Carl Bland

Carl Bland is an acclaimed actor, playwright and painter. He was a core cast member in neighbours at war show Rude Awakenings, and hit drama Street Legal; later he reprised his screen legal skills in Filthy Rich. In 1999 Bland was award-nominated for his turn as an HIV positive agoraphobic in I’ll Make You Happy. Bland is a veteran of NZ alternative theatre, often in collaboration with his late partner Peta Rutter.  

There's lots of examples of serious people being funny. The old tragedy, comedy thing ... It's a very fine line. All great comedians have a sadness in them. Carl Bland, in a 7 February 2015 NZ Herald interview