Daniel Abineri
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Daniel Abineri (born 8 August 1958) is an English actor, songwriter and playwright, notorious for writing the book, music and lyrics for the controversial musical Bad Boy Johnny and the Prophets of Doom. (The 1994 London production made national news when it caused grave offense to the Roman Catholic Church and was closed down after just 9 performances.)
He starred as Father Neil opposite Arthur Lowe in the 1970s TV comedy Bless Me Father, and played the villainous Jake Sanders in the 1980s Australian series Return to Eden. He is also notable for giving Russell Crowe his first professional acting role in The Rocky Horror Show in New Zealand in 1986. He subsequently cast Crowe in the title role in the original Australian production of Bad Boy Johnny and the Prophets of Doom
His father was the actor John Abineri and his mother was part time actress Hilary Bamford. Daniel started his career in rep theatre in England. In 1977 he was cast as Father Neil in the successful TV series Bless Me Father opposite comedy star Arthur Lowe (star of Dad's Army). This led to leading roles opposite Tatum O'Neal (in International Velvet), and co-starring credits with Nigel Hawthorne, John Cleese, Eleanor Bron and Charles Gray.
In 1979, at the age of 21, he was cast as Frank-n-Furter in the first British tour of The Rocky Horror Show, a role he played subsequently in the West End and over three thousand times on several tours of Australia and New Zealand, which he also directed. He has also produced and directed several television documentaries, including One Hit Wonders, for the BBC in 1997, Walk on the Wild Side for Granada TV, and Murder and Celebrity for UKTVand A Conversation With James Lovelock for Network Films.
He is married to TV executive Claudia Rosencrantz.
