Darryl William McInnes (born 10 September 1963) is an Australian film and television actor and writer. He is best known for his roles as Senior Constable Nick Schultz in Blue Heelers, as Max Connors in SeaChange, and more recently as TV boss Lindsay Cunningham in The Newsreader and Dr. Roy Penrose in NCIS: Sydney.

William McInnes
Born (1963-09-10) 10 September 1963 (age 61)
Occupations
  • Actor
  • author
Years active1990–present
SpouseSarah Watt (1993–2011; her death)
Children2

Early life and education

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Darryl William McInnes[1] was born on 10 September 1963.[2]

He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree at the Rockhampton campus of the Capricornia Institute of Advanced Education (now Central Queensland University) in 1985.[1] He studied drama at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) and graduated in 1988.[citation needed]

Career

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Television

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After a recurring role in A Country Practice in 1990, McInnes appeared in series such as Bligh, Ocean Girl, Good Vibrations and Snowy before making his name as Senior Constable Nick Schultz on Blue Heelers in 1993. McInnes appeared in the show until 1998, when he left to focus on other work. In 1999, he joined the cast of SeaChange as Max Connors, the new love interest of the main character Laura Gibson (Sigrid Thornton) after Diver Dan (David Wenham) left the series.

In 2001, he starred in an episode of Halifax f.p.. In 2002, McInnes was part of the cast of Marshall Law, which was cancelled after one season; and he returned for several episodes of Blue Heelers in 2004 and 2005. He also had a recurring role as Rosie's sleazy ex Colin in 2003's CrashBurn; and a noted comic turn as Sandy Freckle in two episodes of Kath & Kim, under the pseudonym "Rock Hampton". In 2006 he completed the telemovie Stepfather of the Bride.

McInnes was the first guest host of Let Loose Live on 29 May 2005; the show was axed by the Seven Network after just two weeks. He also appeared as himself on Micallef Tonight on the Nine Network but it was also quickly axed. McInnes lent his voice for the Nine Network factual series The Code: Crime and Justice.[3] He is sometimes credited as "Rock Hampton" (e.g. in Kath & Kim and the 2005 film You and Your Stupid Mate), as a nod to his university time spent in the city of the same name. In 2007 he played the title role in the telemovie Curtin.

In late 2007, he had a leading role in Season 1 of SBS's East West 101.[4] In 2008, he also appeared in Network Ten's telemovie The Informant. He portrayed the historical person, Jack Ford, in the ABC drama Dangerous Remedy (2012).[5] In 2023, McInnes started play AFP Forensic Pathologist Dr Roy Penrose in the Network 10/Paramount+ series NCIS: Sydney.[6]

Film

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Early film roles include My Brother Jack (2001), Do Or Die (2001), Dirty Deeds (2002) and the TV Movie The Shark Net (2003).

McInnes featured in the lead role in Look Both Ways (2005), directed by his wife Sarah Watt. Subsequent film roles include in 2006 Irresistible, with Susan Sarandon, and Kokoda, the lead role in the romantic drama Unfinished Sky in 2007, and in 2009 Prime Mover, featuring Michael Dorman, Ben Mendelsohn and Anthony Hayes, and Sarah Watt's follow-up film My Year Without Sex.

Radio

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In December 2016, McInnes hosted Summer Afternoons across ABC Local Radio.[7]

Writing

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McInnes released his first book A Man's Got to Have a Hobby on 1 August 2005. His second book Cricket Kings was released in 2006[8] and his third, That'd Be Right, in August 2008.[9] His fourth book, The Making of Modern Australia, was released in 2010; it was accompanied by a television documentary series of the same name on the ABC that McInnes narrated.[10] In 2011 he released his fifth book, Worse Things Happen at Sea, co-written by his wife Sarah Watt.[11] In 2014 he released Holidays, a collection of stories loosely based around his and other people's holidays. He wrote a regular column called "William Tells" for The Australian Women's Weekly.

