Mauricio Merino Jr.

Last updated

Mauricio Merino Jr.
Born
Mauricio Merino Jr.

(1991-08-03) 3 August 1991 (age 29)
Melbourne, Australia.
OccupationActor
Years activeSince 2007

Mauricio Merino Jr. (born on 3 August 1991) is a Salvadoran-Australian professional actor and model best known for his role as Simon Freedman on the soap opera Neighbours , Daniel Watts in the Australian supernatural thriller, Redback (film) , and also for his re-curring role as Freddy on FOX's 12 part series Conspiracy 365 .

Contents

Early life

Mauricio was born Melbourne, Victoria, where he was raised with his two older sisters. Merino speaks fluent Spanish, he is of Spanish and Salvadoran descent and was born to Salvadoran parents.

In early 2000, Mauricio began his career with the Children's Performing Company of Australia where he studied with future Neighbours co stars Matthew Werkmeister and Caitlin Stasey.

Career

Merino has been acting professionally since 2007. Merino began as an extra on the TV show Neighbours , but then later on gained featured roles on As the Bell Rings and as school bully Jake, in Jonathan M. Schiff's The Elephant Princess. Merino also had a lead role in a VEA educational film. In 2008 Merino also appeared in his first feature film My Year Without Sex as the role of Tyson, which premiered in 2009. In late 2008 Merino scored a recurring role in Steven Spielberg's and Tom Hanks' mini series The Pacific. However, Neighbours remains as his first major debut on television as Simon Freedman.

In early 2010, Merino was cast as Daniel Watts in the Australian supernatural thriller feature film, Redback (film) being shot in the Australian outbacks of Western Australia . In 2011, Merino was cast in the children's telemovie Dig Deep Creek playing the troubled Ivan Holtz and was then followed by a multi episode guest role in the multimillion-dollar TV series Conspiracy 365 in the role of Freddy.

Neighbours

Merino, won the role of 15-year-old Simon after auditioning for a nationwide competition, Dolly's Search for Neighbours Next Big Stars, beating over 10,000 young hopefuls. Merino won the competition alongside Chelsea Jones form Perth two be cast in the popular long time running soap. It is the second time Neighbours hosts this competition, after the success of Sam Clark and Adelaide Kane previous winners. Merino signed a three-month contract on the show, then later was extended for another several months. Mauricio played a character 2 years younger than his real age.

Before winning his role on Neighbours, Mauricio was studying his Victorian Certificate of Education and left school and finished his year 12 studies on set whilst filming.

In Novembers 2008 issue of Dolly Magazine, Merino was featured on the front cover which Chelsea Jones which also contained a two-page spread on both actors, and later was featured in various articles in TV Week. Merino has been said to be, one to keep an eye on, a rising star in an issue of TV Week in 2009.

In February's 2009 Dolly Magazine Mauricio was voted as one of the 42 to-die-for dudes, which ranged from movie stars, pop guys and TV hot rods. Having only been on television for a few months, his role clearly establishes him as one of Australia's newest popular faces.

Personal life

Mauricio is a black belt in Karate, and also plays basketball and soccer. He is not only an actor, but also a model, singer and dancer who can play the guitar and piano

Merino is close friends with ex co-star, Margot Robbie, who played his on screen older sister, Donna on Neighbours.

Filmography

Film
YearTitleRoleNotes
2008Nun of ThatOscarFeature Film
2009 My Year Without Sex TysonFeature Film
2011Dig Deep CreekIvan HoltzTelemovie
2012 Redback Daniel WattsFeature Film
2015The Lover and the Loved OneJoelShort Film
2016Henry HausMichaelTelemovie
2017AutoCarrotGeorgeShort Film
Television
YearTitleRoleNotes
2007 As The Bell Rings School Kid4 Episodes
2007 Kick Justin Haz2 Episodes
2008 The Elephant Princess Jake4 Episodes
2008-2009 Neighbours Simon Freedman56 Episodes
2010 The Pacific Handyboy2 Episodes
2012Conspiracy 365Freddy3 Episodes
2017Trip for BiscuitsLeonard1 Episode

