Damien Richardson (actor)

Damien Richardson (born 2 August 1969) is an Australian film, television and theatre actor and writer. A graduate from the Victorian College of the Arts, Richardson has appeared in a variety of Australian films and television shows, including Blue Heelers, McLeod's Daughters, Redball, The Hard Word, Rogue, Conspiracy 365 and Wentworth. He and co-writer Luke Elliot won the Best New Comedy-Drama award at the Melbourne Fringe Festival for their play The Belly Of The Whale. One of Richardson's best known roles is Detective Matt Ryan in the crime drama City Homicide, which he played from 2007 until 2011. Since 2012, Richardson has starred as Drew Greer in the Jack Irish television films and subsequent 2016 series. He played Gary Canning in the soap opera Neighbours from 2014 to 2020.

Damien Richardson
Born (1969-08-02) 2 August 1969[1]
Adelaide, Australia
OccupationActor, writer
Years active1988–present

Early and personal life

Richardson was born in Adelaide.[2] He graduated from the Victorian College of the Arts in 1991.[3] He also attended Flinders University.[1]

Richardson was married to Nicole, a writer. They have three children and lived in Melbourne.[4] In December 2016, it was announced that Richardson had separated from his wife and was dating Fifi Box.[5]

Career

1988–2010

Richardson has had guest stints in several Australian television shows, including Neighbours as Kim White,[6] Blue Heelers,[7] Stingers,[4] and McLeod's Daughters as Tom Braiden.[6] Richardson co-wrote The Belly Of The Whale with Luke Elliot. The play won Best New Comedy-Drama at the Melbourne Fringe Festival in 1996.[8] He has had roles in feature films Everynight ... Everynight (1994), Blabbermouth & Stickybeak (1998), Redball (1999), A Telephone Call for Genevieve Snow and Mallboy (2001).[3]

Richardson starred in the 2002 Australian crime film The Hard Word, alongside Guy Pearce and Joel Edgerton. He plays Mal Twentyman, one of three back-robbing brothers.[9] Pearce recommended Richardson to director Scott Roberts, after they worked together in a play two years earlier.[9] Richardson followed his role in The Hard Word with a part in the comedy-thriller Horseplay.[10] For his role of Ken, a stalker, in The Secret Life of Us, Richardson received a nomination for Best Actor in a Supporting or Guest Role in a Television Drama or Comedy at the 2003 Australian Film Institute Awards.[7][11]

Richardson played Detective Matt Ryan in the Seven Network crime drama City Homicide from 2007 until the show's cancellation in 2011.[7] Richardson initially played a minor role in the unaired pilot, but he proved popular with the test audience and he was asked to attend a screen test for the main cast, where he received the role of Matt.[7] Richardson also appeared in writer/director Matthew Saville's drama film Noise (2007),[12] followed by Dee McLachlan's drama film The Jammed (2007),[7] and Eric Manchester's suspense film Torn (2010).[13]

2011–present

After he finished filming the fifth season of City Homicide, Richardson appeared in the Melbourne Theatre Company production of The Water Carriers.[2] In 2012, Richardson guested in an episode of the ABC comedy series Lowdown,[14] and was cast as Chris in the Bell Shakespeare production of The School for Wives.[15] He also appeared in the television film Fatal Honeymoon alongside Harvey Keitel, Billy Miller and Gary Sweet.[16] Since 2012, Richardson has appeared as lawyer Drew Greer in the Jack Irish television films and the 2016 television series.[17]

In 2014, Richardson re-joined the cast of Neighbours in the recurring role of Gary Canning.[18] Richardson reprised the role the following year and returned in 2016.[19] Richardson's character was killed off in March 2020.[20] Richardson starred alongside Kate Kendall in the 2015 production of Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune. The play was directed by their fellow Neighbours co-star and Richardson's on-screen mother Colette Mann.[21] Richardson has made guest appearances as Detective Michael Mears in Wentworth,[22] and Gary Riles in Nowhere Boys.[23]

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
1994 Everynight ... Everynight Greer
1998 Blabbermouth & Stickybeak Andy Peck
1999 Redball Detective Rix Dixsarcos
2000 A Telephone Call for Genevieve Snow Nigel
2001 Mallboy Security Guard
2002 The Hard Word Mal Twentyman
2003 Horseplay Gilles
2007 The Jammed Federal Agent Mollica
2007 Noise Matty Rhodes
2007 Rogue Collin
2010 Torn Daniel
2012 Fatal Honeymoon Detective Robertson
2016 Nowhere Boys: The Book of Shadows Gary Riles

