Darren Gilshenan is an Australian actor and writer. He is best known for his roles in television series The Moodys, Maximum Choppage, Chandon Pictures, and Full Frontal.
Early life and education Growing up in Brisbane, Darren Gilshenan was first introduced to acting through performing in a Gang Show while a Boy Scout. He realised then that acting was his passion.
Gilshenan graduated from the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA).
Career Gilshenan has also taught extensively at Australian Theatre for Young People, Bell Shakespeare and NIDA.
His early acting career includes guest roles in A Country Practice in 1992 and Police Rescue in 1993. He became a series regular (and writer) on the sketch comedy series Full Frontal in 1997. The show became Totally Full Frontal, where he remained as writer and actor in 1998 and 1999.
In 2002, he had a role in Dossa and Joe. He then had a major role in both seasons of Chandon Pictures, which aired from 2007 until 2009.
In 2010, Gilshenan guest directed Accidental Death of an Anarchist. In 2013, he starred in The Elegant Gentleman's Guide to Knife Fighting. In 2014, he starred in the comedy The Moodys and drama Rake. In 2016, he appeared on the sitcom Here Come the Habibs.
In 2023, Gilshenan was announced as part of the cast for Stan series Thou Shalt Not Steal. He also starred in Stan series Population 11. On 22 November 2024, it was announced that Gilshenan was a part of the filming for feature film Pickpockets. On 4 June 2025, Gilshenan was named as part of the extended cast for Stan series Gnomes.
Filmography
Films Year Title Role Notes 1995 Swinger John Short film 1996 Idiot Box C.E.S. Man 1998 Gristle Peter Short film Dark City Fingerprint Cop 2012 Save Your Legs! Colin 2013 Bamboozled Bamboozled Host Short film Boarders Sheppo Short film 2014 Blood Pulls a Gun Angry Motel Guest Short film 2015 Women He's Undressed Orry-Kelly Documentary2023 A Savage Christmas Uncle Dick Feature film Christmess Nick Feature film2024 Take My Hand Peter Audrey Physio 2025 Pickpockets Post production
Television Year Title Role Notes 1992 A Country Practice Malcolm Fairfax Episode: "Travelling South: Part 1" 1993 Police Rescue Nick Episode: "Wild Goose Chase" 1997 Full Frontal Various characters 20 episodes 1998–1999 Totally Full Frontal Various characters 28 episodes 2002 Dossa and Joe Wayne 6 episodes 2007–2009 Chandon Pictures Nick Brenner 16 episodes 2012 A Moody Christmas Terry Moody 6 episodes2013 The Outlaw Michael Howe Lieutenant Governor Tom Davey TV movie The Elegant Gentleman's Guide to Knife Fighting Various characters 6 episodes Top of the Lake Bob Platt 2 episodes2014 Wonderland Lyle Newell 2 episodes Devil's Playground Father Lenken Miniseries, 2 episodes Old School John Stoyanov Episode: "Easy Money" The Killing Field Brian Fleet TV movie Janet King Alex Moreno 4 episodes Rake Advisor Selwyn 6 episodes The Moodys Terry Moody Miniseries, 8 episodes 2015 Maximum Choppage Mayor Crawford 6 episodes 2015–2018 No Activity Det. Stokes Main castWriter 2016 Here Come the Habibs! Jack O'Neill 6 episodes 2018–2021 Harrow Lyle Ridgewell Livingston Fairley 30 episodes 2020 Stateless Brian Ashworth 6 episodes 2022–2026 Colin from Accounts Professor Lee 14 episodes2023 The Appleton Ladies' Potato Race Billy Pope TV movie Plausible Deniability Archbishop Muntz 2 episodes2024 Thou Shall Not Steal Mick TV series Nautilus Punch 6 episodes Population 11 Hugo Drivas 6 episodes2026Two Years LaterBill1 episode (1.5) Gnomes Mayor Lachlan Morrison TV series
Theatre
As actor Year Title Role Notes 1984 Insomnia SGIO Theatre, Brisbane 1987 The Man Who Came to Dinner NIDA Theatre, Sydney 1988 Veneer 1 1989–1990 Big River: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Tom Sawyer Australian tour1990 Moby Dick Captain Peleg Suncorp Theatre, Brisbane with QTC, Marian St Theatre, Sydney Beach Blanket Tempest Frankie / Ian Harpy Q Theatre, Penrith Wild Garden Tales (self-devised) Performer Stables Theatre, Sydney with Young at Art 1991 Hansel and Gretel Belvoir St Theatre, Sydney1992 Wet and Dry Stables Theatre, Sydney 11 PM Sharp The Adventures of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie Wild Garden Tales Ginger Meggs Ginger Meggs Victorian Arts Centre1993 Daylight Saving Jason Strutt Q Theatre, Penrith Three Stories High / 1000 Nights Self-devised Stables Theatre, Sydney with Young at Art1994 The Taming of The Shrew Grumio Australian tour with Bell Shakespeare Macbeth A Weird Sister / Seyton / Third Assassin1995 Twelfth Night Feste Pericles Fisherman / Knight Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead Player Belvoir St Theatre, Sydney1996 Much Ado About Nothing Dogberry Melbourne Athenaeum, Sydney Opera House, Canberra Theatre with Bell Shakespeare The Players Ensemble Stables Theatre, Sydney with Pork