Peter O'Brien is an Australian actor, best known for his role as an original cast member in 1985 of Australian soap opera Neighbours as Shane Ramsay. He has also acted in numerous British and American productions.
Career
O'Brien played a regular role in short-lived soap opera Starting Out(1983), in then had guest roles in Carson's Law in 1983 and Prisoner in 1984 and appeared in The Henderson Kids. He was then cast as Shane Ramsay, a regular original character in soap opera Neighbours on the Seven Network in 1985. He became one of the serial's most popular cast members, continuing in the series until 1987. He then played a leading regular role in drama series The Flying Doctors from 1988 until 1991.
In 1994, O'Brien sent up his soap opera star past by taking a regular role in Psycho Ward 10, a soap opera parody in The All New Alexei Sayle Show.
O'Brien took on the role of surgical registrar Mr. Cyril 'Scissors' Smedley in the popular BBC series Cardiac Arrest through the second and third series between 1995 and 1996.
O'Brien was part of the cast of BBC television series Casualty as a new consultant called Stitch.[2] He also appeared in ITV police drama The Bill in which he played corrupt Detective Inspector Peter Cavanaugh.[3]
In 2022, it was announced O'Brien had reprised his role of Shane Ramsay in Neighbours following the news that the serial would be concluding later that year.[5] In November 2024, O'Brien returned to Neighbours for a guest stint.[6]
Awards
O'Brien has won several acting awards in his career. He won two Logie Awards - one in 1987 for the 'Most Popular Actor' (for his role in Neighbours) and one in 2003 for the 'Most Outstanding Actor' (for his role in White Collar Blue).
Personal life
O'Brien was in a relationship with his Neighbours co-star Elaine Smith for four years.[7] He married actress Joanna Riding on 24 December 1990, after meeting while they were both starring in a production of The Wizard of Oz in England.[7] Their separation was announced in December 1993.[7]
On 1 January 2003,[8] O'Brien married actress Miranda Otto, after the two had met while performing in A Doll's House.[9] They have one child, a daughter, who was born on 1 April 2005.[9]
