Melbourne actor Sullivan Stapleton sued by former girlfriend Alexis Kelley for domestic abuse
Sullivan Stapleton — known for roles in Animal Kingdom and Strike Back — is being sued for alleged domestic abuse, with his ex girlfriend claiming he once told her: “It’s the survival of the fittest. I could kill you, but I don’t.”
Entertainment
Don't miss out on the headlines from Entertainment. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Melbourne actor Sullivan Stapleton is being sued by his former girlfriend for alleged domestic abuse.
The Animal Kingdom star’s former partner, Alexis Kelley is suing the 47-year-old actor in a US court, alleging he repeatedly threatened to kill her and shot a guest in their Los Angeles home with a heavy pellet gun.
The couple split last year.
Kelley has since filed a civil complaint for damages in a Supreme Court of Los Angeles, accusing the Australian actor of alleged assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, false imprisonment and domestic violence among other claims.
In the complaint, Kelley alleges Stapleton demanded sex and told her “It’s the survival of the fittest. I could kill you, but I don’t.”
“If I needed to kill you … I’d just use my hands” and “I have to train you just like I train the dog.”
The complaint further alleges Stapleton stalked Kelley by installing cameras in the LA home they once shared, to monitor her while he was home in Australia.
The Herald Sun has reached out to Stapleton’s Australian based manager for comment.
Stapleton had an incredible to rise fame after appearing on Aussie dramas Neighbours and The Secret Life of Us. Having trained at Melbourne’s famous St Martins Theatre, Stapleton had a breakout role in crime gang film Animal Kingdom alongside Ben Mendelsohn and Jacki Weaver, with Hollywood beckoning.
He instantly became an action man, appearing in epic historical drama 300: Rise of an Empire and later as the leads in prime time TV series Strike Back and Blindspot.
It was during filming on Strike Back in 2014 while on location in Thailand that Stapleton was in a serious accident, falling off a tuk-tuk and suffering a head injury that left him in a coma, with shooting on the show paused to allow him to recover.
Stapleton’s sister Jacinta is also a well-known Australian actor.
He returned to Melbourne in 2019 to play horse trainer Darren Weir in the Michelle Payne biopic Ride Like A Girl, directed by actor Rachel Griffiths.
In the court filings Kelley claims she and Stapleton started dating in 2016 and began living together in 2022. The couple regularly attended the G’Day USA Arts Galas appearing together on the red carpet.
In the lawsuit, Kelley alleges Stapleton placed her “in fear of physical harm, particularly if she did not give into his demands for sex and other demands, through statements made to her in an angry tone.”
It states Stapleton was able to accomplish his actions “because she was financially dependent” on him.
Why Aussie model ‘walked away’ from the spotlight
Elyse Knowles – former winner of The Block and an Instagram star – opens up about retreating from the public eye and shifting focus to raise her young family.
How OnlyFans’ Annie Knight is getting on top of her goal to sleep with 1000 men
Australia’s most sexually active woman, Annie Knight, has revealed all in an exclusive interview with the Herald Sun, revealing the hard truth about choosing “collabs” and how her parents found out about her job.