Other activities

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On 16 February 2009, John Faulkner, then Special Minister of State and Cabinet Secretary, appointed McInnes as the new chair of the Advisory Council of the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House. McInnes has spoken in many of his media appearances about the museum and its work and the importance of democratic values and civics education. He succeeded Doug Anthony as chair of the council.[12]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2012 Dangerous Remedy Jack Ford TV movie
2010 The Hopes & Dreams of Gazza Snell Gazza Snell
2009 Blessed Peter Feature film
Prime Mover Phil Feature film
My Year WIthout Sex Radio voice Feature film
2008 The Informant Richard Button TV movie
2007 Unfinished Sky John Woldring Feature film
Curtin John Curtin TV movie
2006 Stepfather of the Bride Daniel TV movie
Kokoda 39th Battalion The Colonel Feature film
Irresistible Jimmy Feature film
2005 Laughing Stock Scout Master
You and Your Stupid Mate Peter Rossiter Feature film (as Rock Hampton)
Look Both Ways Nick Feature film
2002 Dirty Deeds Hollywood Feature film
Living with Happiness Father Short film
2001 My Brother Jack Mr. Meredith TV movie
2000 The Way of the Birds Voice Short film
Brother Narrator Short film
1999 Cousin Narrator Short film
1996 Uncle Narrator Short film
1993 Body Melt Paul Matthews Feature film
The Heartbreak Kid Southgate Feature film
Broken Highway Roger Feature film
1992 Turtle Beach Minder Feature film
1991 Dead to the World Vince Feature film
The Last Crop Real Estate Agent
1990 Catch of the Day All Male Voices Short film
Wendy Cracked a Walnut Ralph Feature film

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2023- NCIS: Sydney[13] Dr. Roy 'Rosie' Penrose Main Role
2021- The Newsreader Lindsay Cunningham TV series, 12 episodes
2019-2021 Total Control Laurie Martin TV series, 10 episodes
2018 Rake Gareth Morrow TV series, 7 episodes
2016 Deep Water Chief Inspector Peel TV series, 4 episodes
2013-14 The Time of our Lives Matt Tivolli TV series, 21 episodes
2011 The Slap Narrator TV miniseries, 8 episodes
2007-08 East West 101 Det Sgt Ray Crowley TV series, 6 episodes
1994-2005 Blue Heelers Sgt Nick Schutlz TV series, 213 episodes
2003 Kath & Kim Sandy Freckle TV series, 2 episodes
CrashBurn Colin TV miniseries, 4 episodes
The Shark Net Roy Drewe TV series, 3 episodes
Welcher & Welcher Sir Robert Jefferson TV series, 1 episode
2002 Marshall Law Dylan Boyd QC TV series, 17 episodes
Animated Tales of the World Harvey (voice) Animated TV series, 1 episode
2001 Halifax f.p. Jeremy Buckle TV series, 1 episode
Do or Die Daryl Quint TV miniseries, 2 episodes
1999-2000 SeaChange Max Connors TV series, 24 episodes
2000 The Lost World Hans Dressler TV miniseries, 1 episode
1994 Ocean Girl Commander Lucas TV series, 13 episodes
1993 Snowy Max Heimer TV series, 13 episodes
1992 Bligh John MacArthur TV series, 13 episodes
Embassy John Hancock TV series, 1 episode
Good Vibrations David Chester TV miniseries, 2 episodes
1991 The Flying Doctors Jerry Davis TV series, 1 episode
Rafferty's Rules Craig Farner TV series, 1 episode
1990 Shadows of the Heart Denny Taylor TV miniseries, 2 episodes
Col'n Carpenter David TV series, 2 episodes
A Country Practice John Freeman TV series, 2 episodes

Theatre

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Year Title Role Notes
1988 The Rising of Pete Marsh New Fortune Theatre, Perth
1989 Operation Holy Mountain Seymour Centre with Toe Truck Theatre
1989 Kid Stakes Bridge Theatre, Coniston with Theatre South
1991 Bali: Adat Fairfax Studio with MTC for Melbourne International Arts Festival
1991 Hay Fever Sandy Tyrell Playhouse, Melbourne with MTC
1994 Loot Mietta's, Melbourne
1994 See How they Run Mietta's, Melbourne
1996 Private Lives Victor Prynne Fairfax Studio, Melbourne with MTC
1999 Pride and Prejudice Mr Darcy Playhouse, Melbourne with MTC, Sydney Opera House with STC
2001 Art Serge Playhouse, Melbourne with MTC, Regal Theatre, Perth with Black Swan State Theatre Company
2001 Don Juan Sydney Opera House with STC
2003 Blithe Spirit Playhouse, Melbourne with MTC
2006 Ray's Tempest Ray Brink Fairfax Studio with MTC
2009 My Fair Lady Henry Higgins Civic Theatre, Auckland with Opera Australia
2009 Equus Martin Dysart His Majesty's Theatre, Perth with Perth Theatre Company
2014 The Effect Toby Southbank Theatre with MTC
2015 The Waiting Room Karl Fairfax Studio, Melbourne with MTC
2018 An Ideal Husband The Earl of Caversham, KG Playhouse, Melbourne
2018 Nearer the Gods King Charles II Bille Brown Theatre with Queensland Theatre
2018 The Silent Anzac Australia House, London
2019 33 Variations Beethoven Comedy Theatre, Melbourne
2020; 2022 The Heartbreak Choir Peter Southbank Theatre, Melbourne & Online with MTC

