Joseph Cumpston, professionally known as Joseph Zada, is an Australian actor. He gained recognition for his performances in the television series Invisible Boys and We Were Liars, establishing himself as one of Australia’s rising screen talents.
Zada further achieved international attention after being cast as young Haymitch Abernathy in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping and Cal Trask in Netflix’s adaptation of East of Eden.
Essential Data
- Full Name: Joseph Cumpston
- Stage Name: Joseph Zada
- Born: July 21, 2005
- Age: 21 years old
- Birthplace: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Occupation: Actor
- Nationality: Australian
- Height: 6 feet 1 inch (185 cm)
- Ethnicity: Afghan-Aboriginal and White Australian
- Religion: Christianity
- Parents: Jeremy Cumpston, Jessica Brentnall
- Siblings: Hal Cumpston
- Spouse: None
- Children: None
- Relationship: Single
- Net Worth: $500,000 USD
Early Life and Education
Joseph Zada was born on July 21, 2005, in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, to Jeremy Cumpston, an actor, director, and medical doctor, and Jessica Brentnall, a film producer.
He is of Afghan-Aboriginal and White Australian heritage and has Indigenous ancestry linked to the Barkandji people.
Joseph grew up alongside four siblings, including actor Hal Cumpston. He attended high school in Sydney but left school in 2023 to pursue acting full-time after securing major audition opportunities.
Career
Joseph Zada began his acting career under the name Joseph Cumpston, making his film debut in Bilched (2019).
He later appeared in The Speedway Murders and gained wider recognition with a recurring role in the Australian political drama Total Control.
His breakthrough came in 2025 when he starred as Charlie Roth in Invisible Boys, and as Johnny Sinclair Dennis in Amazon Prime Video’s We Were Liars, earning praise for his emotional performances.
Joseph’s rapidly rising profile led to two of the biggest roles of his career. He was cast as Cal Trask in Netflix’s adaptation of East of Eden and as Haymitch Abernathy in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, the highly anticipated prequel to The Hunger Games film series.
Awards and Nominations
- GQ Australia Men of the Year – Breakthrough Actor of the Year (2025) – Winner
- AACTA Awards – Audience Choice Award for Favourite Australian Actor (2026) – Nominee
- AACTA Awards – Audience Choice Award for Rabanne Breakthrough Artist (2026) – Nominee
Social Media
- Instagram: @josephzada
- TikTok: @josephzada
Personal Life
Joseph Zada, 21, is single. He has no children and stands 6 feet 1 inch (185 cm) tall. He enjoys filmmaking, photography, travelling, and spending time with family and friends.
He has also expressed admiration for actors such as Heath Ledger and River Phoenix, whose work has influenced his approach to acting.
Net Worth
Joseph Zada has an estimated net worth of $500,000 USD. His income is primarily derived from film and television acting, streaming productions, public appearances, and brand collaborations.
Filmography
- Bilched
- David Jones Locker
- The Speedway Murders
- Total Control
- Invisible Boys
- We Were Liars
- East of Eden
- The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping