Stefan Dennis
Encyclopedia
Stefan Dennis is an Australian actor
, best known for playing the role of Paul Robinson
in the soap opera, Neighbours
, from its first episode in March 1985 to the present day. He is also known for his 1989 hit single "Don't It Make You Feel Good?", which reached #16 in the UK Singles Chart
.
for 12 years where Dennis did most of his schooling. Dennis started showing his genuine interest in music and acting at the age of 7 and was 11 years old when he started in Amateur Theatre in Queensland. His debut with this first theatre company was in Oliver!
. Also, this time Dennis and his brother formed a vocal duo and performed on many occasions. They played at weddings, charity events, and some large concerts.
By the age of 14, Dennis was convinced he wanted to go into the entertainment business. Dennis understood the pitfalls associated with choosing the career of an entertainer, so he decided to get a trade behind him to support him through the times when he may be out of work.
He left school at 15 and took an apprenticeship as a chef. On completion of his chef's certificate, Dennis moved from the Gold Coast in Queensland
to Melbourne, Australia's thriving financial and entertainment capital. In the following five years, Dennis worked hard gaining knowledge, experience and a respected name within the industry, filling all the empty gaps in the kitchens of Melbourne's abounding restaurants.
Dennis started out in guest roles on programmes such as Skyways
, Carson's Law
, Young Ramsay
, Prisoner
, Home, The Henderson Kids
, The Sullivans
, The Young Doctors
and many others. Dennis has a number of credits to his name. He had a major role in The Henderson Kids
, a co-lead in an ABC
production called Infinity Limited
, and he co-starred in The Flying Doctors
mini-series. In 1984, Dennis auditioned for the roles of Shane Ramsay
and Des Clarke
in new soap opera Neighbours
. He was later cast as Paul Robinson instead. Through the role in Neighbours came opportunities like appearing at the Royal Variety Performance
along with other cast members.
After finishing Neighbours in 1992, Dennis moved to the UK and worked on a variety of TV shows and theatre productions. Dennis appeared in many pantomimes, plays, and musicals. In 1994, Dennis played Mickey in Blood Brothers, touring in New Zealand
and Australia before returning to the UK to appear in the show in both the West End, and in a national tour of the UK. He appeared in many television shows, including Dream Team
, River City
, The Bill
, and Casualty
. Dennis also returned to Australia from time to time for guest roles in shows such as Blue Heelers
, Good Guys Bad Guys
, and Stingers
. Dennis has worked as a voiceover artist for many years both in Australia and the UK.
Dennis was part of the team that set a new world record in 1995 for 24 hour endurance outdoor karting. The team – Dennis, David Brabham, Russ Malkin, Steve Malkin set the record of 1664.7 km on a 1.3 km track at Brooklands
, Weybridge, Surrey, UK on 24 and 25 February 1995.
Whilst in the UK, Dennis became a partner in Lex Film Entertainment, and was associate producer on the movie The Truth About Love
. He also met and married his wife, Gail. The couple have two sons, Cameron and Declan, and a daughter Darci. The family are now back living in Australia.
He returned to Neighbours at the end of 2004, and was a regular character once again as of 2005, signing a three-year contract which ran to the end of 2008, which he has now extended. He is the only current cast member who appeared in the first episode, although he is not the longest serving due to his long break.
Of his role as the antagonist
in Neighbours, Dennis has said that people struggle to tell the difference between himself and the character and "shy away" from him because "they think I'm going to bark at them." He has conceded that it could be a testament to his acting and says "It's a real compliment though as people know the character that well, they actually think I am like him in real life."
In 2009, Dennis was stalked
by two fans whilst presenting the Best Villain award at the British Soap Awards
.
in October 1989.
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, best known for playing the role of Paul Robinson
Paul Robinson (Neighbours)
Paul Stewart Robinson is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, a long-running serial drama about social life in the fictional Melbourne suburb of Erinsborough. He is played by Stefan Dennis. Paul debuted in the serial's first episode in 1985 and appeared on a...
in the soap opera, 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...
, from its first episode in March 1985 to the present day. He is also known for his 1989 hit single "Don't It Make You Feel Good?", which reached #16 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
.
Biography
Dennis was born in Tawonga, but his family moved to QueenslandQueensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
for 12 years where Dennis did most of his schooling. Dennis started showing his genuine interest in music and acting at the age of 7 and was 11 years old when he started in Amateur Theatre in Queensland. His debut with this first theatre company was in Oliver!
Oliver!
Oliver! is a British musical, with script, music and lyrics by Lionel Bart. The musical is based upon the novel Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens....
. Also, this time Dennis and his brother formed a vocal duo and performed on many occasions. They played at weddings, charity events, and some large concerts.
