James Healey

James Patrick Healey (born in County Galway, Ireland) is an Irish-born Australian actor.

Early life and education Healey's family moved to Manchester, England, before emigrating to Melbourne, Australia.

He studied a Diploma of Acting at Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London, graduating in 1977, and also studied acting at the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) in Sydney.

Career As a teen, in the 1970s, Healey had early guest roles in several Crawford Productions Australian police procedural series, including Homicide, Division 4, Cop Shop and Matlock Police.

Healey was George Miller's first choice for the starring role of Max Rockatansky in 1979 film Mad Max. At the time, Healey was working at a Melbourne abattoir, while pursuing film work. Upon reading the script, Healey declined the role, considering the limited and terse dialogue unappealing. Up-and-coming young Australian actor Mel Gibson instead, landed the role of Max.

Healey adapted and produced Oscar Wilde's De Profundis, and in 1978, made his London stage debut in The Golden Cradle for the Abbey Theatre. He then appeared in the television plays Memories and Even Solomon, and the series Penmarric. He played Heathcliff in a stage production of Wuthering Heights and also appeared in Privates on Parade, Bedroom Farce and Ten Times Table. and starred in the title role in King Lear. Healey departed from the series when his character was killed off in a fight during the 1988 season finale.

Healey starred in two-part Australian miniseries Flair in 1990, alongside Charles ‘Bud’ Tingwell, Rowena Wallace and Andrew Clarke. That same year, he was also set to appear in another Australian miniseries The Paper Man, based on the life of Rupert Murdoch, however green card restrictions required him to spend more time in America, preventing him from leaving the country at the time. Healey subsequently secured a regular role on daytime serial Santa Barbara in 1990, playing the role of Derek Griffin. He was voted one of daytime television's most popular actors. From 1993 to 1994, he featured in American action adventure series Acapulco H.E.A.T. as the character of Strake. He played the part of a comedian in 1996 British television film, Cuts, alongside Peter Davison.

Healey's screenplay Ill-Fated was optioned several times, including by head of Paramount Studios, Robert Evens in 1995 (who had met Healey for the lead in feature thriller The Saint) with Jack Nicolson expressing interest. He returned to Australia that same year, to re-write the script, which was later purchased by Reel Movie Productions, in Melbourne.

Personal life Healey relocated to Melbourne, Australia in 1996, to care for his ailing father, until his death in 2000.

Filmography

Film Year Work Role Notes 1984 Fantasy Man Steve Feature film

Television Year Work Role Notes 1972 Matlock Police Maxwell Season 2, episode 74: "Cook's Endeavour" 1975; 1976 Homicide Johnny Harris / Paddy 2 episodes 1977–1981 The Restless Years Gary Fisher Regular role1979 Play for Today Corrigan Season 10, episode 4: "Even Solomon" Penmarric William 2 episodes 1983 Sons and Daughters Greg Flynn 2 episodes Five Mile Creek Eddie Wallace Season 1, episode 1: "Making Tracks"1984 Super Sleuth James Harrison TV movie Cop Shop Robbie Masters 2 episodes 1987 Scarecrow and Mrs. King Nick Grant Season 4, episode 16: "Do You Take This Spy?" 1987–1988 Dynasty Sean Rowan 23 episodes 1990 Santa Barbara Derek Griffin 60 episodes Flair Chris Drake Miniseries, 2 episodes The Young Riders Thad Browning Season 2, episode 2: "Ghosts"1991 Strangers Gary TV movie Father Dowling Mysteries Pete Season 3, episode 20: "The Malibu Mystery" 1991–1994 Tarzán Karl Hauser Seasons 1-2, 5 episodes 1993 Between the Lines Student Season 2, episode 6: "Manoeuvre 11" 1993–1994 Acapulco H.E.A.T. Niel Strake 5 episodes 1994 Heartbeat Policeman Season 4, episode 4: "Turn of the Tide"1996 Cardiac Arrest Ken, radiographer Season 3, 6 episodes Cuts Comedian TV movie

Theatre Year Work Role Notes 1978 The Golden Cradle Abbey Theatre, London Wuthering Heights Heathcliff Privates on Parade Bedroom Farce Ten Times Table c.1983 This Property is Condemned Falcon Theatre Company c.1983 Snow Angel c.1983 Zoo Story