Shane Briant Passes On

Shane Briant, who appeared in such Hammer Films as Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter (1974) and Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell (1974), died on May 26 at the age 74 following a long illness.

Shane Briant was born in London on May 26 1946. He attended the Law School at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland, but ultimately went into acting. He appeared on stage and was voted "Best Newcomer" by London critics for his role in Children of the Wolf at the Apollo Theatre in London.

Shane Briant made his film debut in Von Richtofen and Brown in 1971. During the Seventies he appeared in four Hammer Films: Straight on till Morning (1972), Demons of the Mind (1972), Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter (1974), and Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell (1974). He also appeared in the movies The MacKintosh Man (1973) and Hawk the Slayer (1980). On television he made his debut in the TV movie Andorra in 1971. He had recurring roles in the shows Huntingtower and Maria Marten or Murder in the Red Barn. He appeared in the mini-series Touch and Go. He also guest starred on the shows Armchair Theatre, Crown Court, Van der Valk, The Sweeney, Shades of Greene, BBC Play of the Month, and Do You Remember?. He starred in several TV movies during the decade, including the title role in an adaptation of The Picture of Dorian Gray.

In the Eighties Mr. Briant appeared in the television mini-series Anzacs and Body Surfer. He guest starred on the shows Special Squad, Carson's Law, The Fast Lane, Nancy Wake, Australians, Mission: Impossible, and The Flying Doctors. He appeared in the movies Lady Chatterly's Lover (1981), Constance (1984), Run Christie Run! (1984), Shaker Run (1986), Comrades (1986), Cassandra (1987), The Lighthorsemen (1987), Grievious Bodily Harm (1988), Out of the Body (1988), and Minnamurra (1989). 

In the Nineties he was a regular on the TV shows Mission Top Secret and Search for Treasure Island. He guest starred on the show Veronica Claire, Bony, G.P., Time Trax, Snowy River: The McGregor Saga, Twisted Tales, Wildside, Above the Law, Murder Call, and Tales of the South Seas. He appeared in the movies Til There Was You (1991), and Tunnel Vision (1995).

In the Naughts Shane Briant guest starred on Escape of the Artful Dodger, Farscape, Headland, All Saints, City Homicide, and Rouge Nation. He appeared in the movies Subterano (2003), Liquid Bridge (2003), and The Children of Huang Shi (2008).  In the Teens he was a regular on the television series Serangoon Road (2013). He guest starred on Underbelly, Crownies, and Rake. He appeared in the mini-series Gallilopi. He appeared in the movie The Lovers (2015).

Shane Briant wrote several novels including The Webber Agenda (1994), The Chasen Catalyst (1995), Hitkids (1999), Bite of the Lotus (2001) Graphic (2005), Worst Nightmares (2009), and The Dreamhealer (2011).

Shane Briant was an extremely talented actor. He was  impressive as the sociopath Peter in Straight On till Morning and as Dr. Frankenstein's co-conspirator Dr. Simon Helder in Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell. He made a fine Dorian Gray in the ABC Movie of the Week The Picture of Dorian Gray. Among his notable guest appearances was his performance as Dr. Trayno Talnell in the Farscape episode "We're So Screwed: Part 1: Fetal Attraction." He always delivered fine performances.