All Saints actor Mark Priestley found dead
By staff writers
August 28, 2008 11:01am
ALL Saints actor Mark Priestley has died.
The much-loved actor, 32, who played nurse Dan Goldman, is believed to have killed himself while suffering depression.
It is understood he fell to his death from a building in Sydney's CBD yesterday afternoon.
Cast members of the hit Channel 7 medical drama are in mourning after the news was broken today.
"Mark Priestley was a tremendous young person – loved and respected by his fellow All Saints cast members and crew," Channel 7 said.
Seven’s Director of programming and production Tim Worner said: "Mark was such a brilliant artist. His work on stage and screen was admired by everybody who knew him. His death is such a sad loss. We at Channel 7 miss his energy and smile.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with Mark’s family and friends.”
Executive Director of Sane Australia Barbara Hocking said: "Depression affects people regardless of their age, gender, cultures and social economic group. Depression is an illness that can affect anyone.
"Whether you're famous or not, what it just means is that the rest of us will hear about it. It doesn't mean that they're the only people who will experience it … they're all equally tragic.
"(But) it can be harder for famous people to seek help because of their high profiles."
Ms Hocking said myths and the enormous stigma surrounding depression also made it harder for society to improve people's understanding and support of the mental illness.
Priestley, a NIDA graduate, also appeared in TV shows Changi, The Secret Life Of Us and Blue Heelers. He also worked with the famed Bell Shakespeare Company and the Sydney Theatre Company.
He was born in Perth and had wanted to become an actor from an early age, according to the All Saints website. He moved to Sydney in 1997 and studied at NIDA.
According to the All Saints website, Priestley loved to "play golf, bowls, tennis and go to the theatre".
He first appeared on the hit show in 2004 and was behind a huge ratings surge on Tuesday night after his character finally married that of fellow star Jolene Anderson, after a lengthy on-off screen relationship.
The episode topped the ratings in Sydney for the night, but in another blow for the show
Anderson was yesterday injured in a car crash.
news.com.au readers have rushed to
pay tribute to Priestley and
All Saints fans have flocked to the
official show message board to leave their condolences.
"I'm shocked to hear he took his own life," one fan said.
"My thoughts and prays are with Mark's family and friends ... he will be sorely missed my many.
"Bless you for giving us such enjoyment in watching you blossom in front of our eyes, its a shame you aren't with us anymore.
"May you rest in peace now ... we loved you."
Another said: "As a student nurse his character has been part of my inspiration, how I want to be as a nurse."
The sudden death is the second recent trauma to hit
All Saints, after actress Virginia Gay was mugged in Sydney - allegedly by two thugs accused of later killing a man.
And it comes months after Australia's TV community was rocked by the Sydney suicide of Channel 10 newsreader Charmaine Dragun.
.....
Dan was such a great character. Mark was an awesome actor; he's going to be sorely missed. :(
Tags: all saints
Current Mood: 
shocked
![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
gollummyers's journal
Previous
bouncy