Ben Barrington

Ben Barrington born January 14 1977 New Zealand is a New Zealand actor best known for his decadelong portrayal of Dr Drew McCaskill on Shortland Street and as the lovable Norse god Olaf Johnson in The Almighty Johnsons Standing 64 193 cm he has built a versatile career spanning theatre television and international film productions over more than two decades Early Life Training Barrington grew up in Hamilton with no initial aspirations toward acting The spark came at Waikato University when he impulsively auditioned for Caryl Churchills Cloud Nine landing the role transformed his trajectory He applied to Toi Whakaari New Zealand Drama School without realizing how competitive it was becoming one of 18 selected from 300 applicants He graduated in 2001 with a Bachelor of Performing Arts and promptly won a Chapman Tripp Theatre Award for his Wellington stage work Personal Life Barrington lives in Titirangi Auckland with his wife Kristie Fergus a makeup artist he married in March 2019 in a bohemianthemed ceremony featuring a choreographed disco routine Their daughter Harley was born in June 2016 Ferguss son Ollie from a previous relationship completes their blended family Hes been candid about early career struggles going bald at 24 and being 64 with a baby face initially made him uncastable Time proved those distinctive features assets rather than obstacles Career Highlights Barringtons TV breakthrough came with The Insiders Guide to Happiness 2004 earning two award nominations He followed with Outrageous Fortune 20062007 as gang leader Tyson before spending three years in England His international film credits include uncredited roles in Peter Jacksons Lord of the Rings trilogy as a Gondorian Soldier and Ranger in The Two Towers 2002 and Return of the King 2003 and as a Centaur in The Chronicles of Narnia The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe 2005 alongside James McAvoy The Almighty Johnsons 20112013 brought him widespread recognition as Olaf Johnson Ironically the casting brief initially specified they didnt want anyone who looks like Ben Barrington they sought normallooking guys as Norse gods Only after exhausting other options did creator James Griffin give him the chance Since 2015 Barrington has starred as plastic surgeon Dr Drew McCaskill on Shortland Street New Zealands longestrunning soap accumulating over 1560 episodes through 2025 That same year he competed on Dancing With the Stars NZ describing it as 247 stress and fear Other credits include Top of the Lake 2013 Offspring 2014 The Brokenwood Mysteries 2015 and My Life Is Murder 2021