Joel McIlroy

Joel McIlroy (born 8 August 1973 in Sydney) is an Australian actor, known for being the second actor to take on the role of Flynn Saunders, a character of the popular soap opera Home and Away.[1] McIlroy took over the role of Flynn in 2003 after Martin Dingle-Wall left the role in 2002.

Joel McIlroy
Born (1973-08-08) 8 August 1973
Sydney, Australia
OccupationActor
Years active1996–present
Notable workHome and Away (2003–2006)

Early life

Joel McIlroy grew up in the Northern Beaches area of Sydney. McIlroy first appeared in various productions with the Forest Youth Theatre Company, acting in musicals from the age of 16 to 18. After starring in a Year 11 musical production with his high school, McIlroy decided that he wanted to become an actor. While still at school McIlroy went to the USA and studied in Los Angeles for six months. He later travelled around Europe before returning to Sydney to study acting.

At 20, McIlroy enrolled in the Australian Theatre for Young People (ATYP) and after completing four years' study has had acting roles in theatre and television ever since. McIlroy appeared in the plays, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Henry V (both by Shakespeare) and The Hour We Knew Nothing of Each Other. He worked at student jobs to support himself during those years.

Career

Many years later, he is still connected with the "Theatre for Young People." After appearing in the short film, The Beat Manifesto,[2] for the Australian Film and Television School (North Ryde, Sydney), McIlroy was nominated for an AFI Award. He also won the Lend Lease Scholarship from the "Australian Theatre for Young People." McIlroy enrolled in a director's course with the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA). His acting career spanned various plays and guest roles in television: Water Rats (1996), All Saints (1998), as Brent Duffy for four episodes of the ABC TV drama Love Is a Four-Letter Word (2001), also as Bertie Jenkins in the ABC mini series Changi (2001) and as Chook in the feature film, Angst (2000).

He also directed two Sam Shepherd plays,[3] Action and Fool for Love.

McIlroy's acting career really took off when he joined Home and Away to replace Martin Dingle-Wall as 'Flynn Saunders'. In 2006 he was nominated for a Silver Logie Award for the most popular actor on Australian television.[4] After becoming the husband of Sally Fletcher (Kate Ritchie), Flynn Saunders died of skin cancer, after stopping chemotherapy so he could die peacefully at home.[5]

In 2007, he appeared in "Lion Pig Lion" at the Dunstan Playhouse in Adelaide with actress Carmel Johnson.[6][7]

Arrest

On 23 October 2019, McIlroy appeared in court after allegedly assaulting a female police officer in an unprovoked attack. In a statement, NSW Police said the 29-year-old senior constable was left with injuries to her face, neck and shoulder after she was allegedly punched repeatedly by McIlroy.[8]

Filmography
Film
Year Title Role Notes
1995 The Beat Manifesto Hamish Mitchell Short
2000 Angst Chook
2007 My Last Ten Hours with You Jeremy Short[lower-alpha 1]
2018 The 5th Shadow Henry Blank
Television
Year Title Role Notes
1994 Home and Away Dangerous Driver Season 7, Episode 80
1995 Police Rescue Terry Season 4, Episode 7
1998 Water Rats Eddie Olejarnick Season 3, Episode 18
1999 Heartbreak High Brad Season 7, Episode 9
2000 All Saints Case Harpur Season 3, Episode 15
2001 Love Is a Four Letter Word Brent Duffy Season 1, Episodes 15, 18, 20, 21 & 22
2001 Changi Bertie Jenkins Miniseries (6 episodes)
2002 All Saints Frank Theros Season 5, Episode 40
2003–06 Home and Away Flynn Saunders Seasons 16–19 (main cast, 78 episodes)
2003 Home and Away: Hearts Divided Video special
2012 Dance Academy Motorcycle Instructor Season 2, Episode 22

Notes
  1. Also released as a segment for the 2011 film Boys on Film 6: Pacific Rim

References
  1. The year that was
  2. "The Beat Manifesto (1995)". BFI. Archived from the original on 1 April 2019. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  3. Brantley, Ben (31 July 2017). "Sam Shepard, Actor and Pulitzer-Winning Playwright, Is Dead at 73". The New York Times. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  4. Last hurrah for moonface?
  5. "Home And Away's most heartbreaking cancer storylines". Now To Love. 1 August 2016. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  6. Company, State Theatre (1 August 2007). ""Lion Pig Lion"". Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  7. Frankie (25 August 2007). "Joel McIlroy on Stage – News – Home and Away". Back to the Bay. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  8. "Home And Away star allegedly bashes female cop". News.com.au. 23 October 2019. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
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