Joseph Zada

Joseph Zada, born Joseph Cumpston on July 21, 2005, is an Australian actor. He has gained recognition through his roles across Australian television series, independent feature films, and major international screen adaptations.

Raised in Sydney, Australia, Zada comes from a creative family. His father, Jeremy Cumpston, is a director, actor, and medical doctor, while his mother, Jessica Brentnall, works as a film producer. He has four siblings, including actor Hal Cumpston. Zada has Afghan and Indigenous Australian heritage through his paternal great-grandmother, establishing his connections to the Barkandji people. Initially performing under his birth name, he departed secondary school in 2023 after being presented with an ultimatum regarding his attendance and an upcoming audition.

Zada made an early screen appearance in the 2019 comedy-drama feature Bilched, portraying Toby in a production directed by his father and co-starring his brother. In 2023, he headlined the crime documentary feature The Speedway Murders in the lead role of Dan. He subsequently joined the third season of the Australian political drama Total Control in 2024, playing the character Daniel.

In 2025, Zada starred as Charlie Roth in the Stan Australia drama series Invisible Boys. The show centers on teenagers living in Geraldton during the period following the Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey. His performance was recognized alongside his co-stars for bringing emotional complexity and depth to the narrative.

Zada has also been cast in several high-profile literary adaptations for international streaming platforms. He was selected to play Johnny Sinclair in the Amazon Prime Video series We Were Liars, based on the young adult novel by E. Lockhart, which premiered in June 2025. Additionally, he was cast as Cal Trask in Netflix's adaptation of the John Steinbeck novel East of Eden, slated for a 2026 launch.

In April 2025, Lionsgate announced Zada in the lead role of Haymitch Abernathy for the feature film adaptation of The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, starring opposite Whitney Peak. Studio leadership praised his audition for displaying remarkable talent, warmth, and emotional honesty. In December 2025, Zada was named Breakthrough Actor of the Year by GQ Australia.