Todd MacDonald
Canadian Australian actor (born 1973)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Todd MacDonald (born 1973) is a Canadian Australian actor who is best known for his roles on the soap opera Neighbours and the drama series The Secret Life of Us and Rush.
National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) (1996)
Todd MacDonald | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1973 (age 52–53) British Columbia, Canada |
| Education | Gold Coast Little Theatre National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) (1996) |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1992–present |
| Known for | |
| Spouse | Rebecca McIntosh |
| Children | 2 |
Early life
MacDonald and his older brother Paul were born in British Columbia to a Canadian father Deryle, who met their mother Margret, a former air hostess, while he was working in Australia. When MacDonald was seven years old, the family back-packed across Europe, before moving to Queensland, Australia.[1]
He developed an interest in acting while in primary school on the Gold Coast, and took classes at Gold Coast Little Theatre.[2] He played Ham in a production of Samuel Beckett's Endgame in his high school senior year.[3] He graduated from the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) in 1996.[2]
Career
After several minor roles, MacDonald secured a bigger role in the 1995 television film Sahara, which was shot in Sydney.[1] He considered the film his "big break", but he was out of work for a number of months afterward.[1] MacDonald attended an audition for television soap opera Neighbours in 1996 and was cast as Darren Stark, the son of Cheryl Stark (Caroline Gillmer).[1] He relocated to Melbourne from Sydney for filming.[1] The role of Darren had previously been played by Scott Major briefly in 1993. MacDonald departed the series in 1998, returning for guest appearances in 2004 and 2005, and again in 2007 and 2008.
In the early 2000s, MacDonald played the recurring role of Nathan Lieberman on The Secret Life of Us,[3] which was one of his favourite roles. He stated "at the time the show was doing something entirely new which was a such a joy to be a part of."[2] He appeared in the 2004 miniseries Salem's Lot,[2] and had a supporting role in the drama series Rush in 2008. He has also appeared in BeastMaster, Blue Heelers,[3] and feature film The Jammed.
In 2013, he appeared as Thomas with Libby Munro as Vanda in a production of David Ives' 2010 play Venus in Fur by the Queensland Theatre Company in Brisbane.[4]
MacDonald was co-founder and artistic director of The Store Room Theatre in Melbourne in 1999.[3] He went on to become an artistic associate of the Queensland Theatre Company from 2011 to 2014, and CEO and artistic director of La Boite Theatre Company in Brisbane, from 2015 until 2020.[2][5]
In 2024, MacDonald appeared in the television film A Vintage Christmas as Mayor Mitchell.[6]
Personal life
MacDonald is married to Queensland performer Rebecca McIntosh, whom he met while she was hosting Love TV at the Edinburgh Festival. They have twin daughters.[7][8]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Sahara | Mike Clarkson | Television film |
| 1996–1998, 2004–2005, 2007–2008 |
Neighbours | Darren Stark | Series regular |
| 2000 | Virtual Nightmare | Bob | Television film |
| 2000 | On the Beach | Radioman Giles | Television film |
| 2001 | BeastMaster | Breon | Episode: "The Crystal Ark" |
| 2001–2003 | The Secret Life of Us | Nathan Lieberman | Recurring |
| 2001 | Blue Heelers | Snr Constable Simon Barclay | Episode: "Letter of the Law" |
| 2004 | Salem's Lot | Floyd Tibbits | Miniseries |
| 2005 | Blue Heelers | Brendan Maguire | Recurring |
| 2007 | The King | Richard Croft | Television film |
| 2008 | Rush | Connor Barry | Recurring |
| 2009 | Snake Tales | ||
| 2009–2010 | Satisfaction | Bernie | Recurring |
| 2010 | Tangle | Paul | Recurring |
| 2011 | Bed of Roses | Conrad | Episode: "Laid Bare" |
| 2019 | The Family Law | Ross | Episode: "Dancing in the Dark" |
| 2022 | Darby and Joan | Nick | Episode 1.3 |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Bum Magnet | Judd | Short film |
| 2001 | Martin Four | Martin | Short film |
| 2002 | The Thing in the Roof | Willie | Short film |
| 2002 | Guru Wayne | David Fisher | Feature film |
| 2007 | The Jammed | Tom | Feature film |
| 2008 | Belladonna | Luke | Feature film |
| 2009 | Welcome to the Cosmos | Rob | Short film |
| 2010 | Don't Be Afraid of the Dark | Creature (voice) | Feature film |
| 2010 | The Pier | Joel | Short film |
| 2021 | Thea Goes to Town | Hal | Short film |
| 2024 | Audrey | Ranch Hand | Feature film |
| 2024 | A Vintage Christmas | Mayor Mitchell | |
Theatre
As actor
