Craig McLachlan

Craig Dougall McLachlan (born 1 September 1965) is an Australian actor, musician, singer and composer. He has been involved in film, television, the music industry and music theatre for over 30 years. He is best known for appearing in the soap operas Neighbours[1] and Home and Away and the BBC One spy drama Bugs. He has portrayed the title character in The Doctor Blake Mysteries, for which he was nominated for the Logie Award for Most Popular Actor; he has previously won the award in this category three times.

Craig McLachlan
Born
Craig Dougall McLachlan

(1965-09-01) 1 September 1965
Long Jetty, New South Wales, Australia
Occupation
  • Actor
  • singer
  • musician
  • composer
  • agent
Websitecraigmclachlan.com.au

Career

Craig McLachlan first appeared on Australian television in a guest role on The Young Doctors. He was cast as Henry Ramsay, brother of Kylie Minogue's character Charlene, in Channel 10's Neighbours. After appearing in more than 800 episodes and winning the Gold Logie Award for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television (1990)[2] and Silver Logie, he was contracted to Seven Network's Home and Away, playing schoolteacher Grant Mitchell.

A singer, guitarist and songwriter, McLachlan enjoyed international success in a concurrent pop music career. He had hits in Australia and the UK with a remake of the Bo Diddley song "Mona (I Need You Baby)" and with self-penned songs "Amanda", "One Reason Why" and "On My Own". He toured the UK and Europe with his band Check 1–2.

In 1993 McLachlan starred as Danny Zuko in the West End revival of the musical Grease alongside Deborah Gibson and Sonia Evans. In his stage musical career he starred as Frank N Furter in The Rocky Horror Show, Caractacus Potts in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Bob Wallace in White Christmas and Billy Flynn in Chicago.

In the mid 1990s McLachlan starred in three seasons of the BBC television series Bugs and appeared in Catherine the Great alongside Catherine Zeta-Jones and Omar Sharif.

Throughout the first decade of the 21st century, McLachlan appeared in around 20 film and television projects, including the American movie Superfire, as Stuart Diver in the television film Heroes' Mountain, and Blackjack with Colin Friels. In 2004 he played Michael Chamberlain in Through My Eyes, an account of the Lindy Chamberlain story, and began work in the recurring role of Kane Morgan in McLeod's Daughters. He played Jeff Kennard in the Australian film Hating Alison Ashley, worked alongside Benjamin Bratt and James Franco in The Great Raid, and starred with John Jarratt in Savages Crossing, for which he composed the score.

McLachlan appeared regularly in the Network Seven TV series Packed to the Rafters as ageing rocker Steve Wilson and was cast in the fourth season of Rescue: Special Ops as Hayden Bradley. He played the role of Steve, the handsome gay gardener, in the award-winning production At Home With Julia and appeared in the ABC comedy Lowdown. In 2011 McLachlan had a guest-starring role in an episode of NCIS Los Angeles.

In 2011, British group Rizzle Kicks sampled McLachlan's version of "Mona" for their single "Mama Do the Hump", which peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart.

McLachlan returned to Australia in 2012 to work on a new TV series, The Doctor Blake Mysteries, a period crime drama set in Ballarat in 1959–60. He plays the titular role of Dr Lucien Blake, a medical practitioner with a knack for solving murders and annoying the police. The first two seasons originally screened on ABC Television in 2013 and 2014.

In 2013, McLachlan was again cast as Frank N Furter in a revival of The Rocky Horror Show touring Australia in 2014.[3] In December 2014, McLachlan revealed that he was unable to return to Neighbours for the show's 30th anniversary celebrations owing to scheduling conflicts and his involvement in The Doctor Blake Mysteries.[4] However, McLachlan agreed to take part in the documentary special Neighbours 30th: The Stars Reunite, which aired in Australia and the UK in March 2015.[5][6]

In 2016, McLachlan appeared in the sci-fi thriller Restoration, playing Andrew Majury.[7]

McLachlan also had a recurring role in the Channel 10 dramedy The Wrong Girl alongside Jessica Marais.