Related Research Articles

Kip Gamblin Australian ballet dancer and actor

Kip Gamblin is an Australian ballet dancer and actor. From 2003 until 2005, Gamblin played Scott Hunter in Home and Away. The part earned him the 2004 Logie Award for Most Popular New Male Talent. After moving to the UK, Gamblin was cast as paramedic Greg Fallon in the medical drama series Casualty. Following his move back to Australia, Gamblin starred in All Saints and Dance Academy. In 2013, Gamblin began appearing in Neighbours as Brad Willis, making him the third actor to play the role after Benjamin Grant Mitchell and Scott Michaelson. He made his final appearance in that role on 7 April 2017.

Philip William Daniels is an English actor, most noted for film and television roles playing Londoners, such as the lead role of Jimmy Cooper in Quadrophenia, Richards in Scum, Stewart in The Class of Miss MacMichael, Danny in Breaking Glass, Mark in Meantime, Billy Kid in Billy the Kid and the Green Baize Vampire, Kevin Wicks in EastEnders, DCS Frank Patterson in New Tricks, and Grandad Trotter in the Only Fools and Horses prequel Rock & Chips. He is also known for featuring on Blur's 1994 hit single "Parklife".

Tom Oliver is a retired English actor who started his career in theatre in his native country, before immigrating to Australia where he became best known for his TV soap opera roles including Number 96 as Jack Sellers and the long-running role of lovable rogue Lou Carpenter in the Australian soap opera Neighbours in 1988 and from 1992 to 2016.

Stefan Dennis is an Australian actor and singer best known for playing the role of cold-hearted and ruthless businessman Paul Robinson in the soap opera Neighbours from its first episode in March 1985 to the present day. He departed Neighbours in 1993, but returned in 2004 and has played Paul ever since. During his time away from Neighbours he was a cast member of Scottish soap opera River City. He is also known for his 1989 hit single "Don't It Make You Feel Good", which reached Number 16 in the Irish and UK Singles Chart.

Natalie Louise Blair is an Australian actress, best known for her role as Carmella Cammeniti on the Australian TV series Neighbours.

Paul Keane is an Australian actor well known for playing original character Des Clarke in the soap opera Neighbours, opposite Elaine Smith who played his wife Daphne Clarke. Other TV credits include Bliss and Flight into Hell.

Dichen Lachman Nepalese-Australian actress and producer

Dichen Lachman is a Nepalese-Australian actress and producer. She earned recognition starring as Katya Kinski in the soap opera Neighbours (2005–2007) and as Sierra in Joss Whedon's science fiction drama series Dollhouse (2009–2010).

James Sorensen Australian model-actor

James Sorensen is a former professional model and actor. He is best known for portraying Declan Napier in the soap opera Neighbours. Sorensen served in the Australian Army in his early 20s and is now currently studying a Doctorate of Medicine (MD) and completing his PhD in medical research.

David Hoflin is a Swedish-born Australian actor. He is most famous for playing Jason Bates in Ocean Girl between 1994 and 1998, and Oliver Barnes in Neighbours between 2007 and 2008.

Donna Freedman Fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours

Donna Freedman is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Margot Robbie. She made her first screen appearance during the episode broadcast on 2 June 2008. Donna was initially introduced as a guest character, but Robbie was promoted to the regular cast shortly after she made her debut. Donna was originally portrayed as an obsessive fan of musician Ty Harper and someone who had a desire for friends and acceptance. After befriending the teens of Ramsay Street, Donna changes her ways and matures into a warm, loveable girl. She has been described as being fiery, beautiful, kooky and confident.

