Shane Connor
Encyclopedia
Shane Connor is an Australian actor, who has had extensive experience in both stage and film productions.
His television credits include the Channel Seven
series Fire
, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
drama Heartland
and the miniseries The Harp in the South and Poor Man's Orange
. Awards include the 1984 Penguin Award for best actor, 1995 Green Room Award for outstanding fringe performer and a nomination for the 1998 AFI Award for best actor in a leading role in a television drama.
Connor also played guest roles in Australian soap operas. He played the recurring role of Bongo Connors in the women's prison drama serial Prisoner
in 1986. Earlier he had a brief guest role in the series as Kevin, husband of Cheryll (Lisa Aldenhoven
). Connor had a brief role as another biker, Angel, in Sons and Daughters
in 1986.
in Neighbours
starting in 1999. Eight years previously (in 1991) he had played a one-off character called Phil Hoffman in episode #1.1410.
Connor was fired from the series after four years in the role. He sued the show's producer, Grundy Television, for wrongful termination of his contract, seeking about $200,000.
The court hearing heard that he had an amphetamine
drug habit while performing on the show. Connor's older brother died in June 2001 and he had been badly affected by this, leading to the drug habit. Members of the cast and crew had complained about his behaviour at work. This included alleged aggressive bahaviour and lateness that delayed production. After being confronted about his problem he met with the cast in May 2003 and admitted the problem and apologised.
He was sacked from the series in September 2003, several months after receiving a written warning from producers and overcoming his amphetamine habit. There had been ongoing hostility between him and Janet Andrewartha
who played his wife Lyn; she had been the source of the vast majority of complaints about him.
Connor won the case and was awarded over $230,000.
In the show's storyline his character Joe Scully was said to have left to work on a relative's farm. These were said to be temporary plans, but Joe never returned. His wife Lyn (Janet Andrewartha) remained in the series and later their marriage was said to have been dissolved. Lyn subsequently had a relationship with another Joe, the returning Joe Mangel
(Mark Little
).
.
In 2008 Shane got a supporting role in the coming of age
Playing For Charlie filmed in Melbourne.
Background
Shane Connor graduated from the Victorian College of the Arts in the early 1980s. He worked steadily in film, theatre and television for many years.His television credits include the Channel Seven
Seven Network
The Seven Network is an Australian television network owned by Seven West Media Limited. It dates back to 4 November 1956, when the first stations on the VHF7 frequency were established in Melbourne and Sydney.It is currently the second largest network in the country in terms of population reach...
series Fire
Fire (TV series)
Fire is an Australian television series transmitted on the Seven Network between 1995 and 1996. It was shown in the UK & Ireland on Sky One. In 1999 and 2000, the series was shown on Channel 5.The series explored the lives of a platoon of firefighters...
, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
drama Heartland
Heartland (Australian TV series)
Heartland was an Australian television drama series that ran on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in 1994. It ran for thirteen episodes and starred Cate Blanchett and Ernie Dingo...
and the miniseries The Harp in the South and Poor Man's Orange
Poor Man's Orange
Poor Man's Orange is a novel by New Zealand born Australian author Ruth Park. Published in 1949, the book is the sequel to The Harp in the South and continues the story of the Darcy family, living in the Surry Hills area of Sydney....
. Awards include the 1984 Penguin Award for best actor, 1995 Green Room Award for outstanding fringe performer and a nomination for the 1998 AFI Award for best actor in a leading role in a television drama.
Connor also played guest roles in Australian soap operas. He played the recurring role of Bongo Connors in the women's prison drama serial Prisoner
Prisoner (TV series)
Prisoner is an Australian television soap opera which was set in the Wentworth Detention Centre, a fictional women's prison. The series was produced by the Reg Grundy Organisation and ran on Network Ten for 692 episodes from 27 February 1979 to 11 December 1986.The series was inspired by the 1970s...
in 1986. Earlier he had a brief guest role in the series as Kevin, husband of Cheryll (Lisa Aldenhoven
Lisa Aldenhoven
Lisa Aldenhoven is an Australian actress.She remains best known for her role in the television soap opera The Young Doctors as Nurse Julie Holland. She appeared in the series from 1978 to 1981....
