He is the hunky American who played a memorable supporting role in the hit TV series Seinfield.
But fans Down Under fell in love with actor Patrick Warburton all over again when he appeared as a NASA scientist in the Australian box office smash The Dish.
And now the 59-year-old Hollywood veteran has revealed that it was his part as the slightly nutty mechanic David Puddy in Seinfeld that helped him land a co-starring role in the Aussie classic alongside Sam Neill.
Speaking to TV Tonight on Saturday, Warburton said that the director of The Dish, Rob Sitch was a Seinfeld fan.
‘I said, “Rob, you only know me from Seinfeld, I guess at this point?”‘ He said “Yeah.”’
‘I’m Al Burnett, the NASA scientist, the least funny character in this film [The Dish]. ‘What made you think I could do it?’
‘He goes, ”I just reckon you could.”’
Warburton, who later earned a cult following from voicing the character of Joe in the hit animated series Family Guy, gushed over his experience filming the movie classic Down Under.
Seinfeld star Patrick Warburton (pictured) has revealed how he ended up playing a major role in an Aussie movie classic
‘I was so thankful because what an opportunity and a pleasure,’ he continued, adding it wads one of the best work experiences he ever had.
During his chat Warburton also praised Australian’s for being down to earth.
‘Aussie people as a whole, I’ve always found from my trips down here, have sort of a level of authenticity and realism,’ he said.
‘They’re not that terribly impressed by anything outside of just who you are. I’ve just always loved the authenticity I felt here when I was here doing The Dish.’
Still, Warburton confessed that while Down Under filming The Dish he partied with Sam Neill, Oscar winning Aussies Nicole Kidman and Geoffrey Rush and Tom Cruise.
Warburton had done very few films before appearing in the Aussie favourite and was still best known as the boyfriend of Elaine (Julie Louis-Dreyfus) in Seinfeld when he got the role.
The 59-year-old Hollywood veteran said he was cast against type as a NASA scientist in the 2000 BO hit because director Rob Sitch was a Seinfeld fan. Pictured: A scene from The Dish with co-star Patrick Warburton (centre with Sam Neill), Tom Long (L) Kevin Harrington (R)
Warburton had done very few films before appearing in the Aussie favourite and was still best known as the boyfriend of Elaine (Julie Louis-Dreyfus) in Seinfeld when he got the role (both pictured in a scene from the hit TV comedy)
The Dish was filmed Down Under in 1999 in Melbourne and Parkes.
Set in 1969 the plot concerns the team of Aussie and American scientists who were part of the Apollo 11 moon landing and worked at the Parkes Observatory in country NSW.
In real life it was the Parkes satellite dish that relayed TV pictures of astronaut Neil Armstrong’s first steps on to the lunar surface.
Produced by Melbourne’s Working Dog team, best known as the makers of another Aussie classic The Castle, The Dish was directed by Rob Sitch, who co-wrote the script with Santo Cilauro Tom Gleisner and Jane Kennedy.
Released in October 2000 The Dish wowed audiences and went on to earn a whopping $18million at the Australian box office.
Warburton is currently Down Under to appear at the Metro Comic Con fan festival in Melbourne this weekend.
