Alan Fletcher (actor)

Alan Fletcher (born 30 March 1957) is an Australian actor of stage, television and film. He is also a musician. He is best known for his role as Karl Kennedy in long-running soap opera Neighbours, and Harry Stinson, Kim's adoptive father in Lift Off. Along with co-star Jackie Woodburne who plays his wife, they are two of the series most popular and longest serving cast. Fletcher is also the 3rd longest serving actor in an Australian television serial, after Home and Away actors Ray Meagher and Lynne McGranger

Alan Fletcher
Fletcher at a Neighbours Night event in 2001
Born (1957-03-30) 30 March 1957
Perth, Western Australia, Australia
OccupationActor
Musician
Known forNeighbours – Karl Kennedy
Lift Off – Harry Stinson
Spouse(s)Jennifer Hansen (m. 1990)
Children2
Websitehttp://www.alanfletcher.net

Career

Fletcher was born in Perth, Western Australia, and attended Wesley College in Perth, his first widely seen role was in police drama Cop Shop from 1982 until production ceased the following year. Prior to this, he appeared in a few episodes of the US series The Love Boat (1981) and various Australian feature films, TV movies, and miniseries including Fran and Mercy Mission.[1] He briefly acted in Neighbours in 1987 as Greg Cooper, a run-down, dishonest boxer working in Jim Robinson's (Alan Dale) garage.[2] In 1994, Fletcher successfully auditioned for the role of Karl Kennedy in the soap, a role which he continues to play.[2]

In 2005, Fletcher starred as Henry Higgins in a production of My Fair Lady at the Melbourne Comedy Theatre. He is also a prominent member of the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance, a role which saw him become a vocal critic of the 2004 US-Australia Free Trade Agreement, including an appearance on the political talk-show Meet the Press.

In 2008, Fletcher starred as Frank McGee in the workshop performance season of Call Girl the Musical and as Captain Hook in the Pantomime Peter Pan at His Majesty's Theatre, Aberdeen.[3]

In 2011, Fletcher spent time in Old Melbourne Gaol to raise money for the charity Whitelion. In order to break out, Fletcher and fellow Neighbours cast members Stefan Dennis, Jordy Lucas and Valentina Novakovic had to each raise $1,000.[4]

In May 2013, along with Saskia Hampele, he presented the award of Best Newcomer to Joseph Thompson at the British Soap Awards.[5] Fletcher appeared in a documentary special celebrating Neighbours' 30th anniversary titled Neighbours 30th: The Stars Reunite, which aired in Australia and the UK in March 2015.[6][7]

Musical career
Fletcher performing at the Barfly Club, Aberdeen, December 2008

Fletcher is also the lead singer in a band called Waiting Room, with other members including Tommy Rando, Chris Hawker and drummer Jeff Consi. They have toured the United Kingdom several times. With a handful of their own songs they incorporate a selection of cover versions into their set. Fletcher also covers Smokie's "Living Next Door to Alice", substituting Alice, for "Susan", his on-screen wife (Jackie Woodburne). Their single, So Wrong, was released on iTunes on 26 November 2007, followed by their album, Live at the Elephant, on 17 December 2007.

On 30 November 2007, Fletcher performed a cover of Oasis' "Wonderwall" for BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge.[8]

In December 2008, Fletcher played a solo gig in Aberdeen, playing a mixture of covers and Waiting Room material. He followed this with a second gig in the city on 3 January 2009 at The Lemon Tree.

On 15 May 2009, Fletcher announced via his official website that he was to tour the UK with a new band, The X-Rays due to the economic situation of bringing Waiting Room with him. The tour took place in September and October 2009 and featured some original Waiting Room material. The X-Rays are UK based musicians Johnny Lucas, Chris Hanby and Martin Stewart. Fletcher continues to perform each week in Melbourne with Waiting Room.

In September 2010, Fletcher announced on his official website that he will be touring the UK with Tommy Rando in November and December of that year.[9] On 28 November 2010, during his UK tour, Fletcher appeared on The Xtra Factor to discuss the potential winners of the show.[9]

In September 2012, Fletcher played a charity gig at the Shepherd's Bush branch of the pub chain Walkabout in aid of Blue September, a charity raising funds for cancer research.[10]

Fletcher was a contestant on the UK TV show Soapstar Superstar, in January 2007 finishing in sixth place.[11] He performed the following songs:

In 2013, Fletcher released a Christmas single, If You Want A Happy Christmas, on which he collaborated with The Pacific Belles.

Photography and travel

In 2018, Fletcher combined his interests in travel and photography in a reality television program Photo Number 6. Fletcher explores the world with actor and director, Stig Wemyss, as they seek travel experiences that go beyond the tourist guidebook and delve into the heart and soul of the places. They look for photographic images that encapsulate emotion, geography and human connections.[12]

Personal life

Fletcher's wife is former Network Ten Melbourne newsreader Jennifer Hansen and they have two children.[13] Fletcher supports Essendon Football Club and Liverpool Football Club.[14]

Fletcher is an ambassador for Blue September, a charity that raises awareness of all cancers that can affect men. In 2011, Fletcher helped launch the charity in Britain.[15]

References
  1. Amazon.com: Mercy Mission: The Rescue of Flight 771 [VHS]: Scott Bakula, Robert Loggia, Rebecca Rigg, Alan Fletcher, Michael Bishop, Kit Taylor, Roger Young: Movies & TV.
  2. "Doctor beat – Lifestyle – Doncaster Free Press". Doncaster Free Press. Johnston Press. 6 December 2007. Retrieved 9 March 2011.
  3. Brown, Mark (21 December 2008). "Theatre: Having a ball". The Herald. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
  4. "Jordy Lucas is doing time for Break Out". Herald Sun. 19 May 2011. Retrieved 3 March 2013.
  5. Brown, David (19 May 2013). "British Soap Awards 2013: the winners in full". Radio Times. Retrieved 19 May 2013.
  6. Knox, David (28 February 2015). "Airdate: Neighbours 30th: The Stars Reunite". TV Tonight. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  7. Kilkelly, Daniel (4 March 2015). "Neighbours 30th anniversary schedule confirmed by Channel 5". Digital Spy. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
  8. "Alan Fletcher in the Live Lounge – 30 Nov 07". BBC. 30 November 2007. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
  9. "Dr Karl goes Walkabout". Channel Five. Holy Soap. 26 November 2010. Archived from the original on 30 November 2010. Retrieved 28 November 2010.
  10. "Judi Spiers Show". BBC Radio Devon. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
  11. "Alan is shown the Soapstar door". What's On TV. 11 January 2007. Archived from the original on 30 August 2012. Retrieved 9 March 2011.
  12. "Photo Number 6". Mezzanine Films. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  13. Nowakowski, Jake. "The Cup Premiere". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
  14. Willmer, Kaz (June 2005). "Review: Dr Karl's Band!". BBC. Retrieved 9 March 2011.
  15. "Alan goes blue for September – Neighbours – Channel 5". Channel Five. Archived from the original on 20 March 2012. Retrieved 29 August 2011.
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