Caleb Ross
Encyclopedia
Caleb Ross is a New Zealand film and television actor best known for his role as Lex in the cult science fiction television series The Tribe. In 1998, he played Logan Patterson on Shortland Street
. Throughout the years, he has appeared in Xena: Warrior Princess
, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys
, Mercy Peak and Revelations - The Initial Journey
. He is also an enthusiastic musician and owns several guitars.
. He became interested in acting after watching Les Misérables
and, at the age of 9, he began performing in musical theatre in his hometown. As part of the Whangarei Amateur Opera and Dramatics Society, he participated in stage productions of Godspell
, Jesus Christ Superstar
, Evita and . His father helped him get an agent shortly afterwards and he made his acting debut, alblit in an uncredited role, in the 1994 short film Avondale Dogs. He also appeared in a commercial for McDonalds. He soon appeared in minor roles on Hercules: The Legendary Journeys
, Xena: Warrior Princess
, Plainclothes and Shortland Street
. At age 14, his first screen kiss was on that show.
In 1999, he was cast in perhaps his best known role as Lex on the science fiction teen drama The Tribe. One of the main antagonists during the first series, his character eventually became part of his adopted tribe the Mall Rats although remained an anti-hero
throughout the show's run. He was one of the few original cast members to appear in all five seasons, as well as being the only one in every episode (with the exception of one), and sang the lead vocals on the spin-off album Abe Messiah.He was regarded as one of the main character and was a very popular character, he is regarded as the one who made the show very popular. He made numerous promotional appearances for the show in New Zealand and the United Kingdom
which, in March 2001, included being interviewed on the early morning talk show The Big Breakfast
.
Following the show's cancellation, he guest starred on Mercy Peak and Revelations
. He and Vanessa Stacey
(Alice) were both involved in behind-the-scenes work for The Tribe follow up series The New Tomorrow
, with Ross becoming a foley artist
for the series, and was a unit assistant in the 2004 film Futile Attraction
. In September 2006, Ross made an appearance at the 2006 Dragon*Con convention in Atlanta, Georgia
with Tribe co-stars Tom Hern
(Ram) and Matt Robinson (Slade).
In recent years, Ross has been in the process of publishing his autobiography. He has also been involved in a number of television and short film projects including a cameo appearance
with another former Tribe cast member Michael Wesley-Smith
(Jack) in the 2007 film The Last Great Snail Chase. He has also indicated in interviews an interest in immigrating to Canada to continue his acting career.
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...
. Throughout the years, he has appeared in Xena: Warrior Princess
Xena: Warrior Princess
Xena: Warrior Princess is an American–New Zealand supernatural fantasy adventure series that aired in syndication from September 4, 1995 until June 18, 2001....
, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys
Hercules: The Legendary Journeys
Hercules: The Legendary Journeys is a television series, filmed in New Zealand and the United States. It was produced from 1995, and was very loosely based on the tales of the classical Greek culture hero Heracles...
, Mercy Peak and Revelations - The Initial Journey
Revelations - The Initial Journey
Revelations – The Initial Journey is a 2002 TV series, produced by Cloud 9 Screen Entertainment Group in New Zealand. The stories are told through the narrator who is called Jess the Traveller and played by Tom Hern. Each episode contains a story from a different time and place in world history....
. He is also an enthusiastic musician and owns several guitars.
Biography
Ross was one of eight children born in Whangarei, New ZealandWhangarei
Whangarei, pronounced , is the northernmost city in New Zealand and the regional capital of Northland Region. Although commonly classified as a city, it is officially part of the Whangarei District, administered by the Whangarei District Council a local body created in 1989 to administer both the...
. He became interested in acting after watching Les Misérables
Les Misérables (musical)
Les Misérables , colloquially known as Les Mis or Les Miz , is a musical by Claude-Michel Schönberg, based on the novel of the same name by Victor Hugo....
and, at the age of 9, he began performing in musical theatre in his hometown. As part of the Whangarei Amateur Opera and Dramatics Society, he participated in stage productions of Godspell
Godspell
Godspell is a musical by Stephen Schwartz and John-Michael Tebelak. It opened off Broadway on May 17, 1971, and has played in various touring companies and revivals many times since, including a 2011 revival now playing on Broadway...
, Jesus Christ Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar is a rock opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber, with lyrics by Tim Rice. The musical started off as a rock opera concept recording before its first staging on Broadway in 1971...
