Ben Barrington

Ben Barrington (born January 14, 1977, New Zealand) is a New Zealand actor best known for his decade-long portrayal of Dr. Drew McCaskill on Shortland Street and as the lovable Norse god Olaf Johnson in The Almighty Johnsons. Standing 6'4" (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 Churchill's 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 bohemian-themed ceremony featuring a choreographed disco routine. Their daughter Harley was born in June 2016; Fergus's son Ollie from a previous relationship completes their blended family.

He's been candid about early career struggles — going bald at 24 and being 6'4" with a "baby face" initially made him "uncastable." Time proved those distinctive features assets rather than obstacles.