Rick Donald Explained

Birth Place:Townsville, Queensland, Australia
Years Active:2007–present
Known For:
Children:1

Rick Donald is an Australian actor, writer and director. He attended the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) and made his first television appearance in Sea Patrol. This was followed by recurring or guest roles in , Crownies, Home and Away and . Donald played Constable Daniel Parks in The Doctor Blake Mysteries and Mr. Tuck in House Husbands, before relocating to the United States where he starred in the 2014 sitcom Friends with Better Lives.

When Friends with Better Lives was cancelled after one season, Donald returned to Australia where he joined the casts of A Place to Call Home as Lloyd Ellis-Parker and 800 Words as Jeff "Woody" Woodson, which earned him a Logie Award nomination. In 2019, Donald played prison officer Sean Brody in Wentworth and appeared in the New Zealand comedy series Educators. From 2020, Donald had a recurring role in Home and Away as Kieran Baldivis.

Donald is also a writer and director. He wrote and directed short film The ATM, which was entered into the 2016 Tropfest, where it placed third in the competition. Donald won the Best Male Actor award for his performance in the film. He also wrote songs for his Friends With Better Lives character. In 2021, Donald's comedy series Australia's Sexiest Tradie, which he created, wrote and directed, began airing on 7mate.

Early and personal life

Donald was born in Townsville and he grew up in the suburb of Cranbrook.[1] He is one of four children. His father was a newspaper editor and his mother a ballroom dancer. Donald said his mother named him Rick after an actor on a television show.[2] Donald attended Kirwan State High School, where his mother encouraged him to take drama classes.[2] He later studied performance at James Cook University,[3] and attended the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) for three years.[1]

Donald has been married to fellow actor Catherine Mack-Hancock since 2016. A photograph of them embracing in their wedding attire in Yosemite National Park as the sun went down went viral shortly after.[4] The couple have a daughter.[5]

Career

Donald's first television acting role was a guest appearance in a 2007 episode of Sea Patrol, opposite lead actress Lisa McCune.[1] [2] He told Sarah Nealon of The TV Guide that he did not sleep the night before filming and spent the day worrying about the camera and whether he was speaking too loud for the microphone.[2] In February 2010, Donald starred in a 30-second advertisement for Libra menstrual pads that went viral. Fans of the ad created Facebook pages about Donald's character and made parody videos on YouTube.[1] The following year, Donald appeared in the television miniseries , legal drama Crownies,[3] and true-crime television film Blood Brothers, based on the Gilham family murders.[6] He also had guest roles in soap opera Home and Away as "bad boy" Dean O'Mara,[7] and as Barney Dalton.[8]

Donald appeared alongside David Wenham and Louise Lombard in the UKTV telemovie Dripping in Chocolate in April 2012.[9] The following year, Donald joined the second season of House Husbands as school teacher Mr. Tuck.[10] He also played Constable Daniel Parks in the first season of The Doctor Blake Mysteries.[11] Donald admitted that he was "devastated" about leaving Doctor Blake to move to the United States, as it marked his first major lead role.[11] While filming House Husbands, Donald filmed an audition for American sitcom Friends With Better Lives on his mobile phone. He secured the part of Lowell, an Australian hippy and fiancé of Brooklyn Decker's character Jules.[11] Donald also contributed to the show by writing Lowell's songs.[11] Friends With Better Lives was cancelled after one season. Donald said that while he was disappointed not to be able to hang out with the cast anymore, he had been missing Australia and was happy to return.[11]

Donald began appearing in A Place to Call Home as artist Lloyd Ellis-Parker from the third season, broadcast in 2015. He returned for the fourth season the following year.[2] [12] From 2015 to 2018, Donald played carpenter "Woody" in television drama 800 Words, which was filmed in New Zealand.[13] Donald had not been to the country before he was cast.[13] Donald's character proved popular with viewers during season one and his role was expanded in season two, with Woody receiving a love interest and his own storylines.[14] For his work on 800 Words, Donald received a nomination for Most Outstanding Supporting Actor at the 2017 Logie Awards.[3] [15] Donald's short film The ATM took the third place prize at the 2016 Tropfest.[16] He also won the Best Male Actor accolade for his role in the film.[17] Donald appeared in the ABC comedy series Back In Very Small Business in 2018.[18]

