Lee Donoghue

Last updated

Lee Donoghue
Born
Lee Thomas Donoghue

(1983-10-12) 12 October 1983 (age 40)
Wellington, New Zealand
Occupation Actor
Years active1991–present
Political party New Zealand First

Lee Thomas Donoghue (born 12 October 1983) is a New Zealand actor and right-wing political activist. He is best known for his role as Hunter McKay on New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street . He was a candidate in the 2023 New Zealand general election for the New Zealand First party. [1]

Contents

Early life

Born on 12 October 1983, Donoghue grew up in Lower Hutt but he also lived in Perth, Western Australia, for three years when he was younger. [2] He was educated at Catholic boys' school St Bernard's College, Lower Hutt, [3] finishing in 2001, where he was involved in cricket, debating and was a prefect.

Acting

Donoghue's acting career began when a friend of the family suggested his mother take him to a talent agency, which they did and he quickly gained work acting in commercials. His first taste of acting came at eight years old when he won a starring role in a TVNZ advertising campaign. He was then given a small role in television mini-series Fall Out in which he played Byron Lange. After that he went on to take on roles in shows such as The Tribe and the British production Atlantis High. During this time he also took part in Young and Hungry, a youth amateur theatre. [4]

In 2006, when Donoghue was part way his studies at Wellington's Toi Whakaari, he was offered the role of Hunter McKay, the wayward son of Callum McKay and Justine Jones, on New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street . His first scenes aired in December 2006, and he subsequently was involved in several major storylines, such as his and onscreen sister Sophie's torment of Scarlett Valentine to the brink of her trying to run them down with her father's car, [5] and getting involved with a 34-year-old widow who worked with his parents. [6]

Politics

In 2023, Donoghue returned to New Zealand to run as a candidate for the New Zealand First party for the 2023 general election in the Hutt South electorate. [7] On 16 September, he was ranked 12th on the NZ First party list. [8]

On becoming a candidate, Donoghue voiced his views on a range of social issues. He has said he believes the New Zealand education system suffers from a "woke virus" and the "ever-increasing sexualisation of children" in primary schools which are "teaching kids about different sexual preferences, acts, genders at a very young age”, calling for a return to basic sexual education that begins when children reach intermediate or high school. [1] On the issue of transgender rights, Donoghue said that "more kids now are transgendering, or transitioning, than ever before". He has publicly supported New Zealand First's stance on restricting toilet access on the basis of biological sex, saying "We have people basically saying to us 'hey, I was assaulted in a bathroom by a biological male, this is wrong'." Asked about the frequency of such incidents, he said "I don't have them in front of me right now, but it's a true thing. We want to make sure everyone's safe." [9] Donoghue has also stated support for New Zealand First's stance on withholding public funding to sports bodies that do not have exclusive biological female categories, stating that New Zealand Olympian Lorraine Moller told him "biological men participating in female sports, blowing them away, in their changing spaces, and what it's doing is discouraging women from actually participating now." [10]

At the 2023 election, Donoghue came fourth place in Hutt South with 1,228 votes. [11] Following the election, he returned to Los Angeles where he lives.[ citation needed ]

Filmography

YearTitleRole
1995 Mirror, Mirror (TV miniseries)Unnamed
Fallout (film)Byron Lange
1999–2000 The Tribe (TV series)Spike
2001 Atlantis High (TV series)Josh Montana
2002 Revelations – The Initial Journey (TV series)Mike
2004 Futile Attraction (film)Mark [12]
2005 King Kong (film)Unnamed (Uncredited)
2006–2012 Shortland Street (TV series) Hunter McKay
2008 What Now (TV series)Himself
2011 Ollie (Short Film)Adrian
2016 Fall into Me (Webseries)Trent
American Family (TV Series)Jeff Walker
2020 Almost Paradise (TV Series)Max Adler
2022 The Contrast (Film)Dimple
2023 A Sweet Tooth (Short Film)Trent

Personal life

In 2007, he became involved with an online support site for people dealing with depression called The Lowdown. He did so in his capacity as Shortland Street actor along with other celebrities such as musicians, TV and radio personalities. He is no longer serving in this capacity. [13]

He was a contestant in the 2007 Cleo Bachelor of The Year. During this time he was featured in the Cleo Bachelors Calendar. [14]

Related Research Articles

<i>Shortland Street</i> New Zealand television soap opera

Shortland Street is a New Zealand prime-time soap opera centring on the fictitious Shortland Street Hospital. The show was first broadcast on TVNZ 2 on 25 May 1992 and is New Zealand's longest-running drama and soap opera, being broadcast continuously for over 7,900 episodes and 32 years. It is one of the most watched television programmes in New Zealand.

