By Emily Woods
He acted in the iconic Australia soap Neighbours, and now his own neighbours are trying to “shame” him, a court has been told.
Damien Patrick Richardson faced Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday after he was charged with performing a Nazi salute last year.
Melbourne actor Damien Richardson speaks with police at anti-lockdown protest in 2021.Credit: Chris Hopkins
Police allege the 55-year-old actor performed the gesture at a restaurant in McKinnon, in Melbourne’s south-east, on September 14, 2024.
Details of the charge were not aired in court as Richardson appeared in person, on summons, and dates for coming hearings were set.
A flyer for a political event hosted by Damien Richardson in 2023. Liberal MP Renee Heath did not attend.
Richardson’s lawyer, Peter Monagle, asked for his client’s suburb to be removed from documents that were to be released to media, as the actor’s neighbours had tried to “shame” him.
“Mr Richardson did have posters of him posted outside a bus stop in the area in which he lives,” Monagle told the court.
“There has been a concerted effort to get Mr Richardson to feel shame, by some within that area.”
Richardson will next face court on June 20.
Richardson starred as Gary Canning in Neighbours from 2014 to 2020.
He also appeared in Blue Heelers, McLeod’s Daughters and Wentworth.
He retired from acting in 2021 and unsuccessfully stood as a political candidate in the 2022 federal and Victorian elections.
He stood as an independent in the Senate and then ran for the right-wing Freedom Party of Victoria.
AAP
Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.