David Helfgott David Helfgott David Helfgott (born 19 May 1947) is an Australian concert pianist. Helfgott's life inspired the Academy Award-winning film "Shine", in which he was portrayed by actors Geoffrey Rush and Noah Taylor. Helfgott was born in Melbourne to Polish Jewish parents Rachel (née Granek) and Elias Peter Helfgott. He won the state final of the ABC Instrumental and Vocal Competition six times. The awards he won at the Royal College of Music included the Dannreuther Prize for Best Concerto Performance, for his performance of Rachmaninoff's "Piano Concerto No. 3", and the Marmaduke Barton Prize. During his time in London,
Geoffrey Rush small roles on television dramas, including a role as a dentist in a 1993 episode of the British television series "Lovejoy". He made his breakthrough performance in 1996 with "Shine", for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor. That same year, James L. Brooks flew him to Los Angeles to audition for the part of Simon Bishop in "As Good as It Gets", and offered him the role, but Rush declined it (it went to Greg Kinnear). In 1998, he appeared in three major films: "Les Misérables", "Elizabeth", and "Shakespeare in Love". He received his second Academy Award