DAMIAN CALLINAN

Damian Callinan (comedian, actor, writer) has always found writing biographies problematic. Despite the fact that he has been very successful in his chosen comedy career since leaving drama teaching, he has found it difficult to talk about his achievements.

You'd think he'd be falling over himself to tell everyone that he was a regular on such TV shows as Skithouse; Before the Game and The Wedge.

You'd also think he'd be quite happy to let people know he's had a busy radio career with stints in JJJ, Radio National; Mix FM; MMM and currently can be heard a number of times a week on Lindy Burns Drive on 774ABC Melbourne.

He also fails to mention the fact he's won a swag of Melbourne Comedy Festival Awards, including 2 'Barry nominations'; 2 Moosehead Awards, a Piece of Wood (Comedians Choice) and the ABNN Amro Foreign Exchange Award which sent him to the Edinburgh Fringe.

He's used such predictable techniques as writing in the 3rd person in order to overcome his biographical humility, but even then he finds it difficult to let people know he's equally adept at straight and character stand up; in high demand on the corporate circuit; is seen in high regard as a director and comedy workshop facilitator and regularly tours Australia as a headline act. He also finds it hard to sustain the 3rd person narrative - don't I?!

The sooner he overcomes this nagging problem the sooner he'll be able to let people know he's almost completed his first novel 'Borrydale'; is developing a comedy stage show about the History of Australia and has a number of TV projects in development ...or so we can glean from his circumspect mutterings.

In 2008 he debuted his solo show "Last Drinks" at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival; starred in "Comedy Smackdown" a new comedy series on Foxtel to hit the airwaves in September, and is appearing in regular guest roles on "The Mansion" (comedy channel) and guest stars on "City Homicide" (Channel 7 Australia) when the new season airs. In the meantime he's off on the MICF Roadshow to W.A. & Victoria before touring his solo show "Sportsman's Night" around Tasmania and Victoria. In August of 2008 he headed off to the Edinburgh Fringe with his award winning solo show "Spaznuts" ...and now they are coming to New Zealand!

There's probably more ..but that's all we could get out of him.

Check out his website: www.damiancallinan.com.au or
www.myspace.com/dcallinan