Peter Feeney

Notes

SHORT BIO AND REVIEWS BIO – PETER FEENEY Peter has acted in TV, film & theatre since 1994, appearing at the Fortune, Court & Circa theatres in New Zealand & The Queensland Theatre Company in Australia; his acclaimed one man show A Night with Beau Tyler toured in 2008 & 2009 to 30 centres around New Zealand. Peter has worked or trained at different times with Cicely Berry (Royal Shakespeare Company) and Bob Benedetti (US Television producer and Broadway Theatre Director), Rob Marchand (Australian teacher and director) and Dean Carey (Director, Actors Centre Australia). Peter’s credits include Kiwi films Toy Love and the zombie hit Black Sheep; Australian television appearances in All Saints, Stingers & A Difficult Woman (ABC); and recent roles in the tele-feature Siege and the comedies Agent Anna & Auckland Daze. He has guested on UK TV (including Dark Knight and Cold Feet) and in numerous US TV & tele-features. 2015 has been a busy year for Peter. He played Rose Noelle skipper John Glennie alongside Dominic Purcell (Prison Break) in the tele-feature Abandoned, now enjoying an international release. He also appeared in a leading role in the NZ children’s TV drama Cul de Sac and a two episode guest role in the hit US TV series and Bruce Campbell vehicle Ash vs Evil Dead (AVED). He has just been cast in an ongoing role in the Melbourne-based US TV series Hunters. AVED is just the latest of Peter’s regular outings for the Tapert/ Raimi Film and TV franchise. He worked alongside Bruce Campbell in Hercules and Xena (as Bruce’s acting stand in and acting double), was cast in an ongoing role in Cleopatra 2025 alongside Gina Torres, and appeared in prominent roles in Legend of the Seeker, the Spartacus prequel and with Josh Hartnett in 30 Days of Night. Peter also works as a director, casting director, writer and teacher of acting. He is a published author (Blind Bitter Happiness, Harper Collins), an occasional writer for NZ publications such as North & South and the Sunday Star Times, and a regular travel writer for NZ’s biggest daily newspaper, The NZ Herald. Peter has also written several screenplays. In 2015 Peter directed and performed in the Ian Meadows’ climate change play Between Two Waves at the Herald Theatre in Auckland. Previous directorial outings include Green Room and the Australian play Milo’s Wake, in which he also played the title role. Peter was casting director for the TV series The Amazing Extraordinary Friends and the John Harris short film Every Little Thing. As a show-runner he has two documentary TV series of his own currently optioned: one with Greenstone Pictures/ Jigsaw in Australasia and another with Icon Films UK. Since 2001 in Australia and New Zealand Peter has taught professional and aspiring actors. He is passionate about his teaching and the need for actors to develop a solid technique if they are to endure in the profession. He runs his own Auckland Teaching Studio and is a regular guest tutor at the Auckland Drama School The Actors Program. He has an Honours degree in Politics & History from the University of Melbourne (1991) and a Diploma in Drama from the University of Auckland (1993). Peter was Nominee for Best Actor in the 2003 NZ Film Awards for his lead role in the film The Platform. Peter is the proud father of three children – Arlo (8), Frankie (6) & Tilly (3). His CV & show reel is on Showcast or http://www.kractors.co.nz/detailsx.php?act_id=14. He is based in Auckland and Melbourne. REVIEWS/ ENDORSEMENTS ACTOR "Performing as both an actor and director, Feeney succeeds admirably as the proud mentor, stalwart friend and the disappointed colleague as he watches his prime student unravel in a world that seems have done away with integrity. Extremely personable, his character strikes a remarkably genuine note that balances much of the see-saw shifts in the play." -Theatreview (Between Two Waves). "Actor-director Peter Feeney is charismatic as Milo." -NZ Herald (Milo's Wake). "Feeney as the square-jawed Angus is a perfect blend of mad scientist and Kiwi landed gentry." -NZ Herald (Black Sheep, FF). "Peter Feeney's finely judged performance as the klutzy protagonist elicits considerable sympathy... his encounters provide an instructive journey of self-discovery." -NZ Herald (The Last of the Red Hot Lovers). "Feeney’s parody of the self-help phenomenon was spot on. 5/5" -Nelson Mail (A Night with Beau Tyler). "Feeney is an absolute joy to watch." -Aint it Cool.com (Black Sheep, FF). "Feeney turns in a magnificent performance." -Otago Daily Times (Milo's Wake). "Peter Feeney delivers a colorfully nasty lead villain… a certified Kiwi answer to Bruce Campbell." -Scott Weinberg, EfilmCritic (Black Sheep, FF). "A wonderfully layered performance by Peter Feeney." -NZ Listener (Milo's Wake). "Special credit given to Feeney for his lecherous performance as the evil Angus, who will let nothing get his way of being the richest farmer in the land, long-term effects be damned ..." -Johnny Butane, Dread Central (Black Sheep, FF). WRITER "A triumphant debut. It is hilarious from the outset: Blind Bitter Happiness became known as the giggle book in my household within a matter of two pages." -NZ Listener. "One of the funniest books I have read in years." -Evening Post. "He's turned his childhood into an amazingly funny novel - one that will appeal to members of his own generation, as well of those of us who grew up in the fifties and sixties, or even earlier." -Evening Standard. "You don't get any better or funnier than this delightful tale ... one of this year's most hilarious novels. I can't wait for a sequel." -Sunday News. TEACHER "Peter is a very gifted young actor who will always be genuinely interested in exploring his work and finding new approaches to it, and opening this out to his fellow actors." -Cicely Berry, OBE, Voice Director, Royal Shakespeare Company. "I can thoroughly recommend Peter as a marvelous proponent of the principles and Techniques he has encountered and uses himself in his acting processes. He is a gifted man with much to contribute to his profession." -Dean Carey, Director, Actors Centre Australia. "Peter brings fresh vision to his work coupled with professional wisdom and his inimitable energy." -Miranda Harcourt, Actor, Acting Coach, Ex-Head of Acting, NZ Drama School. "Peter is a gifted teacher and industry professional. I trust him implicitly with our actors for all areas of developing and maintaining their craft. He is extremely accessible, sensitive and caring." -Kathryn Rawlings, Agent, Kathryn Rawlings & Associates. AWARDS: ‘Best Web Series’, AFIN, 2021, for ‘Blind Bitter Happiness'