). Connor had a brief role as another biker, Angel, in Sons and Daughters
Sons and Daughters (Australian TV series)
Sons and Daughters was a Logie Award winning Australian soap opera created by Reg Watson and produced by the Reg Grundy Organisation between 1981 and 1987. The first episode aired in December 1981, during the Christmas/New Year non-ratings period, and the official broadcast date of the final...
in 1986.
Neighbours
Connor later played the key on-going role of builder Joe ScullyJoe Scully
Joe Scully is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Shane Connor. He made his first on-screen appearance on 20 October 1999, along with his family.-Casting:...
in Neighbours
Neighbours
Neighbours is an Australian television soap opera first broadcast on the Seven Network on 18 March 1985. It was created by TV executive Reg Watson, who proposed the idea of making a show that focused on realistic stories and portrayed adults and teenagers who talk openly and solve their problems...
starting in 1999. Eight years previously (in 1991) he had played a one-off character called Phil Hoffman in episode #1.1410.
Connor was fired from the series after four years in the role. He sued the show's producer, Grundy Television, for wrongful termination of his contract, seeking about $200,000.
The court hearing heard that he had an amphetamine
Amphetamine
Amphetamine or amfetamine is a psychostimulant drug of the phenethylamine class which produces increased wakefulness and focus in association with decreased fatigue and appetite.Brand names of medications that contain, or metabolize into, amphetamine include Adderall, Dexedrine, Dextrostat,...
drug habit while performing on the show. Connor's older brother died in June 2001 and he had been badly affected by this, leading to the drug habit. Members of the cast and crew had complained about his behaviour at work. This included alleged aggressive bahaviour and lateness that delayed production. After being confronted about his problem he met with the cast in May 2003 and admitted the problem and apologised.
He was sacked from the series in September 2003, several months after receiving a written warning from producers and overcoming his amphetamine habit. There had been ongoing hostility between him and Janet Andrewartha
Janet Andrewartha
Janet Andrewartha is an Australian actress. She is famous for playing on-going roles in two popular Australian soap operas: that of Reb Kean in Prisoner and Lyn Scully in Neighbours.-Biography:...
who played his wife Lyn; she had been the source of the vast majority of complaints about him.
Connor won the case and was awarded over $230,000.
In the show's storyline his character Joe Scully was said to have left to work on a relative's farm. These were said to be temporary plans, but Joe never returned. His wife Lyn (Janet Andrewartha) remained in the series and later their marriage was said to have been dissolved. Lyn subsequently had a relationship with another Joe, the returning Joe Mangel
Joe Mangel
Walter Joseph "Joe" Mangel is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Mark Little. He debuted on-screen in the episode airing on 8 August 1988. Little later departed the serial and Joe left in 1991. In 2005 Little agreed to reprise the role as part...
(Mark Little
Mark Little (Australian actor)
Mark Little , is an Australian actor, television presenter and comedian, born in Brisbane, Queensland.-Career:Little appeared in a string of Australian films and TV series during the 1980s. He also performed his own comedy/performance in Melbourne's burgeoning comedy clubs throughout the eighties...
).
After Neighbours
Connor worked in the United Kingdom in pantomime. He also appeared as a guest in reality TV show The SalonThe Salon
The Salon was a British reality TV show where various members of the public were invited daily to have treatments in a studio built beauty salon situated in Balham, south-west London, and in the second series, a purpose-built studio inside the Trocadero, Piccadilly Circus.-Overview:Viewers were...
.
In 2008 Shane got a supporting role in the coming of age
Coming of age
Coming of age is a young person's transition from childhood to adulthood. The age at which this transition takes place varies in society, as does the nature of the transition. It can be a simple legal convention or can be part of a ritual, as practiced by many societies...
Playing For Charlie filmed in Melbourne.