Actor Samuel Johnson announces retirement from acting after Molly

MOLLY star Samuel Johnson has announced his retirement from acting to focus on raising money to fight cancer.

3/2/16 - actor Samuel Johnson plays Molly in the TV show 'Molly' and is in Adelaide for the launch, pictured at the Mayfair Hotel - pic Mike Burton

MOLLY star Samuel Johnson has announced his retirement from acting to focus on raising money to fight cancer.

The shock announcement comes weeks after Johnson’s turn as Molly Meldrum in Molly proved a massive ratings success for Channel 7.

In a longwinded message posted on the Facebook page of his charity, Love Your Sister, the knockabout actor said he wanted to reach his goal of raising $10 million to fight the deadly disease.

“I can’t act anymore. Not if I’m to serve you properly. This village means everything to me and I’m tired of other things dragging me away from you,” the post read.

“I cannot play pretend on telly while our families are falling. Cancer is the last true riddle of our time (not of our doing) and I wanna be part of the push to solve it once and for all — part of the new ‘moonshot’.

“I won’t play pretend on television while science is being murdered. Not while federal funding for research remains static for ten years. Not while the CSIRO is being bulldozed. Not while climate science is still being denied. Not until I fulfil my promise to you.”

Prior to the screening of Molly, Johnson last month said he was “dead broke, but happy”.

He revealed he had not been cast in any role since he walked off the set of the hit miniseries.

“I haven’t worked since Molly, which is February (2015),” Johnson said at the time.

“The work I do with Love Your Sister is unpaid. The last time I got a pay cheque for an acting gig was last February for Molly.”

Johnson was recognised for his selfless work with Love Your Sister when he was awarded last month the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to cancer research support organisations and to the performing arts.

He said he was now focused on raising $10 million for the charity.

“We’re not going to get there if I’m off gallivanting. So I won’t. Not until we get to that $10M and show those faceless f***ers at the top end of town just how serious we are about research here at ground level,” he posted on Facebook.

“Not while people still believe that positive thinking and apricot kernels and hugs will cure it. Not while conspiracy theorists are stupidly assuming that our scientists would dare allow big pharma to hide their discoveries.

“I love acting, it’s the best job in the world. But the thing is, being a ‘vollie’ for healthy families kinds wins hands down. No contest. If it weren’t for Molly, I’d have done it sooner.

“So call me Molly if you like. Call me Research Australia’s Advocate of the Year. Call me that annoying voice over guy. Call me a fundraiser, an advocate, an activist. Call me a brother who tries hard. Just don’t call me an actor. Not until we as a nation are as threatened by cancer as we are by terrorism. Not until the $10M is raised.”

Prior to Molly, Johnson gained fame as the star of television shows Secret Life of Us and Rush as well as his extensive voice-over work for television ads.

He added: “ps — I will still have to do the odd voice-over so I can eat if that’s OK!”

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Originally published as Actor Samuel Johnson announces retirement from acting after Molly