level of support for same-sex marriage in the country.[5] The Guardian stated that Zada, along with co-stars Joe Klocek, Aydan Calafiore and Zach Blampied, played the roles with "depth and complexity".[6]
In May 2024, it was announced that Zada would star in the television adaptation of the 2014 young adult novel We Were Liars by E. Lockhart in the role of Johnny Sinclair, a cousin of main character Cadence.[7] The series is set to be released on Amazon Prime Video on June 18, 2025.[8] In October 2024, it was announced that Zada would appear as Cal Trask in the Netflix series East of Eden, an adaptation of the 1952 John Steinbeck novel of the same name.[9] The series is set to be released in 2026.[10]
In April 2025, it was announced that Zada would star as Haymitch Abernathy in the Lionsgate film The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, based on the best-selling prequel novel to The Hunger Games of the same name.[11] Zada was announced in the role with Whitney Peak, who will play Lenore Dove Baird, Haymitch's girlfriend.[12] Lionsgate co-president Erin Westerman said in a statement: "After auditioning hundreds of gifted performers from around the world, these two stood out—not just for their talent, but for the emotional truth they brought to these iconic roles."[12] Westerman continued: "The Hunger Games franchise has long been a launching pad for remarkable young actors, and Jo and Whitney carry that legacy forward with incredible heart, depth, and fire."[13]
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]| † | Denotes film or TV productions that have not yet been released |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Bilched | Toby | [1] | |
| 2023 | The Speedway Murders | Dan | [14] | |
| 2026 | The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping † | Haymitch Abernathy | Main role | [12] |
Television
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Total Control | Daniel | Guest role, 3 episodes | [14] |
| 2025 | Invisible Boys | Charlie Roth | Main role | [15] |
| We Were Liars | Johnny Sinclair | [7] | ||
| 2026 | East of Eden | Cal Trask | [9] |
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Donnellan, Sara (25 April 2025). "Who is Joseph Zada? 5 things to know about the actor playing Haymitch in the 'Hunger Games' prequel". NJ.com. Advance Publications. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
- ^ a b Ayre, Melinda (21 September 2017). "All Saints heartthrob Dr Jeremy Cumpston's epic co-parenting advice". Nine.com.au. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
- ^ Buckmaster, Luke (18 November 2019). "Bilched review – coming-of-age teen dramedy with authentic attitude". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
- ^ Craig, David (24 April 2025). "Who is Joseph Zada? Meet Haymitch in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping". Radio Times. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
- ^ O'Meara, Damien (12 February 2025). "Stan's Invisible Boys carries the tradition of real, gritty Aussie teen drama, while smashing it into something new". The Conversation. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
- ^ Nguyen, Giselle Au-Nhien (13 February 2025). "Invisible Boys review – heartfelt queer drama tilts towards trauma porn". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
- ^ a b Dunn, Jack (30 May 2024). "'We Were Liars' Series at Amazon Casts Alyn Lind, Joseph Zada, Shubham Maheshwari, Esther McGregor". Variety. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
- ^ Highfill, Samantha (22 April 2025). "The Sinclairs have arrived in We Were Liars first look (exclusive)". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
- ^ a b Andreeva, Nellie (21 October 2024). "'East Of Eden': Tracy Letts, Martha Plimpton & Ciarán Hinds Among 5 Joining Netflix Limited Series". Deadline. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
- ^ Tomsett, Ben (11 January 2025). "Netflix production of East of Eden, starring Florence Pugh, turns heads in Ōamaru and Dunedin". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
- ^ Drury, Sharareh (24 April 2025). "Hunger Games Prequel Movie Sunrise on the Reaping Casts Joseph Zada as Haymitch, Whitney Peak as Lenore Dove". People. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
- ^ a b c Grobar, Matt (23 April 2025). "'The Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping' Casts Joseph Zada As Haymitch Abernathy, Whitney Peak As Lenore Dove Baird". Deadline. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
- ^ Gonzalez, Umberto (23 April 2025). "'The Hunger Games: Sunrise on The Reaping': Joseph Zada and Whitney Peak Cast as Haymitch Abernathy, Lenore Dove Baird". TheWrap. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
- ^ a b Geraets, Nell (24 April 2025). "Young Australian star lands huge role in new Hunger Games movie". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
- ^ Hosking, Julie (13 February 2025). "Out of the Darkness: 'Invisible Boys' Shines Light on Queer Stories". Variety. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
External links
[edit]- Joseph Zada at IMDb