Brian Rooney (born 2 November 1972) is a Northern Irish-born Australian actor with film, television and stage credits. He is best known for his childhood television performances, in particular the part of Michael Winters in G.P.. He appeared in the children's television productions of The Ferals as Leonard, and Spellbinder as Alex Katsonis.Profile, Australian Television Information Archive website; retrieved 10 August 2010.Brian Rooney profile, imdb.com; retrieved 10 August 2010.
Career Rooney first appeared on Australian television on Network 10 in Adelaide, South Australia on the Grundy Television show Pot Luck. He sang Take My Breath Away, but lost to Roy Handley, who performed the Acker Bilk song Stranger on the Shore. Both Handley and Rooney were told by the show's celebrity judge, Adelaide based TV and radio personality Anne Wills, that they should try acting as they had the "face for television". Consequently, Rooney auditioned with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation for a role on G.P..
Rooney began his career playing the street-wise urchin Gavroche in the Australian stage production of Les Misérables. Soon after, he went on to play the character Tommy Franco, alongside Dolph Lundgren and Louis Gossett Jr., in the 1989 feature film The Punisher.
As a child actor, Rooney became best known on Australian television during the early 1990s for his long-running role of Michael Winters in the ABC-TV series G.P.,Australian Television Information Archive G.P.. Retrieved 10 August 2010. and as Brendan Maloney in the 1991 miniseries Brides of Christ.Brides of Christ profile, Australian Television Information Archive website; retrieved 10 August 2010. He has appeared in a number of television films including The Rogue Stallion (1990), The Phantom Horseman (1991), and Pirates Island (1991).TV Australia – Sons and Daughters to Sylvania Waters , memorabletv.com; retrieved 10 August 2010.
More recently Rooney played the role of Cedric in the 2001 children's television series Escape of the Artful Dodger. In 2010, he guest starred as the character Jones in Rescue: Special Ops (Season 2, Episode 12).Brian Rooney profile , www3.showcast.com.au; retrieved 10 August 2010.
Filmography Film TitleYearRoleNotesThe Punisher1989 Tommy Franco Feature film Charcoal1999Kev Short filmThe Great Gatsby2013 Clerk – Probity Trust Feature film
Television TitleYearRoleNotesRafferty's Rules1988Tommy1 episodeG.P.1989-95Main role Recurring role Guest role 133 episodesThe Rogue Stallion1990 TV filmBrides of Christ1991Miniseries2 episodesPirates Island1990JimTV filmThe Phantom Horseman1991TobyTV filmMission Top Secret1991JimTV filmThe Ferals1994–95LeonardMain roleSpellbinder1995Main roleBig Sky1997Jigger1 episodeAll Saints19981 episodeKings in Grass Castles1998J. W. (aged 19)Miniseries1 episodeMurder Call1999Nero1 episodeEscape of the Artful Dodger2001Cedric1 episodeRescue: Special Ops20101 episodeTricky Business20121 episodeThe Moodys2014Benji1 episodeMr Inbetween2021Dan1 episode
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