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Court reveals star's addiction
21/10/2005 14:06 - (SA)
Sydney - One of the stars of Australian television show Neighbours had an amphetamine drug habit while working on the internationally popular programme and was the subject of complaints from cast and crew, a court heard on Friday.
Shane Connor, who played builder and family man Joe Scully in the suburban drama, is suing producer Grundy Television for the wrongful termination of his contract and seeking about A$200&000 (about R988 859) in damages.
Connor, 46, was sacked in September 2003, nine months ahead of the end of his contract and some months after he had overcome his drug habit, his lawyer Dyson Hore-Lacy told the Victorian Supreme Court.
The court heard Connor had been the subject of several complaints from cast and crew, particularly his on-screen wife, played by actor Janet Andrewartha.
Hore-Lacy said hostility existed between Connor and Andrewartha, who remains on the show, and she was the source of most of the complaints, Australian Associated Press reported.
Grundy has argued that Connor's allegedly surly and aggressive behaviour attracted complaints from wardrobe staff, directors and crew.
Hore-Lacy said Connor denied some of the allegations against him while others could be explained by his grief at the death of his brother in 2001 which sparked his drug habit.
"As a result, he developed an increasing amphetamine problem," Hore-Lacy said.
Justice Robert Osborn told the court he would be surprised if Connor was the only actor among the 20 or 30 people working on Neighbours to use drugs.
As the trial continues, the show's casting agent is expected to be questioned on whether other actors had a drug habit.
Neighbours, which has been credited with launching the careers of Kylie Minogue, Guy Pearce and Natalie Imbruglia, this year celebrated two decades on the small screen.
- AFP
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South Africa
