The cast of Vendetta 19 has got some truly big shoes to fill as we try and depict some of the most unusual true crime figures from history. In the case of Indian Dick, no truer word could be said.
As far as criminals go, Indian Dick wasn’t a high achiever. He was a low-level crook from the Melbourne area who occasionally branched out to the odd safe heist. Yet it was his fighting technique that separated him out from the pack. As a street brawler, Indian Dick, whose real name was John George Woolpert, had a signature move that resulted in him obtaining the infamous nickname while inflicting a particular gruesome fate on his victims. Where Hulk Hogan used the “Big Leg”, and Mario Milano relied on the abdominal stretch to finish their fights, Indian Dick’s finishing move involved a swift and powerful kick to the groin of whoever he was fighting. His talent for this move resulted in at least one man losing one of his family jewels, and another being hospitalised.
So when we were casting the role, we needed an artist who could act incredibly well, but who could also manage the heavy fight sequence in the pilot episode. Despite some false starts, we couldn’t be happier with our selection, and can now announce that we have secured the incredibly talented Jackson Howe!
Originally from Queensland, Jackson brought the sunshine to the Sunshine State. He is no stranger to stage lights and cameras, and having discovered a love for singing, dancing and acting early, he made his stage debut at the age of 8 as Oliver. And the people said, ‘please sir, can we have some more?’
Then began a relentless passion for musical theatre that would see him play eleventy-million roles before he’d even finished high school. Serious about pursuing a career in musical theatre, he trained at the Australian Dancing Performance Institute where he completed an Advanced Diploma in Musical Theatre and Dance. Developing his acting skills, he worked on a range of projects including feature film pilots, short films, commercials and music videos.
In 2018, he made the move to Melbourne to study a Bachelor of Fine Arts at the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA). Whilst at the VCA, Jackson performed in ‘On The Town – The Musical Comedy Classic’ (directed by Adam Mitchell) and ‘Morning Melodies 2019’ at Hamer Hall (directed by Jayde Kirchert). In 2020 Jackson featured in the ensemble of ‘The Mystery of Edwin Drood’ (directed by Jason Langley) and played a leading role, Joe’s Dad, in the musical ‘Our House’ (directed by Tyran Parke).
In 2023, Jackson played a leading role Linus, in the musical ‘You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown’ (directed by Cameron O’Reilly) and played ensemble in ‘Kinky Boots the Musical’ (directed by Martin Croft), receiving a Green Room Award for Best Professional Independent Musical in 2023.
After delving into the world of Music Theatre, Jackson now is keen to pursue acting in film. In 2024, he has played leading roles in ‘Building Houses’ (directed by Alekh Chapman), ‘Elise and George’ (directed by Stephanie Bosshard) and Let’s be Frank’ (directed by Lily & Quynh Dinh and playing a supporting role in ‘Just Kids’ (directed by Helen Turton).
Jackson often swaps his tap shoes for running boots and when the camera’s off, you’ll find him teaching Drama in the classroom or cheering on his ultimate frisbee team. With a personal passion for filmmaking and cinematography, Jackson is incredibly eager to bring his skills to Vendetta 19 playing the role of Indian Dick.
