Bruce Warner (Shortland Street)
Encyclopedia
Sir Bruce Warner is a fictional character on the New Zealand
soap opera
Shortland Street
. He was portrayed by Ken Blackburn
and was introduced as Chris Warner
's (Michael Galvin
) womanizing father.
The character of Bruce was written as a antagonistic type of character, with his storylines often focusing on his rivalry with CEO Michael McKenna (Paul Gittins
) and his attempts at taking over the hospital. He would often go behind his families backs and either try buy out the hospital or indulge in numerous affairs. Bruce's wish was finally granted in 1995 when Michael retired, however only after signing the ownership deal of the hospital did Bruce realize Michael had the last laugh as Bruce was shafted from any managerial positions, only being a silent partner.
Bruce's arrogant persona alongside his constant womanizing, had a severe effect on both of his sons with Chris becoming the mirror image of his father and Guy
(Craig Parker
) blaming Bruce for his drug addiction.
and brought alongside him, wife Margot
and son Guy
. This was a step in the development of the character of Chris', with the involvement of his family helping the audience understand the character and his reactions.
, in which a dispute broke out over Bruce's will.
' (Michael Galvin
) arrogant father who was knighted for his services to medicine. He arrives in mid 1992 and it is obvious that he dislikes CEO Michael McKenna (Paul Gittins
) and he attempts to buy the hospital to no success. Chris claims that he despises him. It is stated that Sir Bruce is the CEO of opposing clinic St. Katherines.
Sir Bruce returns in 1993, again wanting to takeover the hospital. He invests money into the hospital, providing a new ward with the hope he will become CEO. He enlists Hone Ropata
(Temuera Morrison
) to help him but he is voted against and Michael remains as CEO while Bruce simply becomes a share holder. Sir Bruce's vendetta against Michael increases when Bruce's wife becomes lonely after Sir Bruce spends too much time away from her, she turns to alcoholism and a friendship with Michael. Sir Bruce's son Guy Warner
(Craig Parker
) also discovers that Chris is a twin with the girl
being handicapped so Sir Bruce claimed she had died at birth but in reality given her to a clinic. Bruce grew annoyed at Guy's meddling and told him to back off.
In 1994 A woman that Sir Bruce was sexually attracted to, Dr. Grace Kwan (Lynette Forday) arrives at the hospital. Sir Bruce gets annoyed at Michael poaching his doctors. This is a front, however, as not too soon afterwards, Sir Bruce runs into Grace at Kennedy's and professes his love for Dr. Kwan. After Chris explains to Sir Bruce that he's making a spectacle of himself, he leaves.
In 1995 Sir Bruce is pleased to learn Carmen
(Theresa Healey
) is pregnant with his grandchild but stuns Guy and Chris when he announces he is dying from cancer. He finally buys the hospital from Michael but is devastated to learn he is only a silent partner. Sir Bruce also drops a bombshell when he announces that Guy's real mother was Chris' nanny. Bruce is happy to meet his granddaughter Tuesday Warner (uncredited actress) and gets on with her extremely well.
Sir Bruce dies in December 1995 with his will leaving out Guy. However Nick Harrison
who was with Bruce when he died, claimed that Bruce had retracted his will on his deathbed. This led to an argument between the Warners which was halted when a truck came crashing into the hospital.
and Carmen
stating that Chris is only involved in Bruce's funeral because of the money Bruce gave him in his will. During Guy's return in 2007, Chris was compared heavily to his father. Both Guy and Rachel McKenna
have stated that Chris had developed into a copy of his father and even Chris himself stated that his father affected his life so badly that he has become the mirror image of the one thing he did not want to be.
In 2003, Dominic Thompson
(Shane Cortese
) arrived to town and soon announced he was Bruce's son, making him Chris' half brother. Though this was soon revealed to be false and Dom later tried to murder Chris.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
Shortland Street
Shortland Street
Shortland Street is a New Zealand prime-time soap opera, first broadcast on Television New Zealand's TV2 on 25 May 1992. It is the country's longest-running drama and soap opera, being broadcast continuously for over 4500 episodes and 19 years, and is one of the most watched television programs in...
. He was portrayed by Ken Blackburn
Ken Blackburn (actor)
Ken Blackburn, ONZM is a New Zealand actor and writer. He has worked in film, television, radio and theatre in the UK, New Zealand, and Australia since the 1970s....
and was introduced as Chris Warner
Chris Warner
Dr. Christopher "Chris" Warner is a fictional character and current main protagonist on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. He is portrayed by Michael Galvin. He is the only original character to still be on the show....