Chop Productions Coriolanus Ensemble Melbourne Athenaeum, Sydney Opera House with Bell Shakespeare The Popular Mechanicals Snug Riverina Theatre Company 1997 Titanic Cambridge Park Inn, Sydney 1998 Henry IV Hotspur / Pistol – Soldier 1 Australian tour with Bell Shakespeare 1999 Alive at Williamstown Pier Butter Factory Theatre, Wodonga, Stables Theatre, Sydney with Griffin Theatre Company The Venetian Twins The Twins Tilbury Productions for Olympic Arts Festival Henry V Pistol Melbourne Athenaeum, Playhouse Canberra, Sydney Opera House with Bell Shakespeare 2001 The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) Various characters Sydney Opera House Julius Caesar Lepidus / Trebonius Australian tour with Bell Shakespeare Antony and Cleopatra Clown / Eros / Lepidus 2002 Richard III Rivers / Stanley The Comedy of Errors Dromio of Syracuse Last Cab to Darwin Various characters Pork Chop Productions 2003 The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) Sydney Opera House 2003–2004 The Servant of Two Masters Truffaldino Australian national tour with Bell Shakespeare 2004 The Comedy of Errors Dromio of Syracuse Theatre Royal, Hobart with Bell Shakespeare 2005 Harry the Sixth Sydney Opera House with Bell Shakespeare Edward IV Wars of the Roses Dauphin / Saunder Simcox / Richard, Duke of Gloucester Australian tour with Bell Shakespeare Measure for Measure Pompey, a pimp The Servant of Two Masters Truffaldino Sydney Theatre2006 The Comedy of Errors Dromio of Syracuse Grand Theatre, Blackpool, Theatre Royal, Bath with Bell Shakespeare Urinetown Mr McQueen Sydney Theatre with MTC / STC2007 The Adventures of Snugglepot & Cuddlepie and Little Ragged Blossom Cuddlepie Theatre Royal, Sydney, Regal Theatre, Perth, Dunstan Playhouse Adelaide with Company B Belvoir The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) Cremorne Theatre, Brisbane Not Like Beckett Beckett Star Court Theatre, Lismore The Government Inspector Various roles (including Klestakov) Australian tour with Bell Shakespeare 2008 Strange Attractor Colin Stables Theatre, Sydney with Griffin Theatre Company Elling Elling Wharf Theatre, Sydney with STC 2009 Tot Mom Various characters2010 The Beauty Queen of Leenane Pato Dooley Tragedy Workshop Willy Loman STC Our Town Stage Manager Sydney Opera House2011 Don Parties On Richard Playhouse, Melbourne, Sydney Theatre with MTC The White Guard Alexei Sydney Theatre with STC Loot Inspector Truscott Sydney Opera House with STC Fool's Island Fool (Gooden / Badden) Bondi Pavilion, Sydney with Tamarama Rock Surfers / STC 2012 Elling Elling Southbank Theatre, Melbourne The Beast (workshop) Various characters MTC The Waiting Room (workshop) Raf STC The Mayor's Nest (workshop) Various characters Riverside Theatres Parramatta Helicopter (script reading) HE Griffin Theatre Company 2014 Absent Friends Colin Ensemble Theatre, Sydney2014–2015 Mother and Son Arthur Comedy Theatre, Melbourne, Playhouse, Brisbane Monkey: Journey to the West Piggsy / Heavenly Staffer / Monk Australian tour The Man's Bitch (reading) Frederick Wilson / Edward White / Radio Host STC 2015 Strictly Ballroom the Musical Doug Hastings / Merv Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne, Lyric Theatre, Brisbane2016 Machu Picchu Paul Wharf Theatre, Sydney, Dunstan Playhouse, Adelaide with STC Tartuffe Tartuffe Heath Ledger Theatre, Perth, Playhouse, Brisbane with QTC / Black Swan Theatre Company 2017 Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? George Ensemble Theatre, Sydney Once in a Blue Moon (workshop) Various characters CDP Productions 2018 The Hypochondriac Argan Darlinghurst Theatre, Sydney 2022 The Caretaker Davies Ensemble Theatre, Sydney
As writer / director Year Title Role Notes 1996 The Players Writer Stables Theatre with Pork Chop Productions Recital for Japan Director Bell Shakespeare 2003 Hamlet Movement Director Bell Shakespeare Last Cab to Darwin Assistant Director Pork Chop Productions The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) Director Spirit Entertainment 2004 The Comedy of Errors Movement Director Theatre Royal, Hobart with Bell Shakespeare A Midsummer Nights Dream Co-Director NIDA Theatre, Sydney The Servant of Two Masters Director NIDA Third Year Actors The Popular Mechanicals Director NIDA Third Year Actors 2010 Accidental Death of an Anarchist Director NIDA Summer School The Jinglist Director The Edinburgh Festival Loot Director NIDA Third Year Actors The Chaos Fairy Director Monkey Baa The Birthday Boys Director NIDA Independent2016 Poetry at Play Director Poetry in Action The Paper Tiger Director Poetry in Action The Poet's Quest Director Poetry in Action Parting the Red Curtain Director Neil Gooding Productions 2020 The Government Inspector Director NIDA Parade 2 Studio
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