Orpheus Pledger

Orpheus Pledger (born 11 May 1993) is an Australian actor, who started his career as a child performer. He played Tycho Everson in the children's series Silversun and in 2011, appeared as Noah Parkin in Neighbours. From 2016 to 2019, Pledger starred as Mason Morgan in the Australian soap opera Home and Away.

Career In 2002, as an eight-year-old, Pledger starred in writer-director Emma Freeman's short film Lamb. In the following year, he began appearing as Lewis Harfield in the drama series CrashBurn. In 2004, Pledger starred as Tycho Everson in the children's science fiction series Silversun. He also made guest appearances in The Secret Life of Us, Blue Heelers, Welcher & Welcher, Scooter: Secret Agent, McLeod's Daughters and Nick Giannopoulos' film The Wannabes. Pledger's agent told him about the role and asked him to read through Noah's character notes. After deciding that he wanted the role, Pledger attended a screen test with the Neighbours casting director. After a recall, Pledger was told he had the role. He was contracted for six months.

On 5 December 2015, Jonathon Moran of The Daily Telegraph reported that Pledger had joined Home and Away as Mason Morgan. He relocated from Melbourne to Sydney for the filming.

In February 2022, Pledger took part in Season 3 of SAS Australia, but voluntarily withdrew after two days. He quit during a psychological evaluation by Ant Middleton and Doctor Dan to discuss his "erratic behaviour", after he was shown refusing to help out at the camp and receiving criticism from his fellow recruits. During the hearing at Melbourne Magistrates Court on 16 November, which Pledger did not attend, he accepted responsibility for the charges and was placed on a diversion program, which meant he did not have to enter a plea and was spared a criminal record. The magistrate also ordered Pledger to be of good behaviour for six months, donate $150 to the court fund, complete a drug awareness course, and thank the officer who charged him. On 23 April, Pledger was set to appear via video link at the Melbourne Magistrates Court for a bail hearing, but failed to appear, having absconded from the Royal Melbourne Hospital while waiting for a medical assessment. On 1 July 2024, Pledger pleaded guilty to causing injury and unlawful assault. Sentencing was adjourned until 3 July to allow an assessment of Pledger's suitability for a community corrections order. On 16 August, Pledger was sentenced to 7 months in prison after the magistrate found that he "lacked remorse for his conduct". He was later released on bail ahead of an appeal and was expected to return to court on 12 November 2024.

Filmography

Acting Year Title Role Notes 2001 The Secret Life of Us James Episodes: "Intimations of Mortality" and "Now or Never" 2002 Lamb Son Short film 2002 Blue Heelers Scott Robbins Episode: "The Last Jar" 2002 Marshall Law Freddie Episode: "Snorting Charlie" 2003 Forbidden Boy at Gate Short film 2003 Welcher & Welcher Winslow Episode: "The Winslow Boy" 2003 The Wannabes Young Danny Feature film 2003 The Forest James TV movie 2003 CrashBurn Lewis Harfield Main cast (Season 1) 2004 Replacing Bradley Bradley Short film 2004 Silversun Tycho Everson Main cast (Seasons 1–2) 2005 Scooter: Secret Agent Beast Boy Episode: "Operation: Beast Boy" 2005 McLeod's Daughters Max Wakefield Episode: "Body and Soul" 2006 Blue Heelers Olek Jasinski Episode: "Going Down Swinging" 2011 Neighbours Noah Parkin Recurring role (Season 27) 2014 Schapelle James Television film 2014 House Husbands Ian Season 3, episode 4 2016–2019 Home and Away Mason Morgan Main cast (Seasons 29–32)

Other appearances Year Title Notes 2019 Home and Away: Christmas in Summer Bay Episode: "The Morgan Family" 2020 Q&AmyLive Season 1, episode 11 2022 SAS Australia Season 3 Surviving Sunset an Actor's Hollywood Journey Documentary