Class of ’92: Where are they now?

As the 25th anniversary episode of our longestrunning soap airs tonight, entertainment editor Joanna Hunkin charts the fortunes of the original 1992 cast. For many, 1992 will be remembered as the year Bill Clinton became US President, Charles and Di split and Bosnia Herzogovina declared independence, sparking a threeyear war. But here in New Zealand it will be remembered as the year

Shortland Street was born, becoming our first enduring local TV drama. While initial reviews weren’t great, it wasn’t long before

Shorty became appointment viewing for Kiwis and the stars became household names. Here, we look back at the original cast of the 1992 premiere and find out whether there is life after Shorty.

1) Karl Burnett: Nick Harrison

Karl Burnett was just 15 when he joined the cast of Shortland

Street, remaining part of the cast for 13 years as Nick Harrison. In 2005, he left the soap — later returning to train as a boom operator on set. He went on to work as a motoring journalist and produced his own film, Captain Amazingly Incredible and the Space Vampires from the Evil Planet. Despite the catchy name, the film wasn’t a success. Distributed by Arkles Entertainment, it was reportedly their worst-selling release on record.

2) Michael Galvin: Chris Warner

Is there life after Shortland Street? Michael Galvin has yet to find out. Despite leaving in 1996 and moving to London, Galvin returned in 2000 and has been a permanent fixture ever since. This year saw Galvin become a viral sensation when he uttered the now infamous line: “Please tell me that is not your penis.” After that career high, things aren’t looking so good for Galvin, with writers reportedly plotting a serious illness for his character, which may or may not be terminal.

3) Andrew Binns: Steve Mills

Part of the original cast, nurse Steve Mills met a fiery end in 1994 when he died in an exploding car, alongside Sam’s wife, T.P. Played by Andrew Binns (who also goes by the name Andrew Robertt), Binns has continued to act, playing various supporting roles in local productions. Most recently, he starred in the Amazon Prime series American Playboy: The Hugh Hefner Story, which was filmed in NZ.

4) Rene Naufahu: Sam Aleni

Rene Naufahu, who left Shorty in 1996, has enjoyed a successful acting career. He has starred in local and international productions, including small roles in two of the Matrix trilogy films. In 2014, he earned international acclaim for his feature debut

The Last Saint, which he wrote and directed. This year, Naufahu was named as the Kiwi actor charged with 14 counts of indecent assault and two charges of sexual violation against six women. A trial is set down for September.

5) Danielle Cormack: Alison Raynor

The most successful female graduate of Shortland Street’s class of 92, Danielle Cormack left the soap in 1993 and has become one of Australia’s most prolific actors, carrying the lead role in the hugely successful prison drama series Wentworth, as well as

star turns in Rake and Underbelly: Razor.

6) Adrian Keeling: Tom Neilson

Father of Stuart and husband of Marj, Adrian Keeling’s character Tom Neilson lasted only a year on the Street before he left his family and eventually died of a heart attack. Offscreen, Keeling continued to act sporadically, landing minor roles in local productions. Now aged 76, Keeling is still listed with talent agency Auckland Actors.

7) Maggie Harper: Jenny Harrison

By the time Maggie Harper left Shortland

Street in 1998, she was one of only two original cast members still working on the soap. Harper went on to become a qualified counsellor and Feldenkrais practitioner (a teaching method that uses movement to function). These days she specialises in grief, trauma and relationship counselling, based in Grey Lynn.

8) Stephanie Wilkin: Dr Meredith Fleming

Stephanie Wilkin played Dr Meredith Fleming for two years before riding into the sunset with her partner Annie (the Street’s first lesbian storyline) in 1994. These days she runs acting workshops at Artworks Theatre on Waiheke Island.

9) Nancy Brunning: Jaki Manu

Nancy Brunning spent two years on Shortland Street as nurse Jaki Manu before forging a successful career as an actor and playwright. In 1999, she was named best actress at the NZ Film Awards for her role in What Becomes of the Broken Hearted and was nominated again in 2009 for Strength of Water. In 2015, she debuted her first play, Hikoi, at the Auckland Arts Festival.

10) Paul Gittins: Dr Michael McKenna

Father of Rachel, Paul Gittins’ character Michael McKenna was the original CEO of

Shortland Street. After leaving the show in 1995, Gittins went on to star in the locally produced US series

Xena and Hercules, as well as starring in local dramas and Harry City Life

and hosting the factual series Epitaph and Shipwreck.

Acting clearly runs in the blood, with Gittins’ son Calum (whose mother Philippa Boyens cowrote The Lord of the

Rings script) later joining Shortland

Street as Jake Valentine.

11) Temuera Morrison: Dr Hone Ropata

Arguably the biggest star to graduate from the Street, Temuera Morrison left it in 1995, after earning critical acclaim for his lead role in Once Were Warriors. He has since landed roles in major Hollywood films including Speed 2: Cruise Control and Star Wars, while regularly returning home to feature in films including River Queen and Mt Zion. In 2005 he starred in The Tem Show, before Hone Ropata returned to the Street in 2008. He featured in recent Disney hit Moana and is working on blockbuster Aquaman.

12) Lisa Crittenden: Carrie Burton

She was the fearsome head nurse, famous for reprimanding doctors, nurses and patients alike. In 1995, having mothered triplets (via a sperm donation from Chris Warner) Carrie Burton fled to Australia to escape her husband Declan’s criminal associates. In real life Lisa Crittenden, an Aussie, followed suit, returning to Australia with her husband and children. In 2006, it was reported that she was working as the personal assistant to the chief executive of Australia Post. Recent attempts to contact Crittenden have been unsuccessful.

13) Elizabeth McRae: Marjorie Neilson

Also returning to the Street tonight is 80-year-old Elizabeth McRae, who plays Marj. The octogenarian is still an active member of New Zealand’s theatre, film and television community, recently starring in The Brokenwood Mysteries. In 2006 she was made an Officer of the NZ Order of Merit for her services to theatre.

14) Martin Henderson: Stuart Neilson

With brooding looks to rival Luke Perry, Martin Henderson was the Street’s original teen heartthrob. In 1992, Herald critic Barry Shaw wrote: “If Shortland Street was an American soap, Henderson would be a superstar by now”. In 1995 he left to realise that potential, heading to Australia then Hollywood. His list of film and TV credits includes The Ring, Bride and Prejudice and Grey’s Anatomy. Tonight Henderson returns to the Street for the official 25th anniversary special. See TimeOut for our exclusive interview.

15) Josephine Davison: Gina Rossi-Dodds

After three years playing Gina, Josephine Davison left Shortland Street in 1995. She continues to have a successful career in both theatre and on the screen, starring in several local productions including Outrageous Fortune, City Life and Orange Roughies.

16) Angela Dotchin: Kirsty Knight

After six years as receptionist Kirsty Knight, Angela Dotchin went on to star in Young Hercules and Lawless. After splitting with her longterm partner Temuera Morrison, Dotchin left New Zealand for Britain, quitting acting in the process. In 2015 it was reported she was enjoying a glamorous life, travelling across Europe and working in the fashion industry.