All Saints actor Mark Priestley was found dead last
night.
The 32 year old actor plays male nurse Dan Goldman in the Seven
Network drama.
The news has rocked the cast and crew of the long-running show.
One source told Fairfax Media the mood was one of "numb
shock".
Media reports claim the actor took his own life.
Tuesday's episode of the show, in which Priestley's character
Dan Goldman married nurse Erica Templeton (Jolene Anderson), was
watched by 1.282 million viewers.
A Seven Network statement described Priestley as "a tremendous
young person - loved and respected by his fellow All
Saints cast members and crew."
Seven's Director of Programming and Production Tim Worner
described him as a "brilliant artist".
"His work on stage and screen was admired by everybody who knew
him," Worner said.
"His death is such a sad loss. We at Channel Seven will miss his
energy and smile.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with Mark's family and
friends."
Priestley's co-star and close friend Jolene Anderson is
currently starring in the Andrew Lloyd Webber stage musical
Tell Me On A Sunday.
It is unclear whether she will appear in tonight's
performance.
Priestley graduated from NIDA in 1999.
His credits include roles in the critically acclaimed mini
series Changi, and the television drama series The Secret
Life Of Us and Blue Heelers.
He joined the cast of All Saints in 2004.
He has also worked with the Bell Shakespeare Company and the
Sydney Theatre Company.
Courtesy: The Age
