Michael McKenna
Encyclopedia
Dr. Michael McKenna is a fictional character on the New Zealand
soap opera
, Shortland Street
. He was portrayed by Paul Gittins
and was part of the original cast.
was cast but struggled to keep up with the fast schedule. However after crew realized Gittins performed better towards the end of the week, all his scenes were filmed late on Fridays. After settling into the role, Gittins highly enjoyed it and learnt a lot from his younger co stars.
due to the fact his father Bruce was a business rival of Michael's. Michael started a power relationship with nursing manager Carrie
however the two didn't last and Michael turned to drinking heavily as a substitute. His alcoholism stopped when he started dating the beautiful early 20's Julianne.
Michael's 16 year old daughter, Rachel McKenna
arrives to the hospital in 1993 and breaks up Michael and Julianne. Michael's estranged wife Alex McKenna
arrives and soon the two renew their vowels and get back together. Michael's son Jonathon arrives and Michael is shown to be very proud of him however Rachel spitefully reveals Jonathon is gay and Michael struggles to come to terms with his son's sexuality including banning him from seeing boyfriend, Jamie Forrest
.
In 1994 Michael, still struggling to accept his son, saves Jonathon and Jamie from a group of homophobic drunks and learns just how important his son is to him. After failing to pay enough attention to Alex, she has a facelift and falls into a coma due to her medication. Many suspect Michael of attempting to murder his wife but he discovers she forged her own medication slip. Alex surfaces from the coma and the couple go on a cruise together.
In 1995 Michael suffered a heart attack and left the hospital for a short while. When he returned, he and Alex decided to move to a life style block far away from Ferndale. Michael sold his shares in the hospital to Chris' father and the two left.
In 1997, Nick Harrison
, scared of Rachel's increasing addiction to alcohol, contacts Michael to sort Rachel out. Michael visits and it appears that Rachel stops her alcoholism for a short period.
Michael returns to Ferndale in late 1998 to visit his daughter and inform her of the apparent death of her mother, Alex. While still on a trip to see his daughter, Michael suffers a heart attack in 1999 and is taken to hospital. He guides Rachel on how to stop a takeover when his condition worsens and he dies.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
, Shortland Street
Shortland Street
Shortland Street is a New Zealand prime-time soap opera, first broadcast on Television New Zealand's TV2 on 25 May 1992. It is the country's longest-running drama and soap opera, being broadcast continuously for over 4500 episodes and 19 years, and is one of the most watched television programs in...
. He was portrayed by Paul Gittins
Paul Gittins
Paul Gittins is a New Zealand actor who is best known for playing Doctor Michael McKenna in Shortland Street from 1992 to 1995 and 1998 to 1999, and he has also appeared in The End of the Golden Weather, Xena: Warrior Princess, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, City Life, The Whole of the Moon and...
and was part of the original cast.
Creation and Casting
Established actor Paul GittinsPaul Gittins
Paul Gittins is a New Zealand actor who is best known for playing Doctor Michael McKenna in Shortland Street from 1992 to 1995 and 1998 to 1999, and he has also appeared in The End of the Golden Weather, Xena: Warrior Princess, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, City Life, The Whole of the Moon and...
was cast but struggled to keep up with the fast schedule. However after crew realized Gittins performed better towards the end of the week, all his scenes were filmed late on Fridays. After settling into the role, Gittins highly enjoyed it and learnt a lot from his younger co stars.
1992-1999
Michael is introduced as the hard working, efficient CEO. He has constant feuds with beginner doctor Chris WarnerChris Warner
Dr. Christopher "Chris" Warner is a fictional character and current main protagonist on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. He is portrayed by Michael Galvin. He is the only original character to still be on the show....
due to the fact his father Bruce was a business rival of Michael's. Michael started a power relationship with nursing manager Carrie
Carrie Burton
Carrie Kennedy was a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. She was portrayed by Lisa Crittenden and was part of the original cast.-1992:...
however the two didn't last and Michael turned to drinking heavily as a substitute. His alcoholism stopped when he started dating the beautiful early 20's Julianne.
Michael's 16 year old daughter, Rachel McKenna
Rachel McKenna
Rachel McKenna is a fictional character from the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street, played by Angela Bloomfield. Rachel first appeared on the show from 1993 to 1999. Then from 2001 to 2003. Rachel then made a very brief appearance in 2007 before returning as a core cast member in October 2009...
arrives to the hospital in 1993 and breaks up Michael and Julianne. Michael's estranged wife Alex McKenna
Alex McKenna (character)
Alexandra "Alex" McKenna is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street and was portrayed by Liddy Holloway from 1993 until 1995 and again for a guest role in 2002.-Creation and casting:...
arrives and soon the two renew their vowels and get back together. Michael's son Jonathon arrives and Michael is shown to be very proud of him however Rachel spitefully reveals Jonathon is gay and Michael struggles to come to terms with his son's sexuality including banning him from seeing boyfriend, Jamie Forrest
Jamie Forrest
Jamie Forrest was a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. The character was portrayed by Karl Urban for a guest stint in mid 1993 before returning later in the year for a 6 month recurring stint...
.
In 1994 Michael, still struggling to accept his son, saves Jonathon and Jamie from a group of homophobic drunks and learns just how important his son is to him. After failing to pay enough attention to Alex, she has a facelift and falls into a coma due to her medication. Many suspect Michael of attempting to murder his wife but he discovers she forged her own medication slip. Alex surfaces from the coma and the couple go on a cruise together.
In 1995 Michael suffered a heart attack and left the hospital for a short while. When he returned, he and Alex decided to move to a life style block far away from Ferndale. Michael sold his shares in the hospital to Chris' father and the two left.
In 1997, Nick Harrison
Nick Harrison
Nick Harrison was a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. He was portrayed by Karl Burnett and was the longest running original cast member on the show first appearing in 1992 and running for 13 years until 2005....
, scared of Rachel's increasing addiction to alcohol, contacts Michael to sort Rachel out. Michael visits and it appears that Rachel stops her alcoholism for a short period.
Michael returns to Ferndale in late 1998 to visit his daughter and inform her of the apparent death of her mother, Alex. While still on a trip to see his daughter, Michael suffers a heart attack in 1999 and is taken to hospital. He guides Rachel on how to stop a takeover when his condition worsens and he dies.