Sunny Lee

Sunny Lee is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Hany Lee. She made her first screen appearance during the episode broadcast on 8 April 2009. Sunny was created by executive producer Susan Bower in response to criticism that Neighbours was "too white". Lee came to the attention of Neighbours producers after she entered a competition run by Dolly Magazine to win a three-month contract with the show. Despite not winning, she was cast as Sunny soon afterwards. In August 2009, it was announced that Lee and Sunny would be departing Neighbours and Sunny made her final appearance on 19 November 2009.

Cassandra Freedman

Cassandra Freedman is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Tottie Goldsmith. She made her first screen appearance during the episode broadcast on 10 February 2009. Goldsmith did not have to audition for the role of Cassandra and was instead chosen by the producers for the role. The actress began filming her first scenes at the end of September 2008. She was initially contracted for six weeks, but this was extended after she impressed the producers with her performance. Goldsmith filmed her final scenes in January 2009 and Cassandra's departure was aired on 29 April 2009.

Ashleigh May Brewer (born 9 December 1990) is an Australian actress. She had a recurring role in The Sleepover Club, before she joined the cast of H2O: Just Add Water. Brewer played the role of Kate Ramsay in the long-running Australian soap opera Neighbours from 2009 until 2014. She portrayed Ivy Forrester on the CBS Daytime soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful from 2014 to 2018. Later that same year, she joined the cast of Home and Away as Chelsea Campbell for six months.

Christopher Milligan is an Australian actor. From 2008 onwards, he has played Kyle Canning in the television soap opera Neighbours. He initially started out as a recurring cast member, until he was promoted to the regular cast in 2011. Milligan also played the lead role of David in supernatural fantasy show Dead Gorgeous, and made guest appearances in Rush, The Pacific, Winners & Losers, and Arrow. He appeared in the horror film The Gallows Act II, and reprised his Neighbours role after a three-year absence.

Jan Russ is an Australian casting director and actor best known for her work on the soap opera Neighbours from the show's beginning in 1985 to her departure in 2009. Russ was also the casting director on Prisoner until the show's cancellation. In 2009, Russ made a guest appearance in City Homicide, the first time she had acted since 1982.

Sachin Joab is an Australian actor. He took an interest in acting during primary school and attended various acting schools and workshops. Since graduating from the National Theatre, Joab has appeared in several films and television, including City Homicide, Rush, My Year Without Sex, 10 Terrorists, and Conspiracy 365. In 2011, Joab successfully auditioned for the recurring role of Ajay Kapoor in the soap opera Neighbours. He was later promoted to the main cast. Joab left the show in May 2013. The actor has since appeared in SBS miniseries Better Man and feature film Lion.

Tim Phillipps is an Australian actor perhaps best known for his roles in the soap opera Neighbours, drama series Bed of Roses and the movie Animal Kingdom. He has also appeared in the American television series Once Upon a Time and The Secret Circle. He provided the voice and motion capture for Dante in the video game DmC: Devil May Cry.

Taylor Glockner Australian actor

Taylor Glockner is an Australian actor. Shortly after graduating from the Film and Television Studio International, he was cast as Boges in the television miniseries Conspiracy 365. From 2013 to 2014, Glockner played Mason Turner in the soap opera Neighbours. As of 2015, he appears in the television series Mako: Island of Secrets as Chris.

Damien Richardson is an Australian film, television and theatre actor and writer. A graduate from the Victorian College of the Arts, Richardson has appeared in a variety of Australian films and television shows, including Blue Heelers, McLeod's Daughters, Redball, The Hard Word, Rogue, Conspiracy 365 and Wentworth. He and co-writer Luke Elliot won the Best New Comedy-Drama award at the Melbourne Fringe Festival for their play The Belly Of The Whale. One of Richardson's best known roles is Detective Matt Ryan in the crime drama City Homicide, which he played from 2007 until 2011. Since 2012, Richardson has starred as Drew Greer in the Jack Irish television films and subsequent 2016 series. He played Gary Canning in the soap opera Neighbours from 2014 to 2020