, Evita and . His father helped him get an agent shortly afterwards and he made his acting debut, alblit in an uncredited role, in the 1994 short film Avondale Dogs. He also appeared in a commercial for McDonalds. He soon appeared in minor roles on Hercules: The Legendary Journeys
Hercules: The Legendary Journeys
Hercules: The Legendary Journeys is a television series, filmed in New Zealand and the United States. It was produced from 1995, and was very loosely based on the tales of the classical Greek culture hero Heracles...
, Xena: Warrior Princess
Xena: Warrior Princess
Xena: Warrior Princess is an American–New Zealand supernatural fantasy adventure series that aired in syndication from September 4, 1995 until June 18, 2001....
, Plainclothes and 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...
. At age 14, his first screen kiss was on that show.
In 1999, he was cast in perhaps his best known role as Lex on the science fiction teen drama The Tribe. One of the main antagonists during the first series, his character eventually became part of his adopted tribe the Mall Rats although remained an anti-hero
Anti-hero
In fiction, an antihero is generally considered to be a protagonist whose character is at least in some regards conspicuously contrary to that of the archetypal hero, and is in some instances its antithesis in which the character is generally useless at being a hero or heroine when they're...
throughout the show's run. He was one of the few original cast members to appear in all five seasons, as well as being the only one in every episode (with the exception of one), and sang the lead vocals on the spin-off album Abe Messiah.He was regarded as one of the main character and was a very popular character, he is regarded as the one who made the show very popular. He made numerous promotional appearances for the show in New Zealand and the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
which, in March 2001, included being interviewed on the early morning talk show The Big Breakfast
The Big Breakfast
The Big Breakfast was a British light entertainment television show shown on Channel 4 and S4C each weekday morning from 28 September 1992 until 29 March 2002 during which period 2,482 shows were produced. The Big Breakfast was produced by Planet 24, the production company co-owned by former...
.
Following the show's cancellation, he guest starred on Mercy Peak and Revelations
Revelations - The Initial Journey
Revelations – The Initial Journey is a 2002 TV series, produced by Cloud 9 Screen Entertainment Group in New Zealand. The stories are told through the narrator who is called Jess the Traveller and played by Tom Hern. Each episode contains a story from a different time and place in world history....
. He and Vanessa Stacey
Vanessa Stacey
Vanessa Stacey is a New Zealand film, television and stage actress as well as a former playwright, comedienne and musician...
(Alice) were both involved in behind-the-scenes work for The Tribe follow up series The New Tomorrow
The New Tomorrow
The New Tomorrow is a New Zealand-based television series produced by Cloud 9 and is a sequel to the cult television series The Tribe. The show was created by Raymond Thompson and premiered on 17 September 2005 on the Seven Network in Australia....
, with Ross becoming a foley artist
Foley artist
Foley is the reproduction of everyday sounds for use in filmmaking. These reproduced sounds can be anything from the swishing of clothing and footsteps to squeaky doors and breaking glass. The best foley art is so well integrated into a film that it goes unnoticed by the audience. It helps to...
for the series, and was a unit assistant in the 2004 film Futile Attraction
Futile Attraction
Futile Attraction is a 2005 New Zealand film directed by Mark Prebble. It is an anti-romantic comedy filmed in mockumentary style. The movie attracted media attention for the fact that it was largely funded by web donations.- Production :...
. In September 2006, Ross made an appearance at the 2006 Dragon*Con convention in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
with Tribe co-stars Tom Hern
Tom Hern
Tom Hern is an actor from Christchurch, New Zealand. He is best known to a global audience for his role as Ram in The Tribe and Devin Del Valle in the 2004 television show Power Rangers: Dino Thunder. He also appeared in Shortland Street, Revelations, Interrogation, Maddigan's Quest, as well as in...
(Ram) and Matt Robinson (Slade).
In recent years, Ross has been in the process of publishing his autobiography. He has also been involved in a number of television and short film projects including a cameo appearance
Cameo appearance
A cameo role or cameo appearance is a brief appearance of a known person in a work of the performing arts, such as plays, films, video games and television...
with another former Tribe cast member Michael Wesley-Smith
Michael Wesley-Smith
Michael Thomas Wesley-Smith is a New Zealand television actor. He is best known for his portrayal of the snarky, lovable nerd Jack in the teen sci-fi TV show The Tribe....
(Jack) in the 2007 film The Last Great Snail Chase. He has also indicated in interviews an interest in immigrating to Canada to continue his acting career.
External links
- Latest Caleb Ross News - from tribeHeaven.co.uk