Remember him? Home and Away actor who played Kate Ritchie’s little brother looks unrecognisable as he goes from soap star to stuntman – and reveals if he still keeps in contact with his on-screen ‘sister’
From the age of three to ten, he gained recognition on Home and Away as Christopher Fletcher, Kate Ritchie’s younger brother.
And Shaun Wood, 34, who gave up his role as a soap star to become a stuntman, no longer resembles the person he was 20 years ago.
Wood, one of Australia’s best professional parkour athletes, appeared with the new Sunrise host, Matt Shirvington, in the Channel Seven sports entertainment obstacle course tournament Ultimate Tag two years ago.
Despite enjoying his new work, Wood told Daily Mail Australia that he wouldn’t hesitate to return to the soap opera if asked.
Oh, I’d definitely give anything a try, he exclaimed with enthusiasm. For me, it’s hard to say “no.”
And Shaun Wood, 34, looks unrecognisable two decades later after giving up soap stardom to become a stuntman
Wood claimed that despite the fact that Ritchie and he both reside in Sydney and that they were close during his time on the popular show, they have not remained in touch.
However, he keeps in touch with Debora Lawrence, who portrayed Pippa Ross, his on-screen mother.
We recently reconnected, and I talk to Debora frequently. Wood recently told Daily Mail Australia, “She’s a great human being.
Wood discussed his time working with current Matt Shirvington as he made his way back into the spotlight following a run on Channel Seven’s Ultimate Wipeout.
He admitted, “Shirvo was one of the highlights of the experience for me.”
Wood is now one of Australia’s top professional Parkour athletes, and starred on the Channel Seven ‘s sports entertainment obstacle course competition Ultimate Tag two years ago alongside new Sunrise host, Matt Shirvington
The encounter with the Australian sprinter, which he characterised as a “life-changing experience” and a “hero’s journey,” reinforced his resolve to carry on with his career in stunts.
“I can still picture him running,” I said. I was quite into athletics when I was kid, and my cousin had a poster of Shirvo on the wall,” he added.
“All I can say about him is that he is a lovely, beautiful man to be, rising at Sunrise,” I said. I can’t speak any higher or more highly of him.
While he was close to his co-stars during his time on the hit show, Wood said he has not kept in contact with Ritchie even though they both live in Sydney. He does however have regular contact with Debora Lawrence, who played his on-screen mother Pippa Ross
His transformation into a stuntman from a kid star has been an unusual one.
Wood’s first time on a set was when he was just four years old, and he was only ten when Home and Away came to an end.
Because of his early exposure to television, he had a desire to be in front of the camera.
He became interested in parkour as he got older and learned more about it, which inspired him to begin making his own movies.
He and his team Farang significantly increased their exposure with the introduction of YouTube, receiving hundreds of thousands of views on their films.
He found Bounce in Thailand ten years later, and his fantasy came true.
Wood believes that the freestyle movement and places like Bounce are essential for training. They provide a secure and convenient setting for learning and practising new skills.
The development of a new type of athlete in this generation is something we are beginning to notice, according to Wood.
Athletes can increase their talents at places like Bounce, which has a cascading effect where improvements in one sport spur improvements in another.
Due to his early success, he finally teamed up with Bounce and returned to the television and film business.
Shaun is currently regarded as one of the top parkour and freestyle experts in the city as well as a sought-after stuntman in Hollywood.
Wood thinks social interest in parkour and freestyle movement is exploding, despite the fact that some could write them off as a passing fad.
The actor claims that social media sites like TikTok, where younger generations are not only embracing the freestyle movement but also assisting freestyle athletes in reaching a broader audience than ever before, are largely to blame for this newfound attention.
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