# David Lyons (actor)
**David Lyons** is an Australian actor best known for playing Dr. Simon Brenner on the medical drama *ER*, the title role in the superhero series *The Cape*, and General Sebastian "Bass" Monroe on the NBC post-apocalyptic series *[Revolution](https://www.edgepedia.org/revolution-tv-series)*. Born in 1976 in Melbourne, Victoria, he trained at the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) and built a career moving regularly between Australian and American productions.
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1976, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2256017/bio/) |
| Training | Graduate of the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA), 2004[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2256017/bio/) |
| Breakthrough role | Leading Seaman Josh "ET" Holiday on the Navy drama *Sea Patrol*, seasons 1 to 3 (2007 to 2009)[2](https://www.adorocinema.com/personalidades/personalidade-216869/filmografia/) |
| American breakthrough | Dr. Simon Brenner on *ER*, appearing from season 14 into the final season 15[2](https://www.adorocinema.com/personalidades/personalidade-216869/filmografia/) |
| Lead series role | Sebastian "Bass" Monroe on *Revolution* (NBC, 2012 to 2014)[3](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/david-lyons/) |
| Recent work | Agent Brian Abbott in *The Beast in Me* (2025) and Adam in *The Night Agent* season 3[4](https://www.marieclaire.com/culture/tv-shows/the-night-agent-season-3-cast/) |
| Family | Married to Canadian actress Carly Pope since 2021; they have one child[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2256017/bio/) |
## Training and early career in Australia
Lyons graduated from NIDA with a degree in Performing Arts (Acting) in 2004[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2256017/bio/). He has performed on stage with both the [Sydney Theatre Company](https://www.edgepedia.org/sydney-theatre-company) and the Melbourne Theatre Company[5](https://www.tvsa.co.za/actors/viewactor.aspx?actorid=10188). His television debut came in 2005 with a guest role on the Australian police drama *Blue Heelers* ([Seven Network](https://www.edgepedia.org/seven-network), 1995 to 2006)[3](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/david-lyons/), and he also had a role in the long-running soap *Neighbours*[5](https://www.tvsa.co.za/actors/viewactor.aspx?actorid=10188).
The role that made him a star in his homeland was brash, fun-loving Seaman Josh Holiday on the Navy drama *Sea Patrol* ([Nine Network](https://www.edgepedia.org/nine-network))[3](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/david-lyons/), which he played across the first three seasons from 2007 to 2009[2](https://www.adorocinema.com/personalidades/personalidade-216869/filmografia/). The weekly exposure of the popular series led to starring roles in the "Ozploitation" thrillers *Storm Warning* (2008), directed by Jamie Blanks and distributed by [Bob Weinstein](https://www.edgepedia.org/bob-weinstein)'s Dimension Films, and *Cactus* (2008), in which he appeared alongside [Bryan Brown](https://www.edgepedia.org/bryan-brown)[3](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/david-lyons/) • [5](https://www.tvsa.co.za/actors/viewactor.aspx?actorid=10188).
## Move to American television
Lyons came to the United States to play the arrogant and superficial Dr. Simon Brenner on the final seasons of the long-running medical drama *ER* (NBC, 1994 to 2009)[3](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/david-lyons/). From that point he moved regularly between work in Australia and the United States. He starred in the Australian TV movie *A Model Daughter: The Killing of Caroline Byrne* (Network 10, 2009), then returned to Hollywood as Ian, the would-be beau of [Julia Roberts](https://www.edgepedia.org/julia-roberts)' character in *Eat Pray Love* (2010), and played the title role, masked hero Vince Faraday, on the short-lived superhero series *The Cape* (NBC, 2011)[3](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/david-lyons/).
Lyons has said he was not a science fiction or comic book fan before *The Cape*; what attracted him to the material was that, at the heart of the genre story, was a very real family bond[6](https://www.dailyactor.com/interview/interview-the-capes-david-lyons/).
## Revolution and the 2010s
In 2012, Lyons was cast as Marine-turned-militia leader Sebastian Monroe on the apocalyptic series *Revolution* (NBC, 2012 to 2014), executive-produced by J.J. Abrams[3](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/david-lyons/). Between seasons he co-starred in [Lasse Hallström](https://www.edgepedia.org/lasse-hallstrom)'s *Safe Haven* (2013), the legal drama *The Trials of Cate McCall* (2013), and [Robert Redford](https://www.edgepedia.org/robert-redford)'s docudrama *Truth* (2015)[3](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/david-lyons/). After *Revolution* ended, he starred in *Game of Silence* (NBC, 2016), based on the hit Turkish drama *Suskunlar* (Show TV, 2012)[3](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/david-lyons/).