[14]

Recognition, awards and nominations

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Year Nominated work Award Category Result
1997 Blue Heelers Logie Awards Most Outstanding Actor Nominated
1998 Blue Heelers Logie Awards Most Outstanding Actor Nominated
2000 SeaChange Logie Awards Most Outstanding Actor Won
2001 SeaChange Logie Awards Most Outstanding Actor Nominated
2001 SeaChange Logie Awards Most Popular Actor Nominated
2001 My Brother Jack AFI Awards Best Actor in a Telemovie Nominated
2001 SeaChange AFI Awards Best Actor in a Television Series Nominated
2002 My Brother Jack Logie Awards Most Outstanding Actor Won
2004 The Shark Net Logie Awards Most Outstanding Actor Nominated
2005 Look Both Ways AFI Awards Best Lead Actor Won
2008 East West 101 Logie Awards Most Outstanding Actor Won
2008 Unfinished Sky 50th AFI Awards Best Actor in a Leading Role Won
2008 East West 101 AFI Awards Best Lead Actor Won
2009 William McInnes Q150 Q150 Icons Influential Artist Honoured[15]
2010 William McInnes Central Queensland University Honorary Doctorate Honoured[1]
2010 William McInnes WAAPA Fellow Honoured [citation needed]

Personal life

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McInnes was married to film actress, animator and director Sarah Watt. They had two children, Clem and Stella.[16] Sarah Watt died of cancer in 2011.[17]

Written works

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Non-fiction

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  • McInnes, William (2005). A Man's Got to Have a Hobby : Long Summers with My Dad (1st ed.). Hodder Australia. ISBN 978-0-7336-2078-2.
  • —— (2008). That'd Be Right : A Fairly True History of Modern Australia. Hachette Livre. ISBN 978-0-7336-2253-3.
  • —— (2010). The Making of Modern Australia (1st ed.). Hachette Australia. ISBN 978-0-7336-2494-0.
  • with Watt, Sarah (2012). Worse Things Happen at Sea. Hachette Australia. ISBN 978-0-7336-2802-3.
  • —— (2014). Holidays. Hachette Australia. ISBN 978-0-7336-3312-6.
  • —— (2016). Full Bore. Hachette Australia. ISBN 978-0-7336-3553-3.
  • —— (2018). Fatherhood : Stories about Being a Dad. Hachette Australia. ISBN 978-0-7336-3555-7.

Fiction

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Honorary Doctor of Performing ArtsDarrell William McInnes". CQUniNEWS. 17 February 2010. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  2. ^ Quinn, Karl (6 August 2021). "From SeaChange to The Newsreader: This is William McInnes like you've never seen him before, and it's brilliant". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 10 September 2023. the 57-year-old
  3. ^ Nguyen, Kenneth (25 January 2007). "All rise for reality justice". The Age. Melbourne. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  4. ^ William McInnes as Ray Crowley at SBS
  5. ^ Zuk, Tony. "Australian Television: Telemovies and Miniseries: 2012". Australian Television Information Archive. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  6. ^ Knox, David (13 June 2023). "Olivia Swann, Todd Lasance lead NCIS: Sydney cast". TV Tonight. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  7. ^ "William McInnes – ABC Melbourne". www.abc.net.au. Retrieved 23 December 2016.
  8. ^ Juliette Hughes (12 August 2006). "Cricket Kings". The Age. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
  9. ^ Books at Hachette Australia
  10. ^ The Making of Modern Australia, ABC TV
  11. ^ Worse Things Happen at Sea, Hachette
  12. ^ Advisory Council at Old Parliament House, Canberra
  13. ^ "Olivia Swann, Todd Lasance lead NCIS: Sydney cast | TV Tonight". 13 June 2023.
  14. ^ "AusStage".
  15. ^ Bligh, Anna (10 June 2009). "Premier Unveils Queensland's 150 Icons". Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 24 May 2017. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
  16. ^ "Australian filmmaker Sarah Watt dies". Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Retrieved 12 September 2022
  17. ^ "Australian filmmaker Sarah Watt dies"
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