In 2019, Donald was cast in Wentworth as prison officer Sean Brody. He was offered the role by series producer Pino Amenta, who he worked with on 800 Words. Donald called it "the best role I’ve been able to play yet", as Sean is a more serious character, which meant Donald was able to stretch his acting skills.[19] That same year, his co-star on 800 Words, Jesse Griffin asked him to join the cast of New Zealand comedy series Educators, which is set in a secondary school. Donald plays angry PE teacher Vinnie Thompson and found the role to be "cathartic", as he would never act like Vinnie does in real life.[20] Donald appeared as a police officer in , a 2020 sequel to the 1990s Halifax f.p. crime series starring Rebecca Gibney.[20]

Donald also re-joined the recurring cast of Home and Away as Kieran Baldivis in late 2020.[7] Kieran is Martha Stewart's (Belinda Giblin) estranged and "deeply troubled" son.[7] Donald said he was "instantly keen" when producers told him about the character's story, which includes mental health and addiction issues.[7] Donald was also excited to join the show's Stewart family and work with Ray Meagher and Georgie Parker.[7] As he lives in Palm Beach, where the show is filmed, Donald liked that he was able to walk to work, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.[7] In addition to his role on Home and Away, Donald also appears in the 7mate comedy series Australia's Sexiest Tradie, which he created, wrote and directed.[21] Donald stars as Frankie, a plumber who enters a radio contest to find Australia's sexiest tradie in a bid to impress his father.[21]

In 2024, Donald appeared in 7plus streaming series Roast Night which he also wrote and directed.[22] Donald was also announced in the cast for STAN Australia drama Population 11.[23] Donald was named as part of the cast for the feature film Kangaroo.[24] On 19 August 2024, Donald was named as part of the extended cast for the Australian version of The Office.[25]

Filmography

Film performances
YearTitleRoleNotes
2009LegendCliffyShort film
2010Before the RainCliff ReedFeature film
2011CommercialismsActorShort film
2013MatesJimmyShort film; also writer
2016The ATMFrankieShort film; also director, writer and producer
TBAKangarooTBAFeature film
Television performances
YearTitleRoleNotes
2007Sea PatrolGlen "Hawkie" HawkesEpisode: "What Lies Beneath"
2011Murray
2011Blood BrothersChris GilhamTelevision film
2011Home and AwayDean O'MaraGuest role: Season 24
2011Barney Dalton
2011CrowniesScott Summers
2012The WoodliesFireheadVoice
2012Dripping in ChocolateCarl Dukes
2012Tricky BusinessDrew BullardEpisode: "Opportunity Knocks"
2013The Doctor Blake MysteriesConstable Daniel Parks
2013House HusbandsMr. Tuck
2014Friends with Better LivesLowell Peddit
2015–2016A Place to Call HomeLloyd Ellis-ParkerRecurring
2015–2018800 WordsJeff "Woody" WoodsonMain cast
2017The Doctor Blake Mysteries: Family PortraitDanny ParksTelemovie
2018Back In Very Small BusinessCody Branson
2019WentworthSean BrodyRecurring; Season 7
2019–2022EducatorsVinnie ThompsonMain cast
2020Nick TannerMain cast
2020–2021Home and AwayKieran BaldivisRecurring role: Seasons 33–34
2021Australia's Sexiest TradieFrankie WoodAlso creator, writer and director
2022My Life Is MurderZacharyGuest
2024Roast NightGlen Turner6 episodes
Population 11Leon CroydmanTV Series: 11 episodes
The Office AustraliaTBATV series

Source:[26]

