Adrian Paul Movies
As ruggedly handsome as the men on the cover of romance novels, Adrian Paul is a television heartthrob to legions of swooning fans. As the kilt-wearing Scottish swordsman Duncan MacLeod on TV's The Highlander, he prefers to do his own stunts when he can. Born and raised in England, he came to the U.S. in the '80s as a model and dancer, but also excelled at soccer, martial arts, and choreography. His first role was as a ballet dancer on the TV series The Colbys. After playing Prospero in The Masque of the Red Death, he briefly joined the casts of both the '90s revival of Dark Shadows and War of the Worlds. As the star of The Highlander TV series from 1992 to 1997, he also reprised the role in the movies Highlander: The Gathering and Highlander: Endgame. After the series was canceled, he had starring roles in the feature-length thrillers Dead Men Can't Dance, Susan's Plan, Convergence, and The Breed. Returning to the fantasy-action genre, he played Sir Lancelot in the 2000 U.K. production of Merlin: The Return. In 2001, he starred in the straight-to-video release The Void, the action-packed Storm Watch with Coolio, and the thriller Nemesis Game. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie GuideIn the first episode of a two-part story, renegade Watcher James Horton (Peter Hudson) plots to destroy the friendship between Duncan (Adrian Paul) and Richie (Stan Kirsch). Crucial to the evil scheme is Horton's murderous mentoring of escaped criminal Lisa Halle (played by Meilani Paul, the then-wife of series star Adrian Paul). Things come to a head when Pete Wilder (Martin Cummins), the man who saved Richie's life, is killed -- and it looks as though Duncan is responsible. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Adrian Paul, Stan Kirsch, (more)
Nia Peeples guest stars as Nefertiti, handmaiden to Egyptian queen Nefertiti. Released from her sarcophagus after 2000 years, Nefertiti swears vengeance against her ex-lover, immortal Roman General Marcus Constantine (James Faulkner). Now a gentle museum curator, Constantine insists that Nefertiti is over-reacting. Duncan (Adrian Paul) promises to protect Constantine by any means available -- even though he himself has fallen in love with Nefertiti. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Adrian Paul, Stan Kirsch, (more)
Rebecca (Nadia Cameron), the mentor of Immortal cat burglar Amanda (Elizabeth Gracen), is murdered by Luther (Emile Abossolo-M'bo), one of her students. Hoping to achieve invulnerability, Luther cuts a bloody swath in his search for the portions of an ancient crystal once owned by Rebecca. By virtue of his previous amorous relationship with Amanda, Duncan (Adrian Paul) is reluctantly drawn into the present intrigue. Canadian character actor John Novak dubbed the voice of guest star Emile Abossolo-M'bo. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Adrian Paul, Stan Kirsch, (more)
Throughout history, Immortal Nicholas Ward (Jeremy Brudenell) has covered his murderous tracks by capitalizing on current superstitions and hysterias. Back in the 1840s, for example, Ward killed several people in Paris but arranged the evidence so the authorities were convinced that the carnage was the work of vampires. It is now 1994, and Ward is back in Paris once again targeting helpless young women -- and once again escaping detection. But Duncan (Adrian Paul) sees through this latest "vampire plague" and intends to stop Ward before he can kill again. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Adrian Paul, Stan Kirsch, (more)
Back in the Russia of 1918, Duncan's life was saved by fellow Immortal Drakov (Peter Firth).Out of gratitude, Duncan (Adrian Paul) promised never to fight or interfere with Drakov, no matter what the circumstances. 74 years later, Drakov, in the guise of security advisor Arthur Drake, has embarked upon a killing spree to prevent the signing of an international peace treaty. Duncan recognizes "Drake" and knows full well what he is up to -- but, bound by his promise, he can do nothing. Alas, by honoring his word, Duncan has placed two innocent lives in dire jeopardy. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Adrian Paul, Stan Kirsch, (more)
