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All Saints Actor Mark Priestley Dead

Editorial Review

Editorial Review

Sad news today for All Saints fans and the television industry upon hearing that Mark Priestley, who played male nurse Dan Goldman, has died.

Priestley, 32, is believed to have suffered from depression. Early media reports claim that last night (27 August), Priestley took his own life.

Priestley joined All Saints in 2004 following a successful stint in the much acclaimed ABC drama Changi. He also appeared in Blue Heelers and performed with the Sydney Theatre Company and the Bell Shakespeare Company.

His death has shocked colleagues at the Seven Network, who only recently had to deal with the real life assault on actress Virginia Gay.

Priestley was one of the show's much-loved characters. On Tuesday night (26 August) he was the focus of a major storyline, which saw him turn hero on the day of his wedding. When 'Dan Goldman' was tied to a post as part of a bucks' party gag, he had to watch his mates become the victims of a road collision. As is the nature of the soap, he found himself at the centre of a major accident on the day of his wedding.

As Dr. Frank Campion (John Howard) said to him, “You were put in a position through no fault of your own where you had to save lives, and you did that. So if that means that you're not going to marry the girl that you love, maybe you should just do her a favour and walk away? Or else you can stop being a bloody idiot and go and get married.”

By the end of the episode Dan was indeed having the perfect soapie wedding with on-again, off-again girlfriend Erica (Jolene Anderson).

In one of the many Australian television dramas that shoots so far in advance, Priestley will remain in storylines for some weeks to come. As a principle character it will be difficult for producers to edit around his character, given he will be central to so many other storylines. Ultimately, the network may opt to leave the episodes untouched as a respect for his work.

The death of the young actor follows the tragedy of TEN newsreader Charmaine Dragun last year, who was also in the spotlight but battling with depression.

For help contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.

David Knox for Citysearch, August 2008

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