Dykstra made his feature film debut in the critically acclaimed Soft Fruit, directed by Christina Andreef, for which he received an AFI Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role (1999) and a Film Critics’ Circle Award nomination (2000).[5][6]
Dykstra's one-man show Children of the Devil had previously toured nationally in 1996–98 with funding from the Australia Council, earning him a Matilda Award[7] and a Victorian Green Room Award[8] nomination for Best Actor.[9][10][11]
Dykstra is perhaps most well known for his portrayal of the character Barney, in the award-winning ABC TV series Rake.
In 2013 Dykstra appeared as Uncle Fester in the Australian production of the Broadway musical The Addams Family.[21] For this performance Dykstra was honored with his third Helpmann Award, for Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical (2013).[22]
Dykstra played Pumbaa in the Australian tour of Disney'sThe Lion King.[23] For this performance Dykstra received a Sydney Theatre Award nomination for Best Performance by an Actor in a Musical (2013) and was nominated Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical at the 14th Annual Helpmann Awards.[24][25]
In 2015 Dykstra won his second Equity Award, for Most Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama Series, for his portrayal of Barney in the ABC TV series Rake.[26]
In 2016 Dykstra received an AACTA Award Nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a Television Drama for his performance as Barney in Rake, Series 4.[27]
More recently Dykstra portrayed Lester in the Matchbox Pictures production Irreverent streaming on Peacock in the US and Netflix Australia.
He also appeared in the ABC TV series “Fires” and “In Limbo” produced by Bunya Productions.[28]
In 2024 Dykstra is set to appear in the upcoming ABC production titled Ladies in Black.[29][30]