By the age of 14, Dennis was convinced he wanted to go into the entertainment business. Dennis understood the pitfalls associated with choosing the career of an entertainer, so he decided to get a trade behind him to support him through the times when he may be out of work.
He left school at 15 and took an apprenticeship as a chef. On completion of his chef's certificate, Dennis moved from the Gold Coast in Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
to Melbourne, Australia's thriving financial and entertainment capital. In the following five years, Dennis worked hard gaining knowledge, experience and a respected name within the industry, filling all the empty gaps in the kitchens of Melbourne's abounding restaurants.
Dennis started out in guest roles on programmes such as Skyways
Skyways (TV series)
Skyways is an Australian television series made by Crawford Productions for the Seven Network.The series, which aired from 1979 to 1981, was set at the fictional Pacific International Airport and dealt with the lives of the pilots, airline staff and management team who worked there.Skyways was...
, Carson's Law
Carson's Law
Carson's Law is an Australian television series made by Crawford Productions for the Ten Network between 1983 and 1984. The series was a period piece set in the 1920s and starred Lorraine Bayly as progressive solicitor Jennifer Carson...
, Young Ramsay
Young Ramsay
Young Ramsay was an Australian television drama series which ran from 1977 to 1980 on the Seven Network. It was produced by Crawford Productions as two series of 13 episodes each.-Plot:...
, Prisoner
Prisoner (TV series)
Prisoner is an Australian television soap opera which was set in the Wentworth Detention Centre, a fictional women's prison. The series was produced by the Reg Grundy Organisation and ran on Network Ten for 692 episodes from 27 February 1979 to 11 December 1986.The series was inspired by the 1970s...
, Home, The Henderson Kids
The Henderson Kids
The Henderson Kids was an Australian television series made by Crawford Productions for Network Ten between 1985 and 1987. It was created and storylined by Roger Moulton, who also wrote 5 episodes in the first series and 2 episodes in the second series....
, The Sullivans
The Sullivans
The Sullivans is an Australian drama television series produced by Crawford Productions which ran from 1976 until 1983. The series told the story of an average middle-classMelbourne family and the effect World War II had on their lives...
, The Young Doctors
The Young Doctors
The Young Doctors is an Australian early evening soap opera. The series was set in the fictional Albert Memorial hospital and primarily concerned with romances between younger members of the hospital staff, screened on the Nine Network from Monday, 8 November 1976 until Wednesday, 30 March...
and many others. Dennis has a number of credits to his name. He had a major role in The Henderson Kids
The Henderson Kids
The Henderson Kids was an Australian television series made by Crawford Productions for Network Ten between 1985 and 1987. It was created and storylined by Roger Moulton, who also wrote 5 episodes in the first series and 2 episodes in the second series....
, a co-lead in an ABC
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
production called Infinity Limited
Infinity Limited
Infinity Limited is an Australian science education television series produced by the ABC in 1984. It starred Stefan Dennis as Rick and Ross Williams as Vortex....
, and he co-starred in The Flying Doctors
The Flying Doctors
The Flying Doctors is an Australian drama series produced by Crawford Productions that revolved around the everyday lifesaving efforts of the real Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia....
mini-series. In 1984, Dennis auditioned for the roles of Shane Ramsay
Shane Ramsay
Shane Ramsay is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Peter O'Brien. He made his first appearance on-screen in the first Neighbours episode on 18 March 1985. Shane is the son of Max and Maria Ramsay...
and Des Clarke
Des Clarke (Neighbours)
Desmond Kingsley "Des" Clarke is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Paul Keane. He made his first on screen appearance on 18 March 1985, the show's first episode.-Stroylines:...
in new soap opera 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...
. He was later cast as Paul Robinson instead. Through the role in Neighbours came opportunities like appearing at the Royal Variety Performance
Royal Variety Performance
The Royal Variety Performance is a gala evening held annually in the United Kingdom, which is attended by senior members of the British Royal Family, usually the reigning monarch. In more recent years Queen Elizabeth II and The Prince of Wales have alternately attended the performance...
along with other cast members.
After finishing Neighbours in 1992, Dennis moved to the UK and worked on a variety of TV shows and theatre productions. Dennis appeared in many pantomimes, plays, and musicals. In 1994, Dennis played Mickey in Blood Brothers, touring in New Zealand
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...
and Australia before returning to the UK to appear in the show in both the West End, and in a national tour of the UK. He appeared in many television shows, including Dream Team
Dream Team (TV series)
Dream Team is a British television series produced by Hewland International which aired on Sky1 and Sky3 from 1997 to 2007; it chronicled the on-field and off-field affairs of the fictional Harchester United Football Club....
