Shane Withington


Shane Withington is an Australian actor, notable for roles in theatre, television, and film.

Career

Withington is best known for roles in TV serials, starting with his role as Brendan Jones, a farmer, nurse, and subsequently the Deputy Matron of the fictional Wandin Valley in the television series A Country Practice from the piot in 1981 until 1986. Withington first appeared in TV serial Home and Away as a guest character called Colin, before being given the permanent role of cranky but warm-hearted surf lifesaver and patrol officer John Palmer in 2009, initially as a 3-month stand-alone stint; he'd been in the role for ten years by 2019.
In 1984, Withington appeared as motorcycle cop Fred "Speedy" Norton in the film Queen of the Road, alongside Joanne Samuel and Amanda Muggleton.
He has also featured in Willing and Abel, as Abel Moore, and the sitcom The Family Business.
He had a guest star appearance in the film Strange Bedfellows in 2004.
In 2008, he was in the BBC drama Out of the Blue, playing the detective in charge of investigating a murder.
Withington co-starred in the play The Boys Next Door in 1992.

Personal life

Withington was born in Toowoomba, Queensland to a cowgirl mother, who was the daughter of a drover and an English father who worked in food processing and was a nightclub singer and champion first grade soccer player in Queensland.
After being expelled from school, Withington worked as a horsesman and jackaroo, before auditioning an acting scholarship with the Elizabethan Quest Scholarship at 16. He toured with the Twelfth Night Theatre.
Withington lives in the Pittwater area of Sydney's Northern Beaches and led a community campaign to preserve the Currawong Workers' Holiday Camp.
Withington is married to actress Anne Tenney, who played his character's wife Molly Jones on A Country Practice.

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1988Black TulipVoice role
1991Roy's RaidersBazza
2004Strange BedfellowsFather Xavier Delaney
2018The ConfessionFather ShaneShort
2023ButterFarmerShort

YearTitleRoleNotes
1978Chopper SquadWilliam "Mac" McKennaSeason 2, episode 3
1978Glenview HighEdward LanderSeason 1, episode 13
1981–1986A Country PracticeBrendan JonesMain cast
1984Queen of the RoadFred "Speedy" NortonTV movie
1987Willing and AbelAbel Moore26 episodes
1987–1988The Flying DoctorsMike Lancaster9 episodes
1989The Family BusinessTerry Jackson13 episodes
1997Water RatsDet. Insp. Gordon Withers2 episodes
1997ReprisalCharlieTV movie
1998WildsideAlan GreySeason 1, episode 13
1999Dog's Head BayBob Grant13 episodes
2005All SaintsBob "Smithy" SmithSeason 8, episode 29
2005Blinky Bill's White ChristmasSly and Johnny RabbitTV movie
Voice role
2006Home and AwayColin PageGuest
2006–2010Dive Olly Dive!Various characters56 episodes
2007Rain ShadowHarry GreeneMiniseries
2007Gumnutz: A Juicy TaleTV movie
Voice role
2008Out of the BlueD.S. Simon Wilson43 episodes
2008–2009Milly, MollyNarratorTwo seasons
2009–presentHome and AwayJohn PalmerMain cast
2017, 2019Drop Dead WeirdWilmot Fogie / Mr O'Shea2 episodes
2024Last Days of the Space AgeSpider2 episodes