Personal life

As from April 2019 McLachlan's long-term partner is opera conductor, Vanessa Scammell.[8] He has a child from his relationship with British actress and voice artist Charlotte Avery.[9][10][11] McLachlan was briefly married to Karen Williams (fl. 1986)—they had attended the same secondary school—and subsequently to Neighbours' actress Rachel Friend (1998–99).[11][12]

Sexual harassment allegations

On 8 January 2018, a joint investigation by Fairfax Media and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported that McLachlan had been accused of sexual harassment by several actresses during his performing career.[13][14] Three actresses from the 2014 Australian production of The Rocky Horror Show—Christie Whelan Browne, Erika Heynatz and Angela Scundi—have alleged that they were abused, harassed or assaulted by McLachlan; he responded, "Frankly, they seem to be simple inventions, perhaps made for financial reasons, perhaps to gain notoriety. In either event, they are to the best of my knowledge utterly and entirely false."[13][14] McLachlan subsequently left the 2018 production of The Rocky Horror Show.[15] Victoria Police also announced that they are investigating complaints from two of the women.[16]

McLachlan filed defamation suits against the ABC and Fairfax Media in February 2018; he also named Whelan Browne in a defamation suit.[17] Producers of The Doctor Blake Mysteries announced that production would be temporarily suspended pending the outcome of investigations.[16] The production company, December Media, "cleared the actor of any misconduct" during the show's run.[18] In April it was announced that he would not be returning to the series, which was to be rebranded as The Blake Mysteries and continue without the titular character.[18] After a single telemovie in this format (titled The Blake Mysteries: A New Beginning) aired on 30 November 2018, producers ruled out making any further Blake telemovies in 2019.[19]

McLachlan's defamation case was due to be heard in the Supreme Court of New South Wales from 4 February 2019;[20][21] however, the suit was postponed hearing pending the outcome of the related criminal proceedings.[22] On 11 January 2019 Victoria Police charged him with one count of common assault, eight counts of indecent assault and one count of attempted indecent assault.[20][21][23] He had been summoned to appear at Melbourne Magistrates' Court on 8 February 2019.[20][21] At a hearing in April, McLachlan was told by the magistrate that one of the indecent assault charges had been dropped by the prosecutor and that he would not face a jury trial but that matters would be determined by the lone magistrate.[24] In November 2019 a contested hearing of the charges began.[25][26]

Discography

Studio albums
Title Album details Peak chart positions Certification
AUS
[27]		 NDL
[28]		 NZ
[29]		 UK
[30]
Craig McLachlan & Check 1-2 4 88 49 10
Hands Free
  • Released: 1992
  • Label: Epic Records
 — — — —
Craig McLachlan & The Culprits — — — —

Musical albums
Title Album details Peak chart positions
AUS
[27]		 UK
[31]
Grease (Original London Stage Cast Soundtrack)[32] — 20
The Rocky Horror Show (Australian Cast Recording)[33]
  • Released: 1995
  • Label: TriStar Music
 — —

Singles
Year Single Peak chart positions Album Certification
AUS
[27]		 BEL
[34]		 GER
[35]		 IRE
[36]		 NED
[37]		 NZ
[38]		 UK
[39]
1989 "Rock the Rock" (as Craig McLachlan & Check 1–2) 36 — — — — — — Craig McLachlan & Check 1–2
1990 "Mona" (as Craig McLachlan & Check 1–2) 3 8 44 5 26 16 2
"Amanda" (as Craig McLachlan & Check 1–2) 24 — — 16 — 22 19
"I Almost Felt Like Crying" (as Craig McLachlan & Check 1–2) 103 — — — — — 50
1991 "On My Own" 23 — — — — — 59 Hands Free
1992 "One Reason Why" 57 — — — — — 29
"I Hear You Knocking" 90 — — — — — —
"Time Warp" (with Australian cast) — — — — — — — The Rocky Horror Show Cast Recording
1993 "You're the One That I Want" (duet with Deborah Gibson) — — — 24 — — 13 Grease Cast Recording
"Grease" — — — — — — 44
1995 "If We Were Angels" (as Craig McLachlan & The Culprits) — — — — — — — Craig McLachlan & The Culprits
"Everyday" (as Craig McLachlan & The Culprits) — — — — — — 65
1996 "Hear the World Cry" (as Craig McLachlan & The Culprits) — — — — — — —

