Biography

One of Australia’s most accomplished international film, television and stage performers, Daniel MacPherson most recently appeared to critical acclaim with a career defining performance as the lead in Beast, the Australian-made MMA action film which premiered in the US and Australia in April 2026, starring opposite Russell Crowe and Luke Hemsworth.

Previously appearing in the US action feature Land of Bad alongside Liam Hemsworth and Milo Ventimiglia, and starring as Sam Levine in Russell Crowe’s feature Poker Face, Daniel's additional feature film credits include Disney’s A Wrinkle in Time directed by Ava DuVernay, Shane Abbess’ Science Fiction Volume One: The Osiris Child and INFINI, the lead in the US independent feature Generational Sins and Simon Wincer’s The Cup.

Daniel starred as fan favourite Hugo Krast in Apple TV+’s sci fi behemoth Foundation, and previously as Sgt Samuel Wyatt in the latest seasons of the HBO/Cinemax action series Strike Back. Daniel’s other international credits include the Fox hi-tech crime series APB, the MTV fantasy series The Shannara Chronicles and ITV/UKTV’s The Bill, as well as Australian productions: Wild Boys, Bad Mothers, City Homicide and Neighbours.

On stage, Daniel led the critically acclaimed 2024 Australian theatre tour of The Woman In Black, opposite John Waters, as well as starring in the 2023 production of 2:22: A Ghost Story. Previously, he has alternated the roles of Jesus and Judas in the musical Godspell directed by Scott Schwartz, which played in London and the UK. He has also starred opposite Edward Woodward in The Mysteries at London’s Canterbury Cathedral and in 2013, Daniel was part of the all-star Australian cast of 8 The Play.

His diverse list of credits includes hosting seven series of Dancing with the Stars as well as the first season of X-Factor Australia, and in 2017 Daniel hosted the International AACTA Awards in Los Angeles. Recipient of the TV Week Logie Award for Most Popular New Talent in 1999, Daniel has since been nominated twice for the Silver Logie for Most Popular Actor, as well as Best Newcomer at the British National Television Awards. In 2008, GQ Magazine named Daniel as Australia’s Most Popular Television Personality.

Daniel is an Ambassador for Bus Stop Films, the Australian not for profit initiative providing inclusive filmmaking opportunities for creatives living with disability. His other passions include fatherhood and fitness. A six-time Ironman Triathlon finisher, Daniel has represented Australia at the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii, and has run multiple endurance events to raise money and awareness for charities including World Vision, Reclink, Charity: Water, and The Indigenous Marathon Project. In his spare time Daniel is an equine enthusiast and is a breeder of Australian thoroughbreds.
- IMDb mini biography by: CL

Daniel competed in 3 triathlon world championships, over the Olympic distance in 2008, the Ironman World Championships in 2009 and the Ironman 70.3 world championships in 2013.

Before starting his career in "Neighbours" Daniel was a triathlete. He met his first agent while cheering at a triathlon in Sydney in 1996 and thats what prompted him to take up acting. Daniel still competes and often races in triathlon events around the world. He won his age group in the 2009 Ironman China event, and completed the 2009 Hawaiian Ironman.