John Atkinson

John Atkinson was an Australian actor.

Early life Atkinson was the older brother of actress Kate Atkinson. He was a graduate of the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts. He then had a recurring guest role in critically-acclaimed and award-winning ABC legal drama series Janus in 1994. He also featured alongside Hugh Jackman in ABC drama Correlli in 1995, playing the recurring role of Officer Reid.

Atkinson made his breakthrough screen appearance in 1998, in Australian soap opera Breakers, playing the role of 28-year-old Steve Giordano, manager and youth mentor at homeless kids' agency, 'Against The Tide'. He appeared in the series until 1999, acting alongside Ada Nicodemou and James Stewart.

In 2002, Atkinson knocked back a role in a US movie to accept a role in 13-part SBS television drama TwentyfourSeven, playing one of the main roles of production editor and chief sub, Nick Kaldor. Set in the office of a weekly entertainment and information magazine, the series was the world's first interactive television drama, where viewers were able to vote on a choice of three storylines for the next episode – 'choose your own adventure'-style.

Atkinson portrayed producer Les Markowitz in the fictionalised 2005 American television movie / docudrama Dynasty: The Making of a Guilty Pleasure, based on the creation and behind the scenes production of the 1980s prime time soap opera Dynasty. He also portrayed Roger McIvor in several episodes of the Australian television drama McLeod's Daughters between 2005 and 2007, He next played boat owner and psychopathic killer Derrick Quaid in long-running soap opera Home and Away, from 2009 to 2010.

Atkinson had a role in 2010 feature film 33 Postcards opposite Guy Pearce and Claudia Karvan, also reuniting with his Out of the Blue co-star Clayton Watson.

Film Year Title Role Notes Ref. 2010 33 Postcards Chalmers Feature film