| Year | Title | Role | Venue / Company |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Summer of the Aliens | Lewis | NIDA Parade Theatre |
| Hanjo | Actor | NIDA Parade Theatre | |
| 1993 | The Skin of Our Teeth | Actor | NIDA Parade Theatre |
| The Grace of Mary Traverse | Lord Exrake / Guard | NIDA Parade Theatre | |
| All's Well That Ends Well | Actor | NIDA Parade Theatre | |
| A House is Built | William | NIDA Parade Theatre | |
| 1994 | The Art of Success | Actor | NIDA Parade Theatre |
| The Adding Machine | Actor | NIDA Parade Theatre | |
| Appetite | Actor | Fairfax Studio, Melbourne, with NIDA for Melbourne Fringe Festival | |
| 1996 | Venus and Adonis | Actor | State Theatrette, Sydney for Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras |
| 1999 | The Language of the Gods | Theo Braak | Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne, with Playbox Theatre Company |
| Remembrance Day | Performer | Victorian Trades Hall with La Mama, Melbourne | |
| 2002 | Screaming in America: The Bill Hicks Project | Actor | Store Room, Melbourne, for Melbourne International Comedy Festival |
| 2003 | Ride | Actor | Store Room, Melbourne |
| 2004 | Julia 3 | Charlie | Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne, with Playbox Theatre Company |
| 2004; 2006 | Blowback | Actor | St Kilda Army & Navy Club Memorial Hall, Melbourne, with NYID, Sydney Opera House |
| 2005; 2007 | Construction of the Human Heart | 'Him' | Store Room, Melbourne, Tower Theatre, Melbourne, Belvoir Theatre, Sydney, Frankston Arts Centre, Colac Otways Performing Arts &Cultural Centre |
| 2007 | Make Me Cry | Actor | Fortyfivedownstairs, Melbourne |
| 2008 | Lovers and Haters | Actor | Norwood Concert Hall for Adelaide Festival |
| The Dispossessed | Performer | Seoul Arts Centre, South Korea | |
| 2008; 2009 | Strangeland | Performer | Seoul Arts Centre, South Korea, Arts House Meat Market, Melbourne |
| 2009 | Progress and Melancholy | Actor | Fortyfivedownstairs, Melbourne |
| 2010 | Bare Witness | Jacek | Fortyfivedownstairs, Melbourne, with La Mama |
| 2013 | Venus in Fur | Thomas | Cremorne Theatre with Queensland Theatre Company |
| 2014 | The Button Event | One Man Show | Bille Brown Studio with Queensland Theatre for Brisbane Festival |
| 2015; 2016 | Uncle Vanya | Dr Astrov | Watford House, Avoca, Corinella Eganstown with La Mama |
| 2016 | The Tragedy of King Richard III | Shakespeare | Roundhouse Theatre, Brisbane, with La Boite Theatre Company |
| 2018 | The Mathematics of Longing | Physicist father | Roundhouse Theatre, Brisbane, with La Boite Theatre Company |
As director
| Year | Title | Role | Venue / Company |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | The Conquest of the South Pole | Director | The Store Room, Melbourne |
| 2007 | Top Town | Director | Melbourne Town Hall for Melbourne International Comedy Festival |
| Scenes from our Loungeroom | Director | Northcote Town Hall, Melbourne, for Melbourne International Comedy Festival | |
| Cinderella Sux | Director | Meeting Room, Melbourne for Melbourne Fringe Festival | |
| 2009 | The Dictionary of Imaginary Places | Producer | Arts House, Meat Market with The Store Room, Melbourne[9] |
| 2011 | An Oak Tree | Director | Bille Brown Theatre with Queensland Theatre |
| 2012; 2015 | Kelly | Director | Cremorne Theatre, Brisbane, Gasworks Theatre, Melbourne, Butter Factory Theatre, Wodonga with Queensland Theatre |
| 2014 | The Mountaintop | Director | Playhouse, Brisbane with Queensland Theatre |
| 2015 | Medea | Director | Roundhouse Theatre, Brisbane, with La Boite Theatre Company |
| 2015; 2017; 2018 | Prize Fighter | Director | Roundhouse Theatre, Brisbane, Belvoir Street Theatre, Sydney, Logan Entertainment Centre, Northcote Town Hall, Melbourne, IMB Theatre, Wollongong with La Boite Theatre Company |
| 2016 | When One Door Closes | Dramaturge | Roundhouse Theatre, Brisbane, with La Boite Theatre Company |
| A Streetcar Named Desire | Director | Roundhouse Theatre, Brisbane, with La Boite Theatre Company | |
| 2017 | Blackrock | Director | Roundhouse Theatre, Brisbane, with La Boite Theatre Company & QUT |
| 2017; 2018 | The Village | Director | Roundhouse Theatre, Brisbane, with La Boite Theatre Company |
| 2017; 2020 | Laser Beak Man | Dramaturge | Roundhouse Theatre with La Boite Theatre Company for Brisbane Festival, Sydney Opera House for Sydney Festival |
| 2018 | The Mathematics of Longing | Creator | Roundhouse Theatre, Brisbane, with La Boite Theatre Company |
| 2019 | Single Asian Female | Roundhouse Theatre, Brisbane, with La Boite Theatre Company | |
| Romeo and Juliet | Director | Roundhouse Theatre, Brisbane, with La Boite Theatre Company | |
| 2020 | The Neighbourhood | Creator | Roundhouse Theatre, Brisbane, with La Boite Theatre Company |
- Source:[10]