Back in Vancouver after narrowly escaping destruction by an old enemy, handsome 400-year-old Immortal Duncan MacLeod (Adrian Paul) repurchase the martial-arts store owned by Charlie DeSalvo (Adrian Paul), who is off to fight a revolution in the Balkans, as Highlander begins its third season. Working side by side with Duncan is his close friend, and fellow immortal, Richie Ryan (Stan Kirsch). It is during season four that Duncan again falls in love with a mortal, an ER surgeon named Ann Lindsey (Lisa Howard). Like the late lamented Tessa Noel before her, Ann eventually stumbles onto Duncan's secret Immortal identity but is determined to make their romance last -- and to that end, she follows along as Duncan takes his annual pilgrimage to Paris. Ultimately, however, the lovers come to a parting of the ways...but the legacy of their relationship will return in subsequent seasons. Among the new characters introduced this season are Amanda Darieux (Elizabeth Gracen), a sexy cat burglar; and Adam Pearson (Peter Wingfield), who like Duncan's friend Joe Dawson (Jim Byrnes), is a member of The Watchers, a secret organization of mortals dedicated to hunting down and destroying evil Immortals. Adam in fact has a special assignment: He is to monitor Methos, the legendary "world's oldest man," assuming that Methos is indeed a genuine Immortal and not merely a myth. That both Amanda and Adam are not precisely what they seem to be will not be revealed until later in the series' run. Season four of Highlander ends on a note of high tension, with Amanda unwittingly unleashing a dangerous enemy of Duncan MacLeod, and the Watcher operation in peril of being exposed to the world -- which of course would have disastrous residual consequences for Immortals everywhere. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Adrian Paul, Stan Kirsch, (more)
Grace Candel (Julia Stemberger) is a good Immortal, working tirelessly for the betterment of mankind. Alas, Grace's former lover Carlo Sendaro (Georges Corraface) is the embodiment of evil -- and insanely jealous in the bargain. Murdering Grace's mortal sweetheart, Carlo frames her for the crime. But never fear: Duncan MacLeod (Adrian Paul) is not about to let Grace suffer for someone else's perfidy. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Adrian Paul, Alexandra Van Der Noot, (more)
The scene is a remote tropical island, where several top swimsuit models converge for a magazine photo shoot, orchestrated by publisher Lee Majors. The girls are lovely, the scenery gorgeous, the weather couldn't be pleasanter. Only one hitch: one by one, the models fall victim to mysterious fatal accidents. You know by now that these are no accidents. You've also probably guessed that Cover Girl Murders is a USA Cable Network movie (world premiere: October 28, 1993). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
This theatrical sci-fi action tale is actually the first in a series of direct-to-video features derived from re-edited episodes of the syndicated television show Highlander (1992-1997). Adrian Paul stars as Duncan "Mac" MacLeod, kin of Connor MacLeod (Christopher Lambert), the main character from three previous Highlander features. The MacLeods are two of a race of Immortals, destined to wander the planet forever, capable of dying only by beheading and battling with swords of those of their ilk that have gone evil. Connor appears to help Mac battle Slan (Richard Moll), a fellow Immortal gone wrong, but Slan gets the best of Connor, hurling him from a bridge, leaving Mac to finish Slan off. Months later, Mac becomes involved with another Immortal, Reinhardt (Christopher Ohrt), and his girlfriend Rebecca (Vanity). Believing Reinhardt dead at Mac's hands, Rebecca seeks vengeance for her lover's death, but Mac discovers that Reinhardt, still alive, is manipulating them both. This revelation leads to a final showdown between Mac and Reinhardt. Highlander: The Gathering (1993) also introduced some of the TV series' regulars, including Mac's best friend Richie (Stan Kirsch) and girlfriend Tessa (Alexandra Van Der Noot). ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Adrian Paul, Alexandra Van Der Noot, (more)
A man named Tommy is run over and killed while Duncan (Adrian Paul) is engaged in a battle with another Immortal, Gallen (played by wrestler Roddy Piper). Investigating this tragedy, Duncan realizes that Tommy was not exactly an innocent bystander, and his death was far from accidental. But Duncan barely has time to digest this when he is accused of being a professional hit man, hired to knock off Tommy's boss. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Adrian Paul, Stan Kirsch, (more)
One of Charlie's (Philip Akin) former students is Jimmy Sang (Dustin Nguyen), a rising martial-arts movie star. While shooting a film based on his earlier life as a street gang member, Jimmy is apparently targeted for murder. But though at least one other person has been killed on the set, Jimmy refuses to cower in the corner, daring his attackers to come out into the open. As usual, Duncan (Adrian Paul) gets involved in the proceedings with startling results. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Adrian Paul, Stan Kirsch, (more)
The man who stole the car belonging to Charlie DeSalvo (Philip Akin) is Carl Robinson (Bruce A. Young), an African American Immortal. Once upon a time, Carl had high hopes and lofty ambitions, but these have been beaten out of him by years of relentless racial prejudice. Duncan (Adrian Paul), who, back in 1926, saved Carl from a KKK mob, tries to restore his old friend's sense of self-worth. Alas, it looks as though the old story will repeat itself again when Carl is apparently targeted for persecution -- and death -- by a white cop. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Adrian Paul, Stan Kirsch, (more)