Television
Year Title Role Notes
1992 Neighbours Kim White 4 episodes
1993 The Feds: Abduction Kev
1995 Blue Heelers Jason Wallace Episode: "Heavy Traffic"
1999 Stingers Mooney Episode: "Nothing Personal"
2000 Stingers Christian Reagan Episode: "HeartLine"
2001 Blue Heelers Graham Roach Episode: "On the Run"
2002 Stingers Theo Bolton Episode: "Slow Hand, Easy Touch"
2003 The Secret Life of Us Ken 2 episodes
2004 Blue Heelers Cal Milic 3 episodes
2006 McLeod's Daughters Tom Braiden 2 episodes
2007–11 City Homicide Matt Ryan
2007 Wilfred Hank Episode: "Barking Behind Bars"
2011 Small Time Gangster Sandy Episode: "The Last Post"
2012 Jack Irish: Black Tide Drew Greer
2012 Jack Irish: Bad Debts Drew Greer
2012 Lowdown Ryan Hamilton Episode: "Hack in Business"
2012 Conspiracy 365 Nelson Sharkey 5 episodes
2013–15 Nowhere Boys Gary Riles/Seargant Riles 12 episodes
2014 Jack Irish: Dead Point Drew Greer
2014–2020 Neighbours Gary Canning Regular role; 490 episodes
2015 Wentworth Detective Michael Mears 7 episodes
2015 House Husbands Steve Episode: "4x6"
2016 The Doctor Blake Mysteries Terrence Noonan Episode: "Against the Odds"
2016 Jack Irish Drew Greer

References
  1. "Damien Richardson". Showcast. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
  2. Sobolewski, Helene; Iannella, Antimo (8 February 2011). "Damien finds water works". The Advertiser. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  3. Moran, Albert; Vieth, Errol (2005). Historical Dictionary of Australian and New Zealand Cinema. Scarecrow Press. p. 221. ISBN 9780810865273.
  4. "Damien Richardson plays Matt Ryan". Yahoo!7. 12 February 2009. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
  5. Evans, Laura (21 December 2016). "Confirmed! Fifi Box is dating co-star Damien Richardson". Woman's Day. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  6. "Damien Richardson" (PDF). JM Agency. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
  7. McManus, Bridget (24 July 2008). "Arrested emotions". The Age. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
  8. Farrant, Darrin (4 April 1996). "Plenty of nibbles, few bites". The Age. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
  9. Davies, Lisa (8 June 2002). "Actor's baptism of (gun) fire". The Age. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
  10. Stratton, David (18 May 2003). "Review: 'Horseplay'". Variety. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
  11. "AFI nominations". The Age. 21 November 2003. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
  12. Brynes, Paul (5 May 2007). "Noise". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  13. "Jason Byrne's Little Deaths among DigiSPAA finalists". If Magazine. 16 October 2008. Archived from the original on 15 August 2016. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  14. Knox, David (4 September 2012). "The Lowdown on tabloid inspiration". TV Tonight. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  15. Rose, Kate (16 September 2012). "Review: The School for Wives, Bell Shakespeare". Herald Sun. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
  16. "Death stalks as Harvey Keitel sinks into a new role". Herald Sun. 2 May 2012. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
  17. Enker, Debi (4 February 2016). "Guy Pearce returns to the screen as reluctant private eye Jack Irish". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
  18. Kilkelly, Daniel (3 November 2014). "Neighbours reveals first picture of Kyle Canning's father Gary". Digital Spy. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
  19. Dainty, Sophie (30 October 2015). "Neighbours spoilers: Sheila Canning's wayward son Gary to return to Ramsay Street". Digital Spy. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
  20. Hadley, Amy (21–27 March 2020). "Is he dead?". TV Week. No. 12. pp. 6–7.
  21. Weber, K.E. (5 November 2015). "Colette Mann on Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune". theatrepeople.com.au. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  22. "Wentworth Prison – S3-E3 Knives Out". Radio Times. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
  23. Knox, David (2 November 2013). "Nowhere Boys". TV Tonight. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
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