Brian Rooney (actor)
Encyclopedia
Brian Rooney is a British actor with a number of television and stage credits. He is best known for his childhood television performances, in particular the part of Michael Winters in G.P.
. He also appeared in the children's television productions of The Ferals
in the role of Leonard, and Spellbinder as Alex Katsonis.
Rooney currently resides in Australia.
show, Pot Luck. He sang Take My Breath Away
, but lost to Roy Handley, who performed the Acker Bilk song, Stranger on the Shore
.
Nonetheless, both Handley and Rooney were told by the show's celebrity judge, Anne Wills, that they should try acting as they had the "face for television". Consequently, Rooney auditioned with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
for a role on G.P..
Rooney began his career playing the street-wise urchin Gavroche
in the Australian stage production of Les Misérables
. Soon after, he went on to play the character Tommy Franco, alongside Dolph Lundgren
and Louis Gossett, Jr.
, in the 1989 feature film The Punisher
.
As a child actor, Rooney became best known on Australian television during the early 1990s for his long-running role of Michael Winters in the ABC-TV series G.P., and as Brendan Maloney in the 1991 miniseries Brides of Christ
. He is also well known for his roles in several children's television programs, playing the part of Leonard in The Ferals (1994), and Alex Katsonis in Spellbinder (1995). Rooney also appeared in a number of made-for-television movies including The Rogue Stallion (1990), South Pacific Adventures (1991), and Pirates Island (1991).
More recently Rooney played the role of Cedric in the 2001 children's television series Escape of the Artful Dodger
. In 2010 he guest starred as the character Jones in Rescue: Special Ops
(Season 2, Episode 12).
G. P.
G.P. was an Australian television series produced by Roadshow, Coote & Carroll for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation between 1989 and 1996.The series was set around a general medical practice in an inner-city suburb...
. He also appeared in the children's television productions of The Ferals
The Ferals
The Ferals is an Australian children's comedy television series created by Wendy Gray and Claire Henderson and produced by the ABC. It ran from 1994 to 1995, and it featured a mixture of people and animal puppets known as the "Ferals." It was lauded for its irreverent humour and distinctive...
in the role of Leonard, and Spellbinder as Alex Katsonis.
Rooney currently resides in Australia.
Career
Brian Rooney first appeared on Australian Television on Network Channel 10 in Adelaide on the Grundy TelevisionReg Grundy Organisation
The Reg Grundy Organisation was an Australian television production company founded in 1959 by businessman Reg Grundy . It has since branched out into Europe and the USA. The company first produced game shows, before branching into soap operas in 1973...
show, Pot Luck. He sang Take My Breath Away
Take My Breath Away
American pop singer Jessica Simpson covered "Take My Breath Away" and released it as the third single from the album In This Skin in 2004. Her version was produced by Billy Mann. Simpson chose to cover this song because she felt that it was the theme song of her relationship with her then husband,...
, but lost to Roy Handley, who performed the Acker Bilk song, Stranger on the Shore
Stranger on the Shore
"Stranger on the Shore" is a piece for clarinet written by Acker Bilk for his young daughter and originally named Jenny after her. It was subsequently used as the theme tune of a BBC TV drama serial for young people that was also called Stranger on the Shore.The track, performed by Bilk "Stranger...
.
Nonetheless, both Handley and Rooney were told by the show's celebrity judge, Anne Wills, that they should try acting as they had the "face for television". Consequently, Rooney auditioned with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
for a role on G.P..
Rooney began his career playing the street-wise urchin Gavroche
Gavroche
Gavroche is a fictional character from the novel Les Misérables by Victor Hugo.-Gavroche in the novel:Gavroche is the eldest son of M. and Mme Thénardier. He has two sisters, Éponine and Azelma, and two unnamed younger brothers. He is also technically unnamed; the reader is told he chooses the...
in the Australian stage production of Les Misérables
Les Misérables (musical)
Les Misérables , colloquially known as Les Mis or Les Miz , is a musical by Claude-Michel Schönberg, based on the novel of the same name by Victor Hugo....