's (Michael Galvin
Michael Galvin
Michael Galvin is a New Zealand actor, singer and playwright, well known for his role as Dr. Chris Warner on the soap opera Shortland Street, a character he has played almost continuously since the shows debut in 1992.-Early life:...
) womanizing father.
The character of Bruce was written as a antagonistic type of character, with his storylines often focusing on his rivalry with CEO Michael McKenna (Paul Gittins
Paul Gittins
Paul Gittins is a New Zealand actor who is best known for playing Doctor Michael McKenna in Shortland Street from 1992 to 1995 and 1998 to 1999, and he has also appeared in The End of the Golden Weather, Xena: Warrior Princess, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, City Life, The Whole of the Moon and...
) and his attempts at taking over the hospital. He would often go behind his families backs and either try buy out the hospital or indulge in numerous affairs. Bruce's wish was finally granted in 1995 when Michael retired, however only after signing the ownership deal of the hospital did Bruce realize Michael had the last laugh as Bruce was shafted from any managerial positions, only being a silent partner.
Bruce's arrogant persona alongside his constant womanizing, had a severe effect on both of his sons with Chris becoming the mirror image of his father and Guy
Guy Warner
Guy Warner is a fictional character in the long running New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. He was portrayed by Craig Parker in a guest role in 1992 before returning as core cast from 1993 to 1996...
(Craig Parker
Craig Parker
Craig Parker is a New Zealand actor who was based in the United Kingdom for some time, but now resides in New Zealand. His grandfather moved from Edinburgh, Scotland to Fiji when he was stationed during his years of service in the British Army...
) blaming Bruce for his drug addiction.
Creation
Bruce was introduced into the show as the father of already established character Chris WarnerChris Warner
Dr. Christopher "Chris" Warner is a fictional character and current main protagonist on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. He is portrayed by Michael Galvin. He is the only original character to still be on the show....
and brought alongside him, wife Margot
Margot Warner
Margot, Lady Warner was a fictional character in the long running New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. She was portrayed by Glynis McNicoll for multiple recurring stints throughout the nineties and again by Dinal Priestley in 2003 for the characters death.-Overview:She was married to Sir Bruce...
and son Guy
Guy Warner
Guy Warner is a fictional character in the long running New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. He was portrayed by Craig Parker in a guest role in 1992 before returning as core cast from 1993 to 1996...
. This was a step in the development of the character of Chris', with the involvement of his family helping the audience understand the character and his reactions.
Departure
After numerous stint's in the shows first 3 years, producers decided to write Bruce out in the development of key characters, Chris, Guy and CarmenCarmen Roberts
Carmen Roberts was a fictional character in the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. She was portrayed by Theresa Healey and appeared on the show from her arrival in mid 1993 to her death in late 1995...
, in which a dispute broke out over Bruce's will.
1992-1995
Sir Bruce is introduced as ChrisChris Warner
Dr. Christopher "Chris" Warner is a fictional character and current main protagonist on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. He is portrayed by Michael Galvin. He is the only original character to still be on the show....
' (Michael Galvin
Michael Galvin
Michael Galvin is a New Zealand actor, singer and playwright, well known for his role as Dr. Chris Warner on the soap opera Shortland Street, a character he has played almost continuously since the shows debut in 1992.-Early life:...
) arrogant father who was knighted for his services to medicine. He arrives in mid 1992 and it is obvious that he dislikes CEO Michael McKenna (Paul Gittins
Paul Gittins
Paul Gittins is a New Zealand actor who is best known for playing Doctor Michael McKenna in Shortland Street from 1992 to 1995 and 1998 to 1999, and he has also appeared in The End of the Golden Weather, Xena: Warrior Princess, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, City Life, The Whole of the Moon and...
) and he attempts to buy the hospital to no success. Chris claims that he despises him. It is stated that Sir Bruce is the CEO of opposing clinic St. Katherines.
Sir Bruce returns in 1993, again wanting to takeover the hospital. He invests money into the hospital, providing a new ward with the hope he will become CEO. He enlists Hone Ropata
Hone Ropata
Hone Ropata was a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street and was part of the original cast. He was portrayed by Temuera Morrison who after the role went on to several Hollywood roles...
(Temuera Morrison
Temuera Morrison
Temuera Derek Morrison is a New Zealand-born actor. He has become one of the country's most famous stars for his roles as the abusive Jake "the Muss" Heke in 1994's Once Were Warriors and as bounty hunter Jango Fett and the Clone Troopers in the Star Wars series...
