If you’ve spent any time at all in the gritty, salt-stained world of Starz’s Black Sails, you know Toby Schmitz. He’s the guy who made Jack Rackham—a real-life pirate usually relegated to a historical footnote about calico and better-known female companions—the most charismatic, neurotic, and strangely relatable person on the high seas. But honestly, if you only know him for the hat and the swagger, you’re missing out on one of the most versatile careers in modern entertainment.
Schmitz isn't just an actor who shows up, says his lines, and goes home. He’s a playwright, a director, and even a novelist. Most people don't realize that while he was busy filming high-octane Toby Schmitz movies and tv shows, he was also winning the Patrick White Award for playwriting. He’s basically the definition of a "theatre animal" who happens to be incredibly good on camera.
From Pirate Gold to Corrupt Cops: The TV Evolution
Most international fans found him through Black Sails, which ran from 2014 to 2017. His portrayal of Rackham was a masterclass in "fake it 'til you make it." He played Jack with this specific kind of intellectual desperation that made you root for him even when he was making terrible decisions. It’s the kind of performance that sticks with you because it feels human, not like a caricature.
But look at what he’s done lately. In 2024, he popped up in the Netflix hit Boy Swallows Universe as Tim Cotton. If you haven't seen it, he plays a corrupt detective, and man, he is chilling. It’s a total 180 from the witty, fast-talking pirate. He’s also been a staple in Australian prestige TV for years. You’ve got The Twelve, Bloom, and the legal drama Newton’s Law where he played Lewis Hughes opposite Claudia Karvan.
Then there’s the weird stuff. Like S.O.Z. Soldados o Zombies (2021). Yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like—Mexican soldiers vs. zombies. It’s wild, it’s messy, and Schmitz is right in the thick of it. It shows he doesn't take himself too seriously, which is rare for an actor with his kind of stage pedigree.
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A Quick List of Must-Watch Toby Schmitz TV Shows
- Black Sails: Obviously. Start here.
- Boy Swallows Universe: For a look at his darker, more menacing side.
- The Pacific: He had a role in this massive Spielberg/Hanks miniseries early on.
- Underbelly Files: The Man Who Got Away: He played David McMillan, a real-life drug smuggler.
- Newton's Law: If you want to see him being suave and "legal."
Why His Movie Career Hits Different
His filmography is a bit more eclectic than his TV work. You won’t find him in many Hollywood blockbusters, but his indie credits are gold. One of his earliest notable roles was in The Rage in Placid Lake (2003) alongside Rose Byrne. It’s a quirky Australian comedy that really captures that early 2000s vibe.
He also appeared in Somersault (2004), a film that basically cleaned up at the AFI Awards back in the day. More recently, he starred in Book Week (2018), playing a disgraced author. It’s a role that feels very "Toby"—biting, funny, and slightly tragic.
One thing people often overlook is Three Blind Mice (2008). It’s a raw, low-budget film about three navy officers on their last night in Sydney before being shipped off to the Gulf. It’s intense. It’s the kind of movie that reminds you why Schmitz is so respected in the industry; he can do a lot with very little.
The Theatre Connection You Can't Ignore
You can't talk about Toby Schmitz movies and tv shows without mentioning the stage. In 2025 and early 2026, he’s been making waves with Hamlet Camp at Carriageworks in Sydney. He co-wrote it with fellow heavyweights Brendan Cowell and Ewen Leslie. The premise is genius: three actors who have all played Hamlet in major productions meet at a "rehab" to get the character out of their systems.
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It’s meta, it’s hilarious, and it’s deeply vulnerable. It proves that Schmitz is constantly thinking about the craft of acting itself. He’s also recently starred in Grief is the Thing with Feathers at Belvoir, which he also co-adapted. The man literally never stops working.
The Secret Weapon: Writing and Directing
If you think he’s just a face on a screen, check out his writing credits. He’s written plays like Lucky, Chicks Will Dig You!, and I Want to Sleep With Tom Stoppard. He even published a novel recently called The Empress Murders. It’s a jazz-age mystery that actually got great reviews for being "packed with corpses and charisma."
He brings that "writerly" energy to his acting roles. When you watch him as Rackham or in The Twelve, you can tell he understands the structure of the story, not just his own lines. He knows when to lean into a pause and when to let the dialogue sing.
What Most People Get Wrong About Toby Schmitz
The biggest misconception is that he’s a "genre" actor because of the pirate stuff. In reality, he’s a classicist. He’s done Shakespeare, Stoppard, and Shaw. He’s played Hamlet to critical acclaim. If anything, the TV roles are just a way for him to fund his theatre habit.
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Another thing? He’s actually quite funny. Not just "pirate quip" funny, but genuinely sharp-witted. If you ever see him in an interview or on a panel, he’s usually the smartest—and funniest—person in the room. He doesn't do the whole "brooding actor" thing. He’s much more of a "mad scientist" of the arts.
Actionable Insights: How to Catch Up on His Best Work
If you’re looking to dive into the world of Toby Schmitz movies and tv shows, don't just stick to the hits. Here’s a plan for the weekend:
- Watch Black Sails Season 2: This is where Rackham really comes into his own. The character arc from "lackey" to "leader" is incredible.
- Binge Boy Swallows Universe: It’s on Netflix, it’s high production value, and Schmitz is terrifying in it.
- Track down "Three Blind Mice": It might be harder to find on streaming, but it’s worth the hunt for a raw look at his acting chops.
- Read his book: The Empress Murders is a great way to see how his mind works when he's not on camera.
Toby Schmitz is one of those rare performers who actually lives up to the "triple threat" label. Whether he's wearing a tricorn hat, a detective's badge, or a writer's cap, he’s always doing something interesting. He’s the kind of actor who makes everything he’s in just a little bit better, simply by being there.
Check out Hamlet Camp if you're in Sydney this January; it's a rare chance to see him deconstruct his own career in real-time. Or, just fire up Netflix and let him creep you out in Boy Swallows Universe. Either way, you're in for a treat.