. Soon after, he went on to play the character Tommy Franco, alongside Dolph Lundgren
Dolph Lundgren
Dolph Lundgren is a Swedish actor, director, and martial artist. He belongs to a generation of film actors who epitomise the movie action hero stereotype including Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis, Chuck Norris, Steven Seagal and Jean-Claude Van Damme.A graduate in chemical...
and Louis Gossett, Jr.
Louis Gossett, Jr.
Louis Cameron Gossett, Jr. is an American actor best known for his role as Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley in the 1982 film An Officer and a Gentleman and Fiddler in the 1970s television miniseries Roots...
, in the 1989 feature film The Punisher
The Punisher (1989 film)
The Punisher is a 1989 film starring Dolph Lundgren as Frank Castle, directed by Mark Goldblatt from a screenplay by Boaz Yakin. It is loosely based on the Marvel Comics' character The Punisher. The film changes many details of the comic book origin and the main character does not wear the...
.
As a child actor, Rooney became best known on Australian television during the early 1990s for his long-running role of Michael Winters in the ABC-TV series G.P., and as Brendan Maloney in the 1991 miniseries Brides of Christ
Brides of Christ
Brides of Christ was an Australian television miniseries produced by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in 1991.The series takes place behind the walls of a Sydney convent school and deals with the struggles of both the Roman Catholic nuns and the young students to adapt to the many social...
. He is also well known for his roles in several children's television programs, playing the part of Leonard in The Ferals (1994), and Alex Katsonis in Spellbinder (1995). Rooney also appeared in a number of made-for-television movies including The Rogue Stallion (1990), South Pacific Adventures (1991), and Pirates Island (1991).
More recently Rooney played the role of Cedric in the 2001 children's television series Escape of the Artful Dodger
Escape of the Artful Dodger
Escape of the Artful Dodger was an Australian children’s television series first screened on the Nine Network in 2001.Escape of the Artful Dodger is the story of Jack Dawkins, who was introduced in the classic Charles Dickens novel Oliver Twist...
. In 2010 he guest starred as the character Jones in Rescue: Special Ops
Rescue: Special Ops
Rescue: Special Ops is an Australian television drama series that first screened on the Nine Network in 2009. Filmed in and around Sydney, the program is produced by Southern Star Entertainment with the assistance of Screen Australia and the New South Wales Government.This drama series focuses on a...
(Season 2, Episode 12).
Filmography
- The PunisherThe Punisher (1989 film)The Punisher is a 1989 film starring Dolph Lundgren as Frank Castle, directed by Mark Goldblatt from a screenplay by Boaz Yakin. It is loosely based on the Marvel Comics' character The Punisher. The film changes many details of the comic book origin and the main character does not wear the...
(1989) - The Rogue Stallion (TV movie 1990)
- South Pacific Adventures (1990)
- Pirates Island (TV movie 1991)
- Brides of ChristBrides of ChristBrides of Christ was an Australian television miniseries produced by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in 1991.The series takes place behind the walls of a Sydney convent school and deals with the struggles of both the Roman Catholic nuns and the young students to adapt to the many social...
(TV mini-series 1991) - Mission: Top Secret (TV movie 1992)
- The FeralsThe FeralsThe Ferals is an Australian children's comedy television series created by Wendy Gray and Claire Henderson and produced by the ABC. It ran from 1994 to 1995, and it featured a mixture of people and animal puppets known as the "Ferals." It was lauded for its irreverent humour and distinctive...
(TV series 1994) - SpellbinderSpellbinderSpellbinder may refer to:*Spellbinder , an Australian-Polish science fiction television series*Spellbinder , a Batman villain*Spellbinder , the star of the 1980s Marvel Comics limited series Spellbound...
(TV series 1995) - G.P. (TV series 1989-1995)