Damien Richardson (born 2 August 1969) is an Australian far-right activist and former actor. Richardson is best known for his roles as Detective Matt Ryan in the crime drama City Homicide, which he played from 2007 until 2011, and as Gary Canning in the soap opera Neighbours from 2014 to 2020. He has also appeared in a variety of Australian films and television shows, including Blue Heelers, McLeod's Daughters, Rogue, Conspiracy 365, and Wentworth. From 2012, Richardson starred as Drew Greer in the Jack Irish television films and subsequent 2016 series.
Damien Richardson | |
|---|---|
| Born | 2 August 1969[1] Adelaide, South Australia, Australia |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, writer |
| Years active | 1988–2021 |
| Political party | Freedom |
| Other political affiliations | Independent |
| Spouse |
Nicole Riches (until 2016) |
| Partner | Fifi Box (2016–2018) |
| Children | 3 |
From 2021 Richardson started campaigning against vaccinations,and in that year quit acting to launch a failed bid to gain a seat as an independent in the Australian Senate. He then founded a far-right group called National Workers' Alliance (NWA), which associates with other far-right, white supremacist, and neo-Nazi identities, including members of the National Socialist Network.
Early and life and education
editDamien Richardson was born in Adelaide.[2]
He studied political science and Australian cinema and theatre at Flinders University in Adelaide and from 1989 attended the Victorian College of the Arts, graduating in 1991[1][3]
Acting career
editStage
editRichardson co-wrote The Belly Of The Whale with Luke Elliot, which was presented at the Melbourne Fringe Festival in 1996.[4]
He appeared in the Melbourne Theatre Company production of The Water Carriers in 2011,[2] and was cast as Chris in the 2012 Bell Shakespeare production of The School for Wives.[5]
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.[6]
Film and TV
editRichardson had guest stints in several Australian television shows, including Neighbours as Kim White,[7] Blue Heelers,[8] Stingers,[9] and McLeod's Daughters as Tom Braiden.[7]
He 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 bank-robbing brothers.[10] Pearce recommended Richardson to director Scott Roberts, after they worked together in a play two years earlier.[10] Richardson followed his role in The Hard Word with a part in the comedy-thriller Horseplay.[11]
Richardson played Detective Matt Ryan in the Seven Network crime drama City Homicide from 2007 until the show's cancellation in 2011.[8] He 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.[8] He also appeared in writer/director Matthew Saville's drama film Noise (2007),[12] followed by Dee McLachlan's drama film The Jammed (2007),[8] and Eric Manchester's suspense film Torn (2010).[13]
In 2012, Richardson guested in an episode of the ABC comedy series Lowdown.[14] He also appeared in the television film Fatal Honeymoon alongside Harvey Keitel, Billy Miller and Gary Sweet.[15] From 2012, he appeared as lawyer Drew Greer in the Jack Irish television films and the 2016 television series.[16]
In 2014, Richardson re-joined the cast of Neighbours in the recurring role of Gary Canning.[17] He reprised the role the following year and returned in 2016 as part of the main cast.[18]
Richardson has made guest appearances as Detective Michael Mears in Wentworth,[19] and Gary Riles in Nowhere Boys.[20] He left Neighbours in March 2020 after his character was killed off.[21]
Awards
editRichardson and co-writer Luke Elliot won the Best New Comedy-Drama award at the Melbourne Fringe for The Belly Of The Whale.[4]
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.[8][22]
Political career
editRichardson made the decision to quit acting in 2021 and announced he would pursue a political career and stand as an independent candidate for the Australian Senate in the 2022 Australian federal election.[23][24] He later stood in the 2022 Victorian state election representing the right wing Freedom Party of Victoria.[25] He got 1.09% in Northern Metropolitan Region.
In 2023 during a rally which was attended by Liberal MP Renee Heath, Richardson spoke of standing up to the process of deracinating who we are as Australians. The meaning of "deracinate" in this sense is to remove the racial or ethnic characteristics or influences of a place. He also spoke of New World Order and Globalists.[26][27]
In 2024 Richardson founded a far-right group called National Workers Alliance (NWA).[28] The NWA describes itself as an "Australian Nationalist Organisation for the preservation of western culture and identity".[29] Deakin University researcher Gerard Gill called the emergence of the group as "arguably the most defined and deliberate far-right turn for Australian conspiracism".[28] On 14 September 2024 the group met with various other far-right, white supremacist, and neo-Nazi identities such as Thomas Sewell, Blair Cottrell, and members of the National Socialist Network at an event in Melbourne to discuss "advocating for the rights of people of European descent".[30] In November 2024, Victoria Police investigated Richardson after a film from a NWA gathering in September showed him raising his arm in a Nazi salute, which is banned in the state.[31]
Other activities
editRichardson led an anti-vaccination protest in Melbourne in 2021.[32]
Personal life
editRichardson was married to Nicole Riches, a writer. They have three children and lived in Melbourne.[9][33] In December 2016, it was announced that Richardson had separated from his wife and was dating Fifi Box.[34] Box and Richardson separated in 2018.[35]
He attends a Baptist church and has written for Christian conservative website Caldron Pool.[36]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| 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
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Neighbours | Kim White | Guest role |
| 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 | |
| 2004 | Blue Heelers | Cal Milic | |
| 2006 | McLeod's Daughters | Tom Braiden | |
| 2007–2011 | City Homicide | Matt Ryan | Main cast |
| 2007 | Wilfred | Hank | Episode: "Barking Behind Bars" |
| 2011 | Small Time Gangster | Sandy | Episode: "The Last Post" |
| 2012 | Jack Irish: Black Tide | Drew Greer | TV movie |
| 2012 | Jack Irish: Bad Debts | Drew Greer | TV movie |
| 2012 | Lowdown | Ryan Hamilton | Episode: "Hack in Business" |
| 2012 | Conspiracy 365 | Nelson Sharkey | Recurring role |
| 2013–2015 | Nowhere Boys | Gary Riles/Sergeant Riles | Recurring role |
| 2014 | Jack Irish: Dead Point | Drew Greer | TV movie |
| 2014–2020 | Neighbours | Gary Canning | Main cast |
| 2015 | Wentworth | Detective Michael Mears | Recurring role |
| 2015 | House Husbands | Steve | Episode: "4x6" |
| 2016 | The Doctor Blake Mysteries | Terrence Noonan | Episode: "Against the Odds" |
| 2016–2021 | Jack Irish | Drew Greer | Main cast |
| 2016 | Neighbours: Summer Stories | Gary Canning | Webseries |
| 2017 | Neighbours vs Time Travel | Gary Canning | Webseries |
| 2020 | Mint Condition | Guy | TV series |
References
edit- ^ a b "Damien Richardson". Showcast. Archived from the original on 17 October 2016. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
- ^ a b Sobolewski, Helene; Iannella, Antimo (8 February 2011). "Damien finds water works". The Advertiser. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
- ^ a b Moran, Albert; Vieth, Errol (2005). Historical Dictionary of Australian and New Zealand Cinema. Scarecrow Press. p. 221. ISBN 9780810865273.