Notes and References

  1. News: Stuck on a career in acting. Lynch. Barbara. 26 March 2010. Townsville Bulletin. 30 May 2021. PressReader.
  2. Web site: The perfect caveman: 800 Words lovable larrikin wants to be more like his character. Nealon. Sarah. 12 October 2017. The TV Guide. 14 August 2021. PressReader.
  3. News: Townsville boy nominated for a silver Logie. Boldery. Roanne. 7 April 2017. Townsville Bulletin. 31 May 2021.
  4. News: 'Modern Day Love Story': Mystery Couple in Yosemite Wedding Photo Reacts to Viral Image. Weber. Fisher. Alexandria. Brendan. 7 September 2016. NBC Chicago. 31 May 2021.
  5. Web site: Exclusive: Rick Donald spills on his new role on Home and Away and his love for Georgie Parker. Vnuk. Helen. 23 November 2020. TV Week. 30 May 2021.
  6. Web site: Airdate: Blood Brothers. Knox. David. 28 April 2011. TV Tonight. 31 May 2021.
  7. Web site: Rick Donald: 'Why I came back to the Bay'. Brygel. Jackie. 23 November 2020. New Idea. 23 November 2020.
  8. Web site: Double act! All the Home and Away stars who've appeared on Underbelly. Doyle. Erin. 6 April 2021. New Idea. 1 June 2021.
  9. Web site: Easter viewing. Newsome. Brad. 5 April 2012. dailylife.com.au. 1 June 2021.
  10. Web site: Boys to men. Knox. David. 23 April 2013. TV Tonight. 13 June 2021.
  11. News: Friends With Better Lives' Rick Donald is happy to come home. Kalina. Paul. 18 September 2014. The Sydney Morning Herald. 1 June 2021.
  12. Web site: A Place To Call Home: Season Four goes into production. 29 February 2016. Foxtel. 12 August 2021.
  13. News: Words in action. Yeap. Sue. 3 November 2015. The West Australian. 11 August 2021.
  14. News: Rick Donald's Woody in 800 Words is the hottest actor in the Channel Seven drama say cast. Dunk. Tiffany. 13 September 2016. The West Australian. 5 August 2021.
  15. News: Jessica Marais gets only female Gold Logie nomination, so is our night of nights too sexist?. Byrnes. Holly. 26 March 2017. news.com.au. 5 August 2021.
  16. Web site: 'Shiny' Wins Tropfest 2016, Festival Proves Popularity With More Than 100,000 In Attendance. Blatchford. Emily. 15 July 2016. HuffPost Australia. 5 August 2021.
  17. Web site: Tropfest 2016: US duo Spencer Susser and Daniel Cloud-Campos win short film festival with Shiny. Kozaki. Danuta. 14 February 2016. ABC News. 5 August 2021.
  18. Web site: Cameras roll on Back in Very Small Business. Knox. David. 4 December 2017. TV Tonight. 14 August 2021.
  19. Web site: Wentworth's Rick Donald: 'My best role ever'. Downie. Stephen. 14 June 2019. Who. 12 August 2021.
  20. News: Rick Donald has fun playing angry teacher in Educators. Harvey. Kerry. 1 October 2020. Stuff.co.nz. 5 August 2021.
  21. Web site: Oops. Australia's Sexist Tradie?. Knox. David. 21 July 2021. TV Tonight. 5 August 2021.
  22. Web site: Watch Roast Night Online: Free Streaming & Catch Up TV in Australia . 2024-01-30 . 7plus.com.au . en.
  23. Web site: Keast . Jackie . 2024-01-30 . Ben Feldman leads Stan and Lionsgate's 'Population 11' . 2024-01-31 . IF Magazine . en-AU.
  24. Web site: Slatter . Sean . 2024-05-15 . Ryan Corr, Lily Whiteley hop to it in the NT as Kate Woods' 'Kangaroo' begins production . 2024-05-16 . IF Magazine . en-AU.
  25. Web site: Knox . David . 2024-08-19 . Airdate: The Office (Australia) TV Tonight . 2024-08-19 . tvtonight.com.au . en-AU.
  26. Web site: Rick Donald. Independent Management Company. 12 August 2021.