Duncan's troublesome Immortal ex-girlfriend, Amanda (Elizabeth Gracen), comes back into his life. Amanda insists that she is no longer a thief, but Duncan (Adrian Paul) doubts her word when two FBI agents show up. It seems that Amanda is in possession of some counterfeit plates that she picked up during WW2 -- and since she plans to print her own money, that isn't really stealing, is it? Things go far beyond petty larceny when one of the FBI men murders the other and frames Duncan and Amanda for the crime. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Adrian Paul, Stan Kirsch, (more)
"The Zone" is a crime-infested ghetto neighborhood so dangerous that the police have long since given up trying to enforce the area. When one of Dawson's fellow Watchers is killed by Canaan (Santino Buda), the brutal gang lord in charge of The Zone, Dawson (Jim Byrnes) becomes convinced that Canaan is an Immortal. Though this proves not to be the case, Duncan (Adrian Paul) takes it upon himself to rid the Zone of Canaan once and for all. Sandra P. Grant co-stars as Duncan's reluctant ally, the street-smart Asia. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Adrian Paul, Stan Kirsch, (more)
Having survived the attack that killed Tessa in the previous episode, Richie (Stan Kirsch) realizes that he, like his friend Duncan (Adrian Paul), is an Immortal. Thus emboldened, Richie fearlessly stops an attempted assassination, bringing about the death of another Immortal, the husband of Irish terrorist Annie Devlin (Sheena Easton). Realizing that Annie will not rest until she gets even with Richie, Duncan decides to teach his friend the art of Immortal self-defense -- all the while coming to grips with the fact that, long ago, he and Annie were close friends. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Adrian Paul, Stan Kirsch, (more)
After receiving an ominous warning from a gypsy fortune teller, Tessa (Alexandra Van Der Noot) is kidnapped by Pallin Wolf (Andrew Jackson), a rogue Watcher. It is all part of a scheme to draw Tessa's Immortal sweetheart, Duncan (Adrian Paul), out in the open -- thus leaving him vulnerable to Wolf's deadly final assault. Although a rescue is successfully pulled off, the ending of this episode is numbingly tragic. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Adrian Paul, Alexandra Van Der Noot, (more)
Duncan's Immortal friend, Michael Moore (Geraint Wyn Davies), wants to avenge the murder of his girlfriend that happened 30 years ago. This would seem to be a pointless vendetta, inasmuch the girl's killer, Quenten Barnes, was arrested and put to death for the crime. But Quenten has escaped from his tomb and is busily bumping off everyone responsible for his execution -- with Moore next on his list. This is the situation that, in the end, forces Duncan (Adrian Paul) to make an extremely difficult decision. Philip Akin makes his first series appearance as gym owner Charlie DeSalvo. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Adrian Paul, Alexandra Van Der Noot, (more)
Joel Wyner guest stars as Greg Powers, an Immortal photographer specializing in morbid images. Endeavoring to understand the emotions attending life and death, Powers ends up putting the life of Richie Ryan (Stan Kirsch) in danger. Meanwhile, Richie's Immortal friend Duncan (Adrian Paul), spurred on by one of Greg's photos, is reunited with Linda Plager (Sheila Moore), who had been Duncan's lover 50 years earlier -- and whose life was profoundly altered by the experience. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Adrian Paul, Alexandra Van Der Noot, (more)
Season two of Highlander gets under way as Immortal Duncan MacLeod (Adrian Paul) returns to Canada, still searching for the murderers of his mentor, Darius. Using a book given to him by Darius as a clue, Duncan shows up at the bookstore run by Joe Dawson (Jim Byrnes, in his first series appearance). Dawson, it turns out, is a member of the Watchers, a group of mortals who have been keeping track of Immortal activities for hundreds of years. At first believing that Dawson was in on Darius' killing, Duncan is finally guided toward the genuine culprit. This episode includes "flashbacks" from the first-season Highlander installments "Mountain Men" and "The Hunters." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Adrian Paul, Alexandra Van Der Noot, (more)
