He recently graced our screens playing iconic Australian music legend Molly Meldrum. But now, Samuel Johnson has announced his retirement from acting to focus on raising money to fight cancer.
He posted a message on the Facebook page of his charity, Love Your Sister, saying he wanted to reach his goal of raising $10 million to fight the deadly disease.
“I can’t act anymore. Not if I’m to serve you properly. This village means everything to me and I’m tired of other things dragging me away from you,” the post read.
“I cannot play pretend on telly while our families are falling. Cancer is the last true riddle of our time (not of our doing) and I wanna be part of the push to solve it once and for all — part of the new ‘moonshot’.
“I won’t play pretend on television while science is being murdered. Not while federal funding for research remains static for ten years. Not while the CSIRO is being bulldozed. Not while climate science is still being denied. Not until I fulfill my promise to you.”
Recently, Johnson was recognised for his work with Love Your Sister when he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to cancer research support organisations and to the performing arts.
He said he was now focused on raising $10 million for the charity.
“We’re not going to get there if I’m off gallivanting. So I won’t. Not until we get to that $10M and show those faceless f***ers at the top end of town just how serious we are about research here at ground level,” he posted on Facebook.
“Not while people still believe that positive thinking and apricot kernels and hugs will cure it. Not while conspiracy theorists are stupidly assuming that our scientists would dare allow big pharma to hide their discoveries.
“I love acting, it’s the best job in the world. But the thing is, being a ‘vollie’ for healthy families kinds wins hands down. No contest. If it weren’t for Molly, I’d have done it sooner.
“So call me Molly if you like. Call me Research Australia’s Advocate of the Year. Call me that annoying voice over guy. Call me a fundraiser, an advocate, an activist. Call me a brother who tries hard. Just don’t call me an actor. Not until we as a nation are as threatened by cancer as we are by terrorism. Not until the $10M is raised.”
But Johnson noted while his acting days are over for now, “I will still have to do the odd voiceover so I can eat if that’s OK!”
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