Damien Richardson (born 2 August 1969) is an Australian film, television and theatre actor. Since 2021 he has been a political campaigner promoting an anti-vax agenda.^[2] A graduate from the Victorian College of the Arts, Richardson has appeared in a variety of Australian films and television shows, including Blue Heelers, McLeod's Daughters, Redball, The Hard Word, Rogue, Conspiracy 365 and Wentworth. He and co-writer Luke Elliot won the Best New Comedy-Drama award at the Melbourne Fringe Festival for their play The Belly Of The Whale. One of Richardson's best known roles is Detective Matt Ryan in the crime drama City Homicide, which he played from 2007 until 2011. Since 2012, Richardson has starred as Drew Greer in the Jack Irish television films and subsequent 2016 series. He played Gary Canning in the soap opera Neighbours from 2014 to 2020. In 2021, Richardson quit acting to launch a failed bid to gain a seat as an independent in the Victorian state senate.

Richardson was born in Adelaide.^[3] He graduated from the Victorian College of the Arts in 1991.^[4] He also attended Flinders University.^[1]

Richardson was married to Nicole, a writer. They have three children and lived in Melbourne.^[5] In December 2016, it was announced that Richardson had separated from his wife and was dating Fifi Box.^[6]

Richardson led an anti-vaccination protest in Melbourne in 2021.^[2] He attends a Baptist church and has written for Caldron Pool.^[7]

Richardson has had guest stints in several Australian television shows, including Neighbours as Kim White,^[8] Blue Heelers,^[9] Stingers,^[5] and McLeod's Daughters as Tom Braiden.^[8] Richardson co-wrote The Belly Of The Whale with Luke Elliot. The play won Best New Comedy-Drama at the Melbourne Fringe Festival in 1996.^[10] He has had roles in feature films Everynight ... Everynight (1994), Blabbermouth & Stickybeak (1998), Redball (1999), A Telephone Call for Genevieve Snow and Mallboy (2001).^[4]

Richardson starred in the 2002 Australian crime film The Hard Word, alongside Guy Pearce and Joel Edgerton. He plays Mal Twentyman, one of three back-robbing brothers.^[11] Pearce recommended Richardson to director Scott Roberts, after they worked together in a play two years earlier.^[11] Richardson followed his role in The Hard Word with a part in the comedy-thriller Horseplay.^[12] For his role of Ken, a stalker, in The Secret Life of Us, Richardson received a nomination for Best Actor in a Supporting or Guest Role in a Television Drama or Comedy at the 2003 Australian Film Institute Awards.^[9][13]

Richardson played Detective Matt Ryan in the Seven Network crime drama City Homicide from 2007 until the show's cancellation in 2011.^[9] Richardson initially played a minor role in the unaired pilot, but he proved popular with the test audience and he was asked to attend a screen test for the main cast, where he received the role of Matt.^[9] Richardson also appeared in writer/director Matthew Saville's drama film Noise (2007),^[14] followed by Dee McLachlan's drama film The Jammed (2007),^[9] and Eric Manchester's suspense film Torn (2010).^[15]

After he finished filming the fifth season of City Homicide, Richardson appeared in the Melbourne Theatre Company production of The Water Carriers.^[3] In 2012, Richardson guested in an episode of the ABC comedy series Lowdown,^[16] and was cast as Chris in the Bell Shakespeare production of The School for Wives.^[17] He also appeared in the television film Fatal Honeymoon alongside Harvey Keitel, Billy Miller and Gary Sweet.^[18] Since 2012, Richardson has appeared as lawyer Drew Greer in the Jack Irish television films and the 2016 television series.^[19]