Highlander WorldWide welcomes back Adrian Paul… this time with the Watchercon virtual event…
Adrian, who essayed the role of Duncan MacLeod through six seasons of Highlander: The Series – as well as Highlander: Endgame and Highlander: The Source, has been a regular guest of HLWW events over the year.
Originally born in London, England, Adrian balanced his academic interests in literature and history with a physical prowess that found an outlet in soccer and dancing. His work as a choreographer and model took him throughout Europe, but he had a growing interest in acting, one that eventually brought him to the United States. His first role as a Russian dancer on the ABC drama The Colbys (1986-87) preceded a stint in the off-Broadway play Bouncers, in which Adrian played thirteen roles, switching back and forth between characters.
His first film role soon followed in Last Rites (1988) opposite Tom Berenger and Daphne Zuniga. Adrian did a tour of duty as military man John Kincaid in the second season of the sci-fi series War of the Worlds (1989-90), as well as three episodes in the popular 1991 NBC revival of Dark Shadows. After a string of other TV guest appearances and roles in films – such as Love Potion No. 9 (1992) with Sandra Bullock – he audtioned for the role of Duncan MacLeod.
The role would not only provide many ways to explore new territory as an actor, but also gave Adrian the chance to direct. He first went behind the camera for the Season Four opener “Homeland,” the only episode of the series filmed partly on location in Scotland. Three of the four episodes Adrian directed during the series run were voted in the top ten fan favorites and were included in the Best of Highlander DVD Collection.
Since the final episode of the series aired in 1998, Adrian has remained busy with television and film work. He reprised the role of Duncan in Highlander: Endgame (2000) starring alongside Christopher Lambert and in The Source (2008) for which he also took on the role of Executive Producer. He headlined the sf drama Tracker (2001) and has made appearances in series such as Charmed, Relic Hunter and Arrow. Film projects included The Breed, The Void, Code Hunter, Nemesis Game, Moscow Heat, Throttle, Tides of War, Seance, Lost Colony, Eyeborgs, The Heavy and Nine Miles Down.
If this wasn’t enough to keep anyone busy Adrian devotes the rest of his time to children’s charities including his own, The PEACE Fund (Protect, Educate and Aid Children Everywhere) for which he received a Peacemaker award in Russia in 2006. The organisation seeks to help children and initiatives based around helping them throughout the world and Adrian has served as an ambassador for the cause as well as founder.
Adrian’s touring Sword Experience is proving a major attraction as attendees learn the art of safely and effectively reproducing key sword-fights from the screen. You can learn more at the Sword Experience’s official site…