Videos
  • Craig McLachlan & Check 1–2: The Video (featured an interview and the video clips for "Mona", "Amanda", "Rock the Rock" and "I Almost Felt Like Crying") (1990)

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
1992 Mad Bomber in Love The Whip
1992 Absent Without Leave James Edwards
2001 Let's Get Skase Eric Carney
2001 Cubbyhouse Bill
2005 Hating Alison Ashley Jeff Kennard
2005 The Great Raid Lt. Riley
2009 Amar a morir Nick
2011 Savages Crossing Mory 25 Oct 2011

NCIS Los Angeles Season 3 Episode "Lone Wolf"

2012 The Last Match Val Short
2016 Restoration Andrew Majury

Television
Year Title Role Notes
1987–89 Neighbours Henry Ramsay Regular role
1990–91 Home and Away Grant Mitchell Regular role
1991 Heroes II: The Return Lt. Walter Carey TV film
1995–97 Bugs Ed Russell Main role
1996 Catherine the Great Serge Saltykov TV film
1999 Tribe Ralph Leyton TV miniseries
2001 Abschied in den Tod Det. Const. Steve McNamara TV film
2001 My Husband My Killer Warren Elkins TV film
2001–02 Always Greener Greg Graham Recurring role
2002 Heroes' Mountain Stuart Diver TV film
2002 Superfire Jack Skidder TV film
2004 Through My Eyes Michael Chamberlain "1.1", "1.2"
2004 McLeod's Daughters Kane Morgan Recurring role
2005 BlackJack: Ace Point Game Michael Hasler TV film
2005 Supernova Alistair Foster "Unity"
2008 City Homicide Leon Grasby "Golden"
2008–12 Packed to the Rafters Steve Wilson Recurring role
2009 The Cut Dutch Holland "A Falcon's Tail"
2010–12 Lowdown Ben Hollander "Wasp in Translation", "Ben Behaving Badly"
2011 Rescue: Special Ops Hayden Bradley Recurring role
2011 At Home With Julia Steve TV miniseries
2011 NCIS: Los Angeles Clifford Bosworth "Lone Wolf"
2013 Redfern Now Jack "Consequences"
2013–14 House Husbands Damo Recurring role
2013–17 The Doctor Blake Mysteries Dr. Lucien Blake Main role
2016 Deep Water Kyle 'Hammers' Hampton TV miniseries
2016 The Wrong Girl Eric Main role
gollark: Odd.
gollark: Well, maybe no.
gollark: You'd think so but no.
gollark: Python can call other programs and there may be other interpreters installed.
gollark: If they let you have network access you can use its "API".

