David Paisley’s biography, net worth, fact, career, awards and life story

David Paisley (born 2 February 1979) is a Scottish actor, especially well known for roles as midwife Ben Saunders in Holby City, Ryan Taylor in Tinsel Town and most recently Rory Murdoch in River City. Some of his characters have been controversial due to their sexual orientation.

Early life

Paisley grew up in Glen Village near Falkirk. At 15 he went to a gay youth group where he eventually met his first boyfriend. At 17, he went to Glasgow University to study physics, during which time he appeared in a community workshop (part of 7:84 theatre company in Glasgow) and then later he went to Caledonian University to study Optometry. At 18, Paisley finally came out to his family who were supportive and helped in his efforts campaigning against the Keep the Clause campaign.

Career

Paisley began acting as a teenager when he heard about an open audition for television drama Tinsel Town, a 1999-2000 television drama (co-produced by BBC Scotland and Raindog/Deep Indigo Productions). He went on to play one of the main characters, Ryan Taylor, the 17-year-old boyfriend of a police officer.

Later he appeared in a few stage productions. Then in 2002, he landed the part of gay midwife Ben Saunders in BBC1’s popular medical soap Holby City. Ben’s kiss with his on-screen boyfriend attracted 114 complaints from viewers.

In 2008 he starred in the short film Sweat, which was screened at the London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival, and selected for screening at NewFest in New York, June 2008.

Paisley completed filming on his regular role as Rory Murdoch on BBC Scotland’s River City, the son of gangster Lenny Murdoch and departed the show in 2009.

Paisley starred as ‘Madam’ Gary in the play The Backroom by Adrian Pagan at The Cock Tavern Theatre in Kilburn, London in March–May 2009, where he provided a ‘particularly credible’ performance as his ‘nervy and paranoid’ character.

In May 2009, he also starred as Michael in the successful stage production of Muhmah at the HighTide Festival. In 2009–10, Paisley took to the stage again in the UK Tour of Over The Rainbow: The Eva Cassidy Story, in which he played the part of Dan Cassidy.

In 2010 Paisley made his directorial debut with the play The Lasses, O (written by his mother Janet Paisley). at the Edinburgh Festival.

He also starred as Rick in the 2010 horror film Unhappy Birthday.

In 2013 Paisley starred in a short film produced for the Dutch Film Festival called Fall-out, described as a post-apocalyptic romantic comedy.

In 2016 Paisley played the role of Saki in Katherine Rundell’s Life According to Saki at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe; the play went on to win the Carol Tambor Best of Edinburgh Award.

In November 2019, he returned to River City as Rory Murdoch, back from the dead having faked his own suicide.

Personal life

Paisley is the son of author Janet Paisley, one of six sons. Paisley was voted ‘Britain’s sexiest man’ by readers of Gay Times magazine in 2003. Paisley is a vegetarian.