, River City
River City
River City is a Scottish television soap opera, first broadcast in Scotland on BBC Scotland on 24 September 2002. River City storylines examine the domestic and professional lives of the people who live and work in the fictional district of Shieldinch in Glasgow...
, The Bill
The Bill
The Bill is a police procedural television series that ran from October 1984 to August 2010. It focused on the lives and work of one shift of police officers, rather than on any particular aspect of police work...
, and Casualty
Casualty (TV series)
Casualty, stylised as Casual+y, is a British weekly television show broadcast on BBC One, and the longest-running emergency medical drama television series in the world. Created by Jeremy Brock and Paul Unwin, it was first broadcast on 6 September 1986, and transmitted in the UK on BBC One. The...
. Dennis also returned to Australia from time to time for guest roles in shows such as 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 :...
, Good Guys Bad Guys
Good Guys Bad Guys
Good Guys, Bad Guys was an Australian crime TV series that screened on the Nine Network between 1997 and 1998, with a telemovie and twenty-six episodes produced. A comedy/drama set in Melbourne....
, and Stingers
Stingers
Stingers was an Australian police drama television series. It ran for eight seasons on the Nine Network before it was canceled in late 2004 due to declining ratings and the late timeslot Channel Nine gave the program...
. Dennis has worked as a voiceover artist for many years both in Australia and the UK.
Dennis was part of the team that set a new world record in 1995 for 24 hour endurance outdoor karting. The team – Dennis, David Brabham, Russ Malkin, Steve Malkin set the record of 1664.7 km on a 1.3 km track at Brooklands
Brooklands
Brooklands was a motor racing circuit and aerodrome built near Weybridge in Surrey, England. It opened in 1907, and was the world's first purpose-built motorsport venue, as well as one of Britain's first airfields...
, Weybridge, Surrey, UK on 24 and 25 February 1995.
Whilst in the UK, Dennis became a partner in Lex Film Entertainment, and was associate producer on the movie The Truth About Love
The Truth About Love
The Truth About Love is a 2004 film directed by John Hay.-Synopsis:In Bristol, as part of a drunken bet with her sister , a happily married Englishwoman sends an anonymous Valentine's Day card to her husband to see if he hides it...
. He also met and married his wife, Gail. The couple have two sons, Cameron and Declan, and a daughter Darci. The family are now back living in Australia.
He returned to Neighbours at the end of 2004, and was a regular character once again as of 2005, signing a three-year contract which ran to the end of 2008, which he has now extended. He is the only current cast member who appeared in the first episode, although he is not the longest serving due to his long break.
Of his role as the antagonist
Antagonist
An antagonist is a character, group of characters, or institution, that represents the opposition against which the protagonist must contend...
in Neighbours, Dennis has said that people struggle to tell the difference between himself and the character and "shy away" from him because "they think I'm going to bark at them." He has conceded that it could be a testament to his acting and says "It's a real compliment though as people know the character that well, they actually think I am like him in real life."
In 2009, Dennis was stalked
Stalking
Stalking is a term commonly used to refer to unwanted and obsessive attention by an individual or group to another person. Stalking behaviors are related to harassment and intimidation and may include following the victim in person and/or monitoring them via the internet...
by two fans whilst presenting the Best Villain award at the British Soap Awards
British Soap Awards
The British Soap Awards is an annual awards ceremony to honour the best of British soap operas.The first event took place in 1999 and takes place in May each year. Although it is an ITV production, the events were held at the BBC Television Centre, in London until 2010. The 2011 awards relocated to...
.
Music
In 1989, he started a side-line music career, and released the single "Don't It Make You Feel Good?", which reached #16 in the UK, in May of that year. He released a second single, "This Love Affair", which reached #67 in the UK Singles ChartUK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
in October 1989.
Television
- NeighboursNeighboursNeighbours 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...
– Paul RobinsonPaul Robinson (Neighbours)Paul Stewart Robinson is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, a long-running serial drama about social life in the fictional Melbourne suburb of Erinsborough. He is played by Stefan Dennis. Paul debuted in the serial's first episode in 1985 and appeared on a... - The SullivansThe SullivansThe Sullivans is an Australian drama television series produced by Crawford Productions which ran from 1976 until 1983. The series told the story of an average middle-classMelbourne family and the effect World War II had on their lives...
- The Young DoctorsThe Young DoctorsThe Young Doctors is an Australian early evening soap opera. The series was set in the fictional Albert Memorial hospital and primarily concerned with romances between younger members of the hospital staff, screened on the Nine Network from Monday, 8 November 1976 until Wednesday, 30 March...