References
  1. Allen, Robert Clyde (1995). To be Continued--: Soap Operas Around the World. Psychology Press. p. 100. ISBN 9780415110068.
  2. "Going for Gold". TV Week. ninemsn (Nine Entertainment Co. & Microsoft). Archived from the original on 17 April 2010. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
  3. "Rocky Horror Returns". Stage Whispers. Stage Whispers. June 2013. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  4. Knox, David (6 December 2014). "Craig McLachlan to appear in Neighbours anniversary special". TV Tonight. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  5. Knox, David (28 February 2015). "Airdate: Neighbours 30th: The Stars Reunite". TV Tonight. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  6. Kilkelly, Daniel (4 March 2015). "Neighbours 30th anniversary schedule confirmed by Channel 5". Digital Spy. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
  7. Martin, Peter (22 July 2015). "'RESTORATION: New Images, Casting News for Stuart Willis Sci-Fi Film". screenanarchy.com. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  8. "Craig McLachlan in court over indecent assault allegations as one charge dropped". The Guardian. Australian Associated Press (AAP). 5 April 2019. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
  9. Denton, Andrew (18 April 2005). "Transcript: Craig McLachlan". Enough Rope with Andrew Denton. ABC Australia. Archived from the original on 22 April 2005. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  10. Hall, Loretta (12 February 2014). "Let's do the Time Warp Again". The Weekly Review. Metro Media Publishing. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  11. Stephens, Jessie (8 January 2018). "The woman in Craig McLachlan's life". MamaMia. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  12. McClymont, Kate (8 January 2018). "The life and loves of Craig McLachlan". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  13. Knowles, Lorna; Branley, Alison (8 January 2018). "Craig McLachlan accused of indecent assault, sexual harassment during Rocky Horror Show". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). Retrieved 8 January 2018.
  14. McClymont, Kate (8 January 2018). "'He's calculated and manipulative, a predator': Craig McLachlan accused of indecent assault". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
  15. Lallo, Michael; McClymont, Kate; Moran, Rob (8 January 2018). "Craig McLachlan leaves Rocky Horror Show in wake of harassment claims" – via The Sydney Morning Herald.
  16. Knowles, Lorna; Branley, Alison (8 January 2018). "Doctor Blake on hold as police investigate McLachlan allegations". abc.net.au.
  17. "Craig McLachlan sues actress at heart of sexual assault claims—calling her a 'notoriously foul-mouthed woman who grabbed his boxers, joked about his penis size and gave him wedgies'". Australian Associated Press (AAP). 2 February 2018. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  18. Carmody, Broede (20 April 2018). "Doctor Blake Mysteries to return without Craig McLachlan". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  19. "Seven rules out Blake Mysteries for 2019". TV Tonight. 18 December 2018. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
  20. Saintly, Lane (11 January 2019). "Actor Craig McLachlan Has Been Charged with Assault and Sex Offences". BuzzFeed. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  21. Chang, Charis (11 January 2019). "Craig McLachlan: Actor charged with indecent assault and other offences". news.com.au. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  22. Younger, Emma (8 February 2019). "Actor Craig McLachlan may go straight to trial on assault, sex offence charges, court told". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). Retrieved 19 August 2019.
  23. Ford, Mazoe (11 January 2019). "Craig McLachlan charged with sex offences by Victoria Police". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  24. Younger, Emma (8 April 2019). "Craig McLachlan sex assault charges will not be heard by jury, magistrate rules". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). Retrieved 19 August 2019.
  25. Cooper, Adam (13 June 2019). "Craig McLachlan receives alternate assault charges from prosecutors". Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
  26. Percy, Karen (18 November 2019). "Craig McLachlan faces court charged with indecently assaulting four 'vulnerable' women". ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)). Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  27. Australian (ARIA Chart) peaks:
  28. "GfK Dtch Charts:Craig McLachalan (albums)". GfK Dutch Charts Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
  29. "charts.nz: Craig McLachlan". charts.nz. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
  30. "UK Official Charts Company". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
  31. "UK Official Charts Company". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
  32. "Grease Album". Allmusic. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
  33. "Rocky Horror Show Album". Allmusic. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
  34. "Ultratop Belgian Charts". Ultratop.be. ULTRATOP & Hung Medien / hitparade.ch. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
  35. "Die ganze Musik im Internet: Charts – German Singles". Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
  36. "The Irish Charts". IRMA 2006 – 2008. Archived from the original on 2 June 2009. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
  37. "dutchcharts.nl – Dutch charts portal". Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
  38. "NZ Charts – New Zealand charts portal". Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
  39. "UK Chart Stats". officialcharts.com. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.