Calvin Tuteao is a New Zealand actor who has appeared in Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, Once Were Warriors and Xena: Warrior Princess. Tuteao is renowned for his role on Shortland Street as Dr. Victor Kahu. He and his niece Quantrelle King both acted in Shortland Street and also played an uncle and niece relationship. He plays the bass guitar.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hunter McKay</span> Fictional character

Hunter McKay is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street who was portrayed by Lee Donoghue from December 2006, as part of a new family unit consisting of parents Callum McKay and Justine Jones, and younger sister Sophie McKay. Donoghue stayed with the role until he quit in late 2011. Hunter made his final appearance in March 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Justine Jones</span> Soap opera character

Dr. Justine McKay1 is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street who appeared in numerous stints from 2005 to 2009. She was portrayed by Laurie Foell in 2005 for a guest stint before returning in 2006 as a regular character. In 2007 the role was controversially recast, with Lucy Wigmore taking over. She played the role through to 2008 and again in a guest stint in 2009.

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Kimberley Frances Crossman is a New Zealand actress, author, presenter, producer, writer, director, dancer, stand-up comedian and cheerleader who is best known for her role as Sophie McKay on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brooke Freeman</span> Soap opera character

Brooke Freeman is a fictional character from the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street, played by Beth Allen. Brooke debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 14 July 2008. The role was written with Allen in mind to play her. Brooke arrived as a locum GP but later advanced in her career. She is played as a manipulative female, who uses her sexuality to advance in her career. She is also characterised by her complex backstory which has resulted in her "messed up" persona. As a stylish female, Allen is required to spend longer in the dressing room with make-up artists. Brooke's style has been attributed to Katharine Hepburn, though she wears dark colours to convey her personality.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rachel McKenna</span> Soap opera character

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Ido Drent is a South African-born actor working and living in Auckland, New Zealand. He is best known to television audiences as Daniel Potts in the long-running soap opera Shortland Street.

Zac Smith (<i>Shortland Street</i>) Soap opera character

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References

  1. 1 2 Pearse, Adam (23 July 2023). "Former Shortland Street star, now NZ First candidate, decries 'woke virus' in schools 'sexualising' children". The New Zealand Herald . Archived from the original on 26 July 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  2. ↑ "We love Lee!". TVNZ. Archived from the original on 30 September 2008.
  3. ↑ Nokise, James (30 September 2023). "Political debaters searching for the fountain of youth knowledge". The Press . Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  4. ↑ "Lee Donoghue". TVNZ. Archived from the original on 12 March 2007.
  5. ↑ Episode 3700 " Street Talk: Shortland Street fans Archived 22 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ↑ "26 November – 30 November". TVNZ. Archived from the original on 18 December 2007.
  7. ↑ McConnell, Glenn (23 July 2023). "'Take our country back': Winston Peters fires up as he launches comeback campaign". Stuff . Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  8. ↑ "Election 2023: New Zealand First releases party list". Radio New Zealand . 16 September 2023. Archived from the original on 28 September 2023. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  9. ↑ "NZ First's transgender bathroom policy sparks debate clash". 25 September 2023. Archived from the original on 25 September 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  10. ↑ Young Voters' Debate ‘23 #NZElection2023 , retrieved 27 September 2023
  11. ↑ "Hutt South - Official Result". Electoral Commission. 3 November 2023. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  12. ↑ Lee Donoghue Filmography
  13. ↑ nzgirl – Hot Date: Atlas Archived 28 December 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  14. ↑ Lee Donoghue :: Meet The Boys :: CLEO Bachelor Of The Year :: Hot Boys :: CLEO Archived 16 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine
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