Peter Mochrie
Encyclopedia
Peter Mochrie is an actor who has appeared in various Australian television programs during his 25-year career. Since 2006 Mochrie has starred in the New Zealand soap Shortland Street
as Dr Callum McKay.
. Mochrie's love of acting started at the age of 13 while appearing in a school play. Prior to his first role, Mochrie had been modelling. Then, in 1979, he got his first big break appearing in The Restless Years
as Ric Moran. Mochrie stayed in this role for 2 years and soon caught the attention of other TV producers, later appearing on Sons and Daughters
, Neighbours
and Holiday Island. He also appeared a number of movies including Winter of Our Dreams
and Just In Time
.
, appearing in numerous productions before graduating in 1989.
, Blue Heelers
and G.P.
In 1995 he auditioned for the role of John "Knocker" Harrison for Water Rats
. Producer Hal McElroy asked Mochrie to audition for a new police show McElroy was working on, Murder Call
. Mochrie won the role of Steve Hayden, starring alongside Lucy Bell
who played Tessa Vance. He starred in this Australian television drama for 3 years.
After the show finished, Mochrie concentrated on his landscaping business, travelling and surfing. In 2000, Mochrie again returned to TV as Rick Fontaine in Cybergirl
. The series, which was filmed in Brisbane
, was shown on commercial as well as cable television, and was an award winning children's show.
In 2002, Mochrie returned to the stage, in Spinning into Butter
by Rebecca Gilman
, for the Ensemble Theatre
, Sydney. In 2004 he also appeared in a Darlinghurst Theatre production of Vicious Streaks.
Mochrie also does voice-overs for commercials.
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...
as Dr Callum McKay.
Early years and growing career
Peter Mochrie was born in 1959 and brought up in the Northern suburbs of Sydney, attending Knox Grammar SchoolKnox Grammar School
Knox Grammar School is an independent, Uniting Church, day and boarding school for boys, located in Wahroonga, an upper North Shore suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
. Mochrie's love of acting started at the age of 13 while appearing in a school play. Prior to his first role, Mochrie had been modelling. Then, in 1979, he got his first big break appearing in The Restless Years
The Restless Years
The Restless Years is an Australian soap opera which followed the lives of several Sydney school-leavers and young adults. It was produced by the Reg Grundy Organisation for Network Ten. It debuted December 1977 and ran until late 1981. It was not renewed by the network due to declining ratings...
as Ric Moran. Mochrie stayed in this role for 2 years and soon caught the attention of other TV producers, later appearing on 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...
, 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...
and Holiday Island. He also appeared a number of movies including Winter of Our Dreams
Winter of Our Dreams
Winter of Our Dreams is a 1981 Australian film directed by John Duigan. Judy Davis won the Best Actress in a Lead Role in the AFI Awards for her performance in the film. The film was nominated in 6 other categories also....
and Just In Time
Just In Time
Just in time is a production strategy that strives to improve a business return on investment by reducing in-process inventory and associated carrying costs. Just-in-time production method is also called the Toyota Production System...
.
Personal Life
Mochrie married for the first time in 2010 at the age of 50. His spouse is Sally Lowry, 11 years Mochrie's junior. The couples son, Cade Mackinlay Mochrie, was born on 15 March 2010.Professional Training
In 1987, Mochrie began studies at NIDANational Institute of Dramatic Art
The National Institute of Dramatic Art is an Australian national training institute for students of theatre, film, and television, based in the Sydney suburb of Kensington. It is supported by the federal Office for the Arts, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. NIDA is located adjacent...
, appearing in numerous productions before graduating in 1989.
Career Broadens
After completing his professional training, Mochrie appeared on shows such as Home and AwayHome and Away
Home and Away is an Australian soap opera that has been produced in Sydney since July 1987 and is airing on the Seven Network since 17 January 1988. It is the second-longest-running drama and most popular soap opera on Australian television...
, Blue Heelers
Blue Heelers
Blue Heelers is an Australian police drama series which depicted the lives of police officers stationed at the fictional Mount Thomas police station in a small town in Victoria.- Overview :...
and G.P.
In 1995 he auditioned for the role of John "Knocker" Harrison for Water Rats
Water Rats (TV series)
Water Rats is an Australian TV police procedural broadcast on the Nine Network from 1996 to 2001. The series was based around the men and women of the Sydney Water Police who fight crime across Sydney Harbour and surrounding locales. The show was set on and around Goat Island in Sydney...
. Producer Hal McElroy asked Mochrie to audition for a new police show McElroy was working on, Murder Call
Murder Call
Murder Call was an Australian television series, created by Hal McElroy for the Southern Star Entertainment and seen on the Nine Network between 1997 and 2000. The idea to the series was born by the books of Tessa Vance by Jennifer Rowe: Suspect/Deadline and Something Wicked...
. Mochrie won the role of Steve Hayden, starring alongside Lucy Bell
Lucy Bell
Lucy Bell is a British-born Australian television and film actress. Her partner is James O'Loghlin and they have three daughters.- Television :...
who played Tessa Vance. He starred in this Australian television drama for 3 years.
After the show finished, Mochrie concentrated on his landscaping business, travelling and surfing. In 2000, Mochrie again returned to TV as Rick Fontaine in Cybergirl
Cybergirl
Cybergirl is an Australian children's television series that first screened on Network Ten in Australia. The 26 episode series was created by Jonathan M. Shiff, whose previous series include the BAFTA-award-winning Ocean Girl. Cybergirl has also screened on ABC1 on 6:00am, Thursday and on other...
. The series, which was filmed in Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, was shown on commercial as well as cable television, and was an award winning children's show.
In 2002, Mochrie returned to the stage, in Spinning into Butter
Spinning Into Butter
Spinning Into Butter is a play by American playwright Rebecca Gilman. The play debuted at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago in 1999. It was later produced at the Lincoln Center and the Royal Court Theatre, was named one of the best plays of 1999 by Time, and eventually became the third-most-produced...
by Rebecca Gilman
Rebecca Gilman
Rebecca Gilman is an American playwright. She attended Middlebury College, graduated from Birmingham-Southern College, and earned a Master of Fine Arts from the Iowa Playwrights Workshop at the University of Iowa...
, for the Ensemble Theatre
Ensemble Theatre
The Ensemble Theatre is an Australian theatre company, situated in Kirribilli, New South Wales. It is promoted as Australia's longest continuously running professional theatre group, established in 1958.- References :...
, Sydney. In 2004 he also appeared in a Darlinghurst Theatre production of Vicious Streaks.
Mochrie also does voice-overs for commercials.