His subsequent television work has leaned toward crime and drama series: Mike DiAngelo in *Seven Seconds* (2018), a 2017 episode of *Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams*, Jackson Brooks in *Game of Silence* (2016), and Detective Aames in seasons 2 and 3 of *Truth Be Told* (2021 and 2023)[2](https://www.adorocinema.com/personalidades/personalidade-216869/filmografia/). He also starred as Lloyd in the Australian drama series *The Commons* (2019)[7](https://elcinema.com/en/person/2001071/filmography).
## Filmmaking and recognition
Lyons has worked behind the camera as well. He directed and wrote the short film *Record* (2013), which won Best Short Film Director at the Sydney Film Festival in 2013 and Best Narrative Short at the Heartland Film Festival in 2014; it was also nominated for Best Short Fiction Film at the [AACTA Awards](https://www.edgepedia.org/aacta-awards) and for Best Narrative Short at the Tribeca Film Festival[8](https://cinapse.co/david-lyons-movies-and-tv-shows/). He won Best Actor awards for *Penance* at the NYLA International Film Festival and the Los Angeles International Underground Film Festival in 2014[8](https://cinapse.co/david-lyons-movies-and-tv-shows/). His acting nominations include Most Popular New Male Talent at the 2008 Logie Awards for *Sea Patrol* and a 2014 Saturn Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor on [Television](https://www.edgepedia.org/television) for *Revolution*[8](https://cinapse.co/david-lyons-movies-and-tv-shows/).
## Recent work
In 2025 Lyons played FBI agent Brian Abbott opposite [Claire Danes](https://www.edgepedia.org/claire-danes) in the limited series *The Beast in Me*, appearing in five episodes[4](https://www.marieclaire.com/culture/tv-shows/the-night-agent-season-3-cast/) • [9](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/david_lyons). He then took the role of Adam, the mysterious and charming new partner of [Gabriel Basso](https://www.edgepedia.org/gabriel-basso)'s Peter Sutherland, in season 3 of the Netflix thriller *The Night Agent*, described by Netflix's Tudum as bringing "experience, humor, and competence" to the character[4](https://www.marieclaire.com/culture/tv-shows/the-night-agent-season-3-cast/). Upcoming credits listed on AlloCiné include *She Rides Shotgun* (2025) as Jimmy, season 4 material continuing his *Night Agent* role, *All the Sinners Bleed* season 1 as Jasper Sanderson, and *Safe Houses* season 1 as Kevin Garvey[10](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-216869/filmographie/).
## Personal life
Lyons was born in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2256017/bio/). He married the Canadian actress [Carly Pope](https://www.edgepedia.org/carly-pope) in 2021, and the couple has one child[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2256017/bio/). [TV Guide](https://www.edgepedia.org/tv-guide) lists his profession as actor, director, and writer[11](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/david-lyons/credits/3000335387/).
## References
1. [David Lyons – Biography, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2256017/bio/)
2. [David Lyons : Filmografia, AdoroCinema](https://www.adorocinema.com/personalidades/personalidade-216869/filmografia/)
3. [David Lyons – Actor, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/david-lyons/)
4. ['The Night Agent' Season 3 Cast: Your Guide to the Netflix Thriller's Latest Espionage Mission, Marie Claire](https://www.marieclaire.com/culture/tv-shows/the-night-agent-season-3-cast/)
5. [David Lyons, TVSA](https://www.tvsa.co.za/actors/viewactor.aspx?actorid=10188)
6. [Interview: The Cape's David Lyons, Daily Actor](https://www.dailyactor.com/interview/interview-the-capes-david-lyons/)
7. [Filmography: David Lyons – Actor, elCinema](https://elcinema.com/en/person/2001071/filmography)
8. [David Lyons Movies and TV Shows You'd Want On Your Watchlist, Cinapse](https://cinapse.co/david-lyons-movies-and-tv-shows/)
9. [David Lyons Movies & TV Shows List, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/david_lyons)
10. [David Lyons : Filmographie, AlloCiné](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-216869/filmographie/)
11. [David Lyons Movies and TV Shows, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/david-lyons/credits/3000335387/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › Australian actors › Surnames L to N*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license