Bowler is a graduate of the
National Institute of Dramatic Art. For two years, he worked extensively in theatre with the
Bell Shakespeare Company touring with the original company founded by
John Bell. His first television role was as
Constable Wayne Patterson on
Blue Heelers, from 1993 to 1996. He had recurring roles on
Always Greener and
Stingers, starred in the television adaptation of
On the Beach, spent a year on the
ABC series
Something in the Air, and starred in the 2004 miniseries
Through My Eyes about the
disappearance of Azaria Chamberlain. Bowler had a recurring role on
All Saints from 2004 to 2005. Bowler hosted the Australian version of
The Mole from 2000 to 2003. He was replaced in the 2005 series by
Tom Williams because of family commitments and his duties with ''
Border Security: Australia's Front Line''. He is the narrator of the latter show, having begun as on-camera host in 2004 and transitioning to the off-camera role after the first season. Bowler appeared in the New Zealand series
Outrageous Fortune in the recurring role of
Wolfgang West. He was in greater demand since joining the program, but turned down other work to remain with the show. Bowler guest starred as Gault, the captain of a freighter on the American television series
Lost, starting with the season four episode "
Ji Yeon". In 2008, he began a recurring role on
Ugly Betty as Connor Owens, corrupt CFO of Meade Publications and the love interest of the series' main villain. Bowler said of his character, "He's got a lot of evil secrets." In December 2009, he was cast as
Cooter, a werewolf, in the
HBO urban fantasy series
True Blood, for that show's third season. In late 2010, he was announced as the host of
Seven Network's
The Amazing Race Australia and remained for three seasons. He did not return for the 2019
Network 10 revival of the series, being replaced by
Beau Ryan. He played
Hank Rearden in
Atlas Shrugged: Part I (2011), the first part of a planned three-part film adaptation of
Ayn Rand's
novel of the same name. He was also seen in 2011 in
The City of Gardens, and the film
Killer Elite. In 2012, Bowler was cast as
Richard Burton opposite
Lindsay Lohan as
Elizabeth Taylor in the biographical
TV-movie Liz & Dick for
Lifetime in the US. He was seen in the war drama
Gallipoli, released in 2015 on Channel 9, Australia. Bowler was also seen in the psychological action film
Swelter, alongside
Jean-Claude Van Damme and
Alfred Molina; in the sci-fi thriller
400 Days with
Brandon Routh and
Dane Cook;
Lucky Dog with
Amy Smart; and the family movie,
Zooey to the Max. In 2020, Bowler appeared in a recurring role in
The Baker and the Beauty playing the Australian father of lead character Noa Hamilton, played by
Nathalie Kelley. == Filmography ==