Daniel MacPherson
Biography
Daniel MacPherson is an Australian actor and television presenter who was spotted by a talent scout at 16 while working at a triathlon in southern Sydney, which led to a contract playing Joel Samuels on the soap Neighbours from 1998. That part brought him the Most Popular New Talent prize at the 1999 Logie Awards. After leaving in 2002 he moved to Britain, appearing in a production of the musical Godspell and then as PC Cameron Tait in The Bill from 2003 to 2004. Back in Australia he hosted The X Factor and, later, Dancing with the Stars, while taking the lead in the drama Wild Boys. His film work includes Infini (2015) and Science Fiction Volume One: The Osiris Child (2016), plus Poker Face (2022) and Land of Bad (2024); he led Beast (2026) as an MMA fighter, and he starred as Samuel Wyatt in Strike Back from 2017.
46years old
Turns 47 on April 25in 198 days
- Born Sydney
- Star sign: TaurusThe sign runs April 20 to May 20
- Also credited as Dan Macpherson and Daniel Donald MacPherson
Movie Career
- Films
- 6
- Career span
- 15 years2011 to 2026
First and latest
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First role
At 16, MacPherson was stewarding a triathlon in southern Sydney when a talent scout discovered him. Auditions followed, and he landed an 18-month contract as Joel Samuels in Neighbours, beginning in 1998.
Own stunts
MacPherson spent 25 years competing in triathlons. As an amateur, he represented Australia at world championship level in Olympic Distance, 70.3, and the Ironman World Championships held in Kona, Hawaii.
Getting ready for a role
For the role of MMA fighter Patton James in the 2026 sports action thriller Beast, MacPherson received the script in 2023 and trained in boxing, Muay Thai and Jiu Jitsu, gaining 10kg of muscle.
A first
In April 2009, MacPherson finished the China Ironman in Haikou, swimming 3.8 km, biking 180 km and running 42 km in 45C heat. His time was 11 hours and one minute, and he won his 25-29 age group to qualify for the Hawaiian Ironman.
Beyond film
MacPherson left the soap in 2002 and went to the United Kingdom, where he starred in a British staging of Godspell. He and British entertainer Jonathan Wilkes took turns playing Jesus and Judas.
Beyond film
After leaving The Bill, MacPherson took a role as Jesus in The Mysteries, playing opposite Edward Woodward as God. The drama came from a medieval mystery play cycle, and each scene was staged in a different area of Canterbury Cathedral.
Daniel MacPherson movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
Shane Abbess directed two of these films. Luke Hemsworth appears in four of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Luke Hemsworth's page
Russell Crowe's page
Bren Foster's page
Liam Hemsworth's page
Matt Nable's page
Luke Ford's page
Shane AbbessDirector, 2 films, 2015 to 2016
All films by Shane Abbess
Also two films together2 more actors
- Grace HuangScience Fiction Volume One: The Osiris Child (2016) and Infini (2015)
- Dwaine StevensonScience Fiction Volume One: The Osiris Child (2016) and Infini (2015)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.