Fergus Kearney
Encyclopedia
Fergus Kearney is a fictional character on the New Zealand
soap opera
Shortland Street
and was portrayed by Paul Ellis for numerous recurring stints from 1996 to 1999 before becoming a regular character up until 2001. The character returned briefly in 2002.
(Craig Parker
) started helping out homeless children in 1996, one of which was the nameless teenager, Fergus. He reappeared months later when he took the virginity
of 16 year old Minnie Crozier (Katrina Devine
) but when Minnie was caught sneaking him into her room by mother Ellen
(Robyn Malcolm
) and step father David (Peter Elliott
), it was revealed that Fergus was David's son who ran away many years ago. Fergus' auntie Liz (Irene Wood) started to look after Fergus, only for him to burn her house down and get put into juvenile detention.
Fergus was released in 1997 and became determined to turn his life around upon meeting half sister, Rose. But he and Minnie got involved in a Neo Nazi cult and found their lives at risk. The two narrowly escaped death and Fergus fled Ferndale. He returned in 1998 and was shocked to hear of Rose's death. However he was sickened that his mother Isobel (Jennifer Ward-Lealand
) was refusing her son Bradley to be looked after by his father Johnny Marinovich (Stelios Yiakmis) and Fergus kidnapped Bradley and gave him to Johnny. He soon learnt both Ellen and David were having affairs and fled Ferndale in disgust.
Fergus returned in 1999 to suspicion he had bludgeoned Oscar Henry (Christopher Brown) and he helped Minnie through her rape ordeal. The two reunited but broke up following Fergus straying from her. Fergus became the owner of the local bar and in 2000 became engaged to Waverley Wilson (Claire Chitham
) amongst speculation he was a drug dealer.
In 2001 Fergus became involved in an illegal immigration scam that saw a man die. He became wanted by police, but the wedding went ahead. However, as Waverley walked down the aisle, the police arrived and Fergus made a run for it, escaping police and leaving Waverley at the altar. Fergus returned in 2002 and kidnapped Waverley to try and convince her to return to him over fiance Nick
(Karl Burnett
). Waverley refused but helped Fergus evade police once again.
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...
and was portrayed by Paul Ellis for numerous recurring stints from 1996 to 1999 before becoming a regular character up until 2001. The character returned briefly in 2002.
Creation and casting
Fergus was introduced as a guest character with no sir name. Enjoying the performance, producers brought back Fergus as the antagonistic son of hospital CEO David. In 2000 the actor of Fergus, Paul Ellis, made headlines when it was suggested he was axed by Shortland Street producers. Ellis later spoke out against the rumours and stated it was his wish to leave the show after he stopped learning about acting while appearing.1996-2002
Guy WarnerGuy 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...
) started helping out homeless children in 1996, one of which was the nameless teenager, Fergus. He reappeared months later when he took the virginity
Virginity
Virginity refers to the state of a person who has never engaged in sexual intercourse. There are cultural and religious traditions which place special value and significance on this state, especially in the case of unmarried females, associated with notions of personal purity, honor and worth...
of 16 year old Minnie Crozier (Katrina Devine
Katrina Devine
Katrina Devine is a New Zealand actress.-Biography:During school, Devine acted in various amateur and school productions...
) but when Minnie was caught sneaking him into her room by mother Ellen
Ellen Crozier
Ellen Crozier is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. She was portrayed by Robyn Malcolm from 1994 to 1999. Since then Ellen has become an iconic character on the soap in part due to the success of Malcolm.-1994-1999:...
(Robyn Malcolm
Robyn Malcolm
Robyn Malcolm is a New Zealand television and theatre actress. She has appeared in numerous New Zealand TV shows and has toured New Zealand with a number of theatre productions.-Early life:...
) and step father David (Peter Elliott
Peter Elliott (actor)
Peter Elliott is a leading New Zealand actor. He has appeared in numerous television shows including Shortland Street, Gloss and Homeward Bound. He has also appeared in several movies including Heavenly Creatures.-Shortland Street:...
), it was revealed that Fergus was David's son who ran away many years ago. Fergus' auntie Liz (Irene Wood) started to look after Fergus, only for him to burn her house down and get put into juvenile detention.
Fergus was released in 1997 and became determined to turn his life around upon meeting half sister, Rose. But he and Minnie got involved in a Neo Nazi cult and found their lives at risk. The two narrowly escaped death and Fergus fled Ferndale. He returned in 1998 and was shocked to hear of Rose's death. However he was sickened that his mother Isobel (Jennifer Ward-Lealand
Jennifer Ward-Lealand
Jennifer Ward-Lealand, ONZM, is a New Zealand actress who has appeared on many films and television shows such as The Ugly and Shortland Street as well as the Australian comedy series Full Frontal....
) was refusing her son Bradley to be looked after by his father Johnny Marinovich (Stelios Yiakmis) and Fergus kidnapped Bradley and gave him to Johnny. He soon learnt both Ellen and David were having affairs and fled Ferndale in disgust.
Fergus returned in 1999 to suspicion he had bludgeoned Oscar Henry (Christopher Brown) and he helped Minnie through her rape ordeal. The two reunited but broke up following Fergus straying from her. Fergus became the owner of the local bar and in 2000 became engaged to Waverley Wilson (Claire Chitham
Claire Chitham
Claire Margaret Chitham is a New Zealand television actress. She is best known for having played Waverley Harrison in the New Zealand TV show Shortland Street, from 1994–5 and 1997–2005 and Aurora Bay in Outrageous Fortune from 2006-2007.She was already acting by the age of nine, when she...
) amongst speculation he was a drug dealer.
In 2001 Fergus became involved in an illegal immigration scam that saw a man die. He became wanted by police, but the wedding went ahead. However, as Waverley walked down the aisle, the police arrived and Fergus made a run for it, escaping police and leaving Waverley at the altar. Fergus returned in 2002 and kidnapped Waverley to try and convince her to return to him over fiance Nick
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....
(Karl Burnett
Karl Burnett
Karl Burnett is a New Zealand actor born 27 February 1976 best known for his portrayal of Nick Harrison on the long-running New Zealand soap opera, Shortland Street. He was 16 years old when offered the role of Nick Harrison on the popular New Zealand soap Shortland Street in 1992...
). Waverley refused but helped Fergus evade police once again.