- ^ a b Farrant, Darrin (4 April 1996). "Plenty of nibbles, few bites". The Age. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
- ^ Rose, Kate (16 September 2012). "Review: The School for Wives, Bell Shakespeare". Herald Sun. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
- ^ Weber, K.E. (5 November 2015). "Colette Mann on Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune". theatrepeople.com.au. Archived from the original on 13 May 2021. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
- ^ a b "Damien Richardson" (PDF). JM Agency. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 October 2016. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
- ^ a b c d e McManus, Bridget (24 July 2008). "Arrested emotions". The Age. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
- ^ a b "Damien Richardson plays Matt Ryan". Yahoo!7. 12 February 2009. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
- ^ a b Davies, Lisa (8 June 2002). "Actor's baptism of (gun) fire". The Age. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
- ^ Stratton, David (18 May 2003). "Review: 'Horseplay'". Variety. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
- ^ Brynes, Paul (5 May 2007). "Noise". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
- ^ "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.
- ^ Knox, David (4 September 2012). "The Lowdown on tabloid inspiration". TV Tonight. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
- ^ "Death stalks as Harvey Keitel sinks into a new role". Herald Sun. 2 May 2012. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (3 November 2014). "Neighbours reveals first picture of Kyle Canning's father Gary". Digital Spy. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
- ^ Dainty, Sophie (30 October 2015). "Neighbours spoilers: Sheila Canning's wayward son Gary to return to Ramsay Street". Digital Spy. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
- ^ "Wentworth Prison – S3-E3 Knives Out". Radio Times. Archived from the original on 22 August 2016. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
- ^ Knox, David (2 November 2013). "Nowhere Boys". TV Tonight. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
- ^ Hadley, Amy (21–27 March 2020). "Is he dead?". TV Week. No. 12. pp. 6–7.
- ^ "AFI nominations". The Age. 21 November 2003. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
- ^ Yemini, Avi (4 May 2022). "Watch: Neighbours star walks away from acting career to run for Senate". Rebel News Australia. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
- ^ Green, Anthony. "Federal Election Senate: Victoria". ABC News. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
- ^ "Our 2022 Victorian Election Team". Freedom Party of Victoria. Archived from the original on 31 October 2022. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
- ^ Hatch, Patrick; Gorrey, Megan (10 August 2023). "Logging on: Renee Heath back into the pressure cooker". The Age.
- ^ Carmody, Broede (11 August 2023). "'Let's not talk about us': Liberals won't sanction Renee Heath over speaking events". The Age.
- ^ a b Gill, Gerard (9 October 2024). "Nazis at the salad bar: The National Workers' Alliance and mixed, unclear, and unstable ideology". VOX - Pol. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
- ^ "National Workers Alliance". Workers.Org. 13 March 2024. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
- ^ Gregoire, Paul (24 September 2024). "Neo-Nazis Are Holding Dinner Forums in Melbourne, After a Year of Far-Right Actions". Sydney Criminal Lawyers. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
- ^ Estcourt, David; Lorigan, Mike (13 November 2024). "Police investigating former Neighbours star Damien Richardson over Nazi salute performed at event". ABC News. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
- ^ Beers, Lucy Mae (8 December 2021). "Anti-vax protesters confront Salvation Army staffers on Bourke Street in Melbourne's CBD". 7 News. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
- ^ Zubeidi, Zara (29 May 2017). "Fifi makes her choice – 'He's my perfect man!'". Woman's Day. Retrieved 9 August 2024 – via PressReader.
- ^ Evans, Laura (21 December 2016). "Confirmed! Fifi Box is dating co-star Damien Richardson". Woman's Day. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
- ^ Byrne, Fiona (16 June 2018). "Fifi's romance with Neighbours co-star cactus". Herald Sun. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
- ^ "Damien Richardson". Caldron Pool. 15 May 2022. Retrieved 15 May 2022.