Russell Kiefel

 ( 1951 Births ) 

Kiefel made numerous recurring and guest appearances in television series, including Wildside, Water Rats, Blue Heelers, Stingers and Something in the Air. He played Roy O'Neale in Home and Away from 1993 to 1994. Following this, he guested in children's science-fiction drama Escape from Jupiter, and joined the cast of Heartbreak High. In 1998, he starred in an episode of the anthology and mystery drama series Twisted Tales, alongside Robert Taylor. Kiefel was part of the ensemble cast of television film The Junction Boys, which centres on the life of American college football coach Bear Bryant. After appearing in the ABC television film Fireflies in 2003, Kiefel was subsequently cast in the lead role of Sharpie in the television series of the same name. In 2008, Kiefel appeared as political adviser Lloyd Ross in the television documentary . He was also part of the ensemble cast of the 2014 telemovie Schapelle.

Artist Demian Carey Gibbins painted Kiefel in 2015, and reached the semi-finals of the Doug Moran National Portrait Prize with the piece he titled A Familiar Face. From 29 July 2015, Kiefel played the role of Russell Brennan in the television soap opera Neighbours. His character was introduced as the father of the established Brennan brothers, and his arrival started a domestic violence storyline for the family. Kiefel had previously worked as a scriptwriter for the serial in the 1990s. Producers had plans to bring the character back following his initial arc, but they had to change the storyline due to Kiefel's death. They introduced his character's former wife Fay Brennan (played by Zoe Bertram) instead. Kiefel's later television appearances were recurring and guest roles in Tricky Business, Childhood's End and Secret City.