Damien Richardson (actor)

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]

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]