LONDON – Fans of the long-running BBC medical drama Casualty are reeling from a startling revelation: Jonathan Kerrigan, the beloved actor who famously portrayed nurse Sam Colloby in the late 1990s, is now described as “unrecognisable” nearly three decades after his iconic role. Recent images circulating online show a dramatic transformation that has left many viewers doing a double-take.

Kerrigan, now 52 years old, first graced screens as the bleach-blond-haired nurse Sam Colloby, a character who quickly became one of the show’s most popular figures. His stint on Casualty from 1996 to 1999 saw Sam involved in numerous pivotal and often groundbreaking storylines.

From Bleach-Blond Heartthrob to Mature Presence

During his time at Holby City ED, Sam Colloby was instantly recognisable by his distinctive bleach-blond hairstyle, a popular trend of the era. His character was central to several key plots, including:

• Pioneering LGBTQ+ Representation: As an openly gay character, Sam’s storylines delved into personal and work-related dramas tied to his sexuality, including the discovery that a female car crash victim was secretly dating his boyfriend. This was a significant step for mainstream BBC drama at the time.
• High-Stakes Medical Drama: Sam was never far from the action, helping to uncover a colleague’s rape, surviving a fall from a hospital balcony, and even performing an emergency tracheotomy to save a young girl’s life. His character’s dramatic arcs kept viewers hooked.

Kerrigan portrayed Sam for four intense seasons before his character decided to pursue a career outside of nursing in 1999.

A Career Beyond Holby and a Striking Change in Appearance

Since leaving Casualty, Jonathan Kerrigan has maintained a consistent acting career, taking on diverse roles across British and even American television. His credits include:

• Heartbeat: He became a fan favourite as Sergeant Rob Walker in ITV’s popular period drama Heartbeat (where he also composed the show’s theme tune for a time).
• Merseybeat: Played PC Steve Traynor in the BBC police drama.
• In The Club: Appeared in the BBC drama series.
• Death in Paradise: Featured in the popular crime drama, even alongside his real-life wife.
• NCIS: Made an appearance in the popular US crime drama.
• Film Roles: His filmography also includes roles in movies such as Diana (alongside Naomi Watts) and The Somnambulists.

It is in these later roles and recent public appearances that the extent of his transformation has become apparent. The once distinctive bleach-blond hair has long been replaced by a more natural, often ginger-brown, and frequently shorter cut. What truly makes him “unrecognisable” to many is the combination of a more mature look, often featuring a goatee or beard, and the natural changes that occur over nearly three decades. For fans accustomed to the youthful, edgy nurse Sam Colloby, his current appearance signifies a striking evolution into a seasoned character actor.

Jonathan Kerrigan is married to actress Shelley Conn, known for her role as Lady Mary Sharma in Netflix’s Bridgerton, and they share a son.

This dramatic shift in appearance highlights the passage of time and the diverse paths actors take after leaving their breakout roles, leaving fans to marvel at their evolution.