[citation needed] He had not considered a career in acting until his high school English teacher suggested it to him, and he soon went for an audition.
[2] In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Gyngell appeared in The Comedy Company and developed several popular characters, one of whom, Col'n Carpenter, went on to have his own sitcom.
Gyngell also appeared (as Carpenter) in a series of public service announcements for the Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand.
More recently he has starred in Top of the Lake, Rake, a second season of Very Small Business, Love Me, Crazy Fun Park, Black Snow (featuring Travis Fimmel), Wakefield, No Activity, and The Artful Dodger.
In 1979, Ham joined the original lineup of Men at Work with Hay, Ron Strykert, and Jerry Speiser.
[4] Gyngell played keyboards in the Melbourne band Le Club Foote, who released their only album Cinema Qua in 1984, along with a couple of singles.