Season two of Highlander begins as handsome 400-year-old Immortal Duncan MacLeod (Adrian Paul) leaves Paris and returns to Vancouver, determined to destroy the killers of his mentor Darius at the end of Season One. The trail leads Duncan to a bookstore run by Joe Dawson (Jim Byrnes), who turns out to be a member of The Watchers, a secret organization that has been hunting down and eliminating evil mortals for centuries. Tragedy trikes Duncan when his mortal sweetheart Tessa (Alexandra Van der Noot) and his friend Richie Ryan (Stan Kirsch) are shot down by a mugger. Tessa dies, but Richie survives, thus revealing something he had never known: He too is an Immortal, unable to be killed unless beheaded by another Immortal. Giving up his antique shop, Duncan purchases a martial-arts store owned by a mercenary named Charlie DeSalvo (Philip Akin) but sells it back to Charlie upon making his annual pilgrimage to Paris. By the end of the season, Duncan, weary of four centuries of death and violence, prepares to embark on a worldwide odyssey of self-discovery with Charlie as his traveling companion -- but this may not be possible when an old enemy of Duncan's resurfaces foresworn to destroy the Immortal and everyone and everything he holds dear. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Adrian Paul, Stan Kirsch, (more)
When it comes to love, Paul Matthews and Diane Farrow, two highly educated and talented scientists don't know a thing. Looking at their geeky demeanor's it's easy to see why. Despite the fact that both are neighbors, share the same interests and both are psychobiologists who study primates, neither is really aware of the other romantically until Paul, who is terribly shy around women, goes to gypsy Madame Ruth in desperation and asks for help. She reads his palm and tells him that he needs a woman; she then hands him Love Potion No. 8 which will attract women like flies to honey. This romantic comedy chronicles what happens to him (and Diane) when, after experimenting on animals, they decide to try it on themselves. Though the changes only last four hours per dose, they are truly remarkable and the two agree to separate for three weeks and then come back together to compare results. The time passes quickly and wonderfully for them and when they finally reunite both have changed for the better. Just for fun, they decide to go out with each other. They do not drink the potion, but still have a wonderful and passionate night. This leads Paul to propose to Diane. Unfortunately, she thinks she loves another, a man who is really more interested in exploiting the potion for money than he is in her. He ends up buying up all of Madame Ruth's latest batch. Paul goes back to her and explains his problem and that is when Ruth hands him the potent Love Potion No. 9, which can manifest true love. Quickly, he takes it and sets off to find Diane before she makes a terrible mistake. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tate Donovan, Sandra Bullock, (more)
A spin-off of the popular movie, Highlander: The Series follows the exploits of immortal Duncan MacLeod (Adrian Paul), another member of the Highland clan that produced the older Connor MacLeod (Christopher Lambert), who was the focus of three feature films and a supporting character in the first episode of the new series.
Also appearing in the series: Stan Kirsch as the headstrong Richie Ryan; Alexandra Vandernoot as Duncan's love interest, Tessa Noel; the late Werner Stocker as Darius; Jim Byrnes as Joe Dawson, a member of the Watchers; Elizabeth Gracen as Amanda, another immortal; and Peter Wingfield as Methos (a five-thousand-year-old immortal masquerading as a Watcher.)
While the first season suffered from a lack of diversity in story lines (the basic theme involves immortals beheading each other in a process called "The Game" -- the survivor receives the energy of the loser via "The Quickening"), the producers finally managed to provide some interesting twists via the introduction of the Watchers, a secret society of mortals dedicated to observing the lives of the immortals. Vandernoot, homesick for Paris (where the series filmed half its episodes, due to a co-production deal), chose to leave the series at the start of the second season, with her character being killed off and Richie being revealed as an immortal at the same time. Blues artist Jim Byrnes became a regular during the second season. The Watchers were featured in many episodes, with the existence of the organization (and of immortals) sometimes on the verge of being revealed to the world. In the fifth season, Duncan was revealed as a Champion for Good, eventually resulting in an ultimate battle against the evil Ahriman and the death of Richie at the end of the fifth season and the beginning of the abbreviated final season. After six seasons, production on the show was ended, with Adrian Paul signed to appear as Duncan in the fourth movie (several movie-length videos were released during the course of the series) and producers Davis/Panzer planning a new television spin-off, this time featuring a female immortal. ~ Steven E. McDonald, All Movie Guide
Also appearing in the series: Stan Kirsch as the headstrong Richie Ryan; Alexandra Vandernoot as Duncan's love interest, Tessa