(1982) - PrisonerPrisoner (TV series)Prisoner is an Australian television soap opera which was set in the Wentworth Detention Centre, a fictional women's prison. The series was produced by the Reg Grundy Organisation and ran on Network Ten for 692 episodes from 27 February 1979 to 11 December 1986.The series was inspired by the 1970s...
– as "Shayne Berkley" - Young Ramsay (1 March 1980) – as "Sid Atkinson" in episode: "Gift Horse"
- PrisonerPrisoner (TV series)Prisoner is an Australian television soap opera which was set in the Wentworth Detention Centre, a fictional women's prison. The series was produced by the Reg Grundy Organisation and ran on Network Ten for 692 episodes from 27 February 1979 to 11 December 1986.The series was inspired by the 1970s...
(1981) – as "Peter Richards" - Five Mile Creek (3 April 1985) – as "Boy #2" in episode: "The Best of Mates"
- The Flying DoctorsThe Flying DoctorsThe Flying Doctors is an Australian drama series produced by Crawford Productions that revolved around the everyday lifesaving efforts of the real Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia....
(1985) (mini series) – as "Doug Hennassy" - The Henderson KidsThe Henderson KidsThe Henderson Kids was an Australian television series made by Crawford Productions for Network Ten between 1985 and 1987. It was created and storylined by Roger Moulton, who also wrote 5 episodes in the first series and 2 episodes in the second series....
(1985) as "Terry" - The Office (1996) – as "Nigel"
- Blue HeelersBlue HeelersBlue 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 :...
(1 July 1997) – as "Colin Docker" in episode: "Poetic Justice" - Good Guys Bad Guys (14 April 1998) – as "Andy Caesar" in episode: "Don't Cry for Me Arch 'n' Tina"
- Stingers (22 February 1999) – as "Snr. Com. Karl Hiller" in episode: "Nothing Personal"
- The Big Breakfast (14 December 2001) – as himself
- Dream TeamDream Team (TV series)Dream Team is a British television series produced by Hewland International which aired on Sky1 and Sky3 from 1997 to 2007; it chronicled the on-field and off-field affairs of the fictional Harchester United Football Club....
(2001–2002) – as "Samuel Irving" - River CityRiver CityRiver City is a Scottish television soap opera, first broadcast in Scotland on BBC Scotland on 24 September 2002. River City storylines examine the domestic and professional lives of the people who live and work in the fictional district of Shieldinch in Glasgow...
(2002) – as "Dr. Marcus McKenzie" - CasualtyCasualty (TV series)Casualty, stylised as Casual+y, is a British weekly television show broadcast on BBC One, and the longest-running emergency medical drama television series in the world. Created by Jeremy Brock and Paul Unwin, it was first broadcast on 6 September 1986, and transmitted in the UK on BBC One. The...
(19 November 2002) – as "Mark Christie" - The BillThe BillThe Bill is a police procedural television series that ran from October 1984 to August 2010. It focused on the lives and work of one shift of police officers, rather than on any particular aspect of police work...
(7 May 2003) – as "Gene Bishop" - Rove Live (19 July 2005) – as Himself
Films
- Channel Chaos (1984) – Actor as "Cameraman"
- The Truth About LoveThe Truth About LoveThe Truth About Love is a 2004 film directed by John Hay.-Synopsis:In Bristol, as part of a drunken bet with her sister , a happily married Englishwoman sends an anonymous Valentine's Day card to her husband to see if he hides it...
(2004) – Production as associate producer – Actor as "Dougie"
Theatre
- 1990/91 – Robin Hood – Liverpool, UK
- 1991/92 – Aladdin – Southampton, UK
- 1992/93 – Cinderella – Bournemouth, UK
- 1993 – Whose Life is It Anyway? – UK Tour
- 1993/94 – Jack and the Beanstalk – Wimbledon, London, UK
- 1994 – Blood Brothers – Australia
- 1994 – Blood Brothers – New Zealand
- 1994/95 – Peter Pan – Blackpool, UK
- 1995 – Blood Brothers – UK
- 1995 – Point of Death – UK Tour
- 1997 – Murder by Misadventure – UK Tour
- 1998/99 – Aladdin – Weston-Super-Mare, UK
- 2000 – Fool for Love – Edinburgh
- 2007 – Aladdin – Aberdeen
- 2009/10 – Cinderella – Wolverhampton Grand TheatreWolverhampton Grand TheatreThe Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, commonly known as The Grand is a theatre located in Lichfield Street, Wolverhampton,UK, designed in 1894 by Architect Charles J. Phipps. It is a Grade II Listed Building with a seating capacity of 1200.-1894 - 1939:...
, UK