Quentin Kenihan is undeniably a formidable force. I mean, who else do you know that has crashed the Oscars? Or has notably ruined one of JLo’s dresses?
We all know him as the ‘miracle boy’ with brittle bones that graced our TV screens during the eighties. But pain and heartache is not the crux of his story, the ‘kid in a wheelchair’ has become the man with so many more poignant tales to tell.
We met Quentin for a coffee and a chat about his star spangled past and his huge upcoming ventures.
But first, let’s piece together the bits of the past we may have missed.
So after his famous interview with Mike Willesee, Quentin signed a talent contract with Channel 9 that ran until he was 18. He would do yearly stories for the TV mogul and in turn receive a ‘fat cheque.’ Nice.
But as we see in so many cases of young people thrust into the limelight, the devil that sits on all of our shoulder’s voice suddenly got that little bit louder… and was swiftly presented with large sums of money. Add to the volatile mix a severe medical condition and a prescription for heavy painkillers, and suddenly you have a very dangerous cocktail.
What ensued was a very severe, but not entirely unpredictable, drug addiction. It was a long and painful battle for Quentin. One which resulted in his father finding him on the ground under the kitchen table thinking people were trying to murder him and a subsequent stint in rehab.
Once clean and sober, Quentin left the industry he felt had amplified his inner demons for a simple life as a telephanist for local universities and Tafe. And that, could very easily been the mediocre end to this story.
Instead, through a series of coincidental and random twists and turns, two decades later Quentin is a man whose life experiences would leave you in shock, awe and fits of laughter.
He has crashed the Oscars, the Big Brother house, Australian Idol; met more celebrities than you could poke a stick at; made, produced, directed and starred in many TV shows, commercials and movies; and played tonsil tennis with the female lead in Terminator.
We know about his close relationship with international superstar Russell Crowe, but Quentin’s inner circle also consists of plenty more celebrities that he regularly catches up with. He keeps in contact with homegrown music hero’s Natalie Umbruglia and Darren Hayes of Savage Garden.
His weekly ritual even used to consist of meeting Derryn Hinch every Tuesday at Adelaide’s Hilton Hotel for a passionate (but not particularly talented) karaoke session. Quentin tells us ol’ mate Derryn was a fan of the 70’s tunes. Should’ve guessed, he has Hotel California written all over him.
Fascinating as that all is, it’s his two latest massive ventures that really hooked us in.
Quentin is not only appearing in the upcoming Hollywood feature film, Mad Max 3 (as if that wasn’t big enough.) Director George Miller actually created and wrote in a part specifically for Quentin. Not many people can say that.
Most importantly of all though, after conquering the small and big screen, Quentin is taking to the stage. He was told by doctors that he’d never make it to his 40th birthday, and now that he has, he’s hosting the party in style. His one man Adelaide Fringe show ‘Quentin I’m 40. Now what?’ is his big 4-0 party and destined to be one not to miss.
He told us that people are in for a diverse show. Discussing his highs, shocking lows and a plethora of celebrity secrets. The man himself wouldn’t give too much away over our coffees, but if the tales he did tell us are anything to go by viewers are in for a night of amazement, wonder and side splitting hilarity. Including the time he swore at Natalie Portman.
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