) to help him but he is voted against and Michael remains as CEO while Bruce simply becomes a share holder. Sir Bruce's vendetta against Michael increases when Bruce's wife becomes lonely after Sir Bruce spends too much time away from her, she turns to alcoholism and a friendship with Michael. Sir Bruce's son Guy Warner
Guy Warner
Guy Warner is a fictional character in the long running New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. He was portrayed by Craig Parker in a guest role in 1992 before returning as core cast from 1993 to 1996...
(Craig Parker
Craig Parker
Craig Parker is a New Zealand actor who was based in the United Kingdom for some time, but now resides in New Zealand. His grandfather moved from Edinburgh, Scotland to Fiji when he was stationed during his years of service in the British Army...
) also discovers that Chris is a twin with the girl
Amanda Warner
Amanda Warner is a fictional character in the long running New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. Amanda is the disabled twin sister of Chris Warner. She has appeared in two short stints throughout the show, and was portrayed by Marissa Stott in 2005....
being handicapped so Sir Bruce claimed she had died at birth but in reality given her to a clinic. Bruce grew annoyed at Guy's meddling and told him to back off.
In 1994 A woman that Sir Bruce was sexually attracted to, Dr. Grace Kwan (Lynette Forday) arrives at the hospital. Sir Bruce gets annoyed at Michael poaching his doctors. This is a front, however, as not too soon afterwards, Sir Bruce runs into Grace at Kennedy's and professes his love for Dr. Kwan. After Chris explains to Sir Bruce that he's making a spectacle of himself, he leaves.
In 1995 Sir Bruce is pleased to learn Carmen
Carmen Roberts
Carmen Roberts was a fictional character in the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. She was portrayed by Theresa Healey and appeared on the show from her arrival in mid 1993 to her death in late 1995...
(Theresa Healey
Theresa Healey
Theresa Healey is a New Zealand actress, known mostly for her role as nurse Carmen Roberts in the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street.-Early life:...
) is pregnant with his grandchild but stuns Guy and Chris when he announces he is dying from cancer. He finally buys the hospital from Michael but is devastated to learn he is only a silent partner. Sir Bruce also drops a bombshell when he announces that Guy's real mother was Chris' nanny. Bruce is happy to meet his granddaughter Tuesday Warner (uncredited actress) and gets on with her extremely well.
Sir Bruce dies in December 1995 with his will leaving out Guy. However Nick Harrison
Nick Harrison
Nick Harrison was a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. He was portrayed by Karl Burnett and was the longest running original cast member on the show first appearing in 1992 and running for 13 years until 2005....
who was with Bruce when he died, claimed that Bruce had retracted his will on his deathbed. This led to an argument between the Warners which was halted when a truck came crashing into the hospital.
Afterdeath
Even immediately following Bruce's death in 1995, Chris began to draw comparison's to his father, with GuyGuy Warner
Guy Warner is a fictional character in the long running New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. He was portrayed by Craig Parker in a guest role in 1992 before returning as core cast from 1993 to 1996...
and Carmen
Carmen Roberts
Carmen Roberts was a fictional character in the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. She was portrayed by Theresa Healey and appeared on the show from her arrival in mid 1993 to her death in late 1995...
stating that Chris is only involved in Bruce's funeral because of the money Bruce gave him in his will. During Guy's return in 2007, Chris was compared heavily to his father. Both Guy and Rachel McKenna
Rachel McKenna
Rachel McKenna is a fictional character from the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street, played by Angela Bloomfield. Rachel first appeared on the show from 1993 to 1999. Then from 2001 to 2003. Rachel then made a very brief appearance in 2007 before returning as a core cast member in October 2009...
have stated that Chris had developed into a copy of his father and even Chris himself stated that his father affected his life so badly that he has become the mirror image of the one thing he did not want to be.
In 2003, Dominic Thompson
Dominic Thompson
Dominic "Dom" Thompson is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. He was portrayed by Shane Cortese and since the characters death, Dom has picked up an icon status for his explosive storylines....
(Shane Cortese
Shane Cortese
Shane Cortese is a New Zealand actor and singer, known for his role as the evil Dominic Thompson on New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street and Hayden Peters on hit show Outrageous Fortune. He was also a runner-up on Season 1 of NZ Dancing With The Stars in 2005.-Career:Cortese trained at...
) arrived to town and soon announced he was Bruce's son, making him Chris' half brother. Though this was soon revealed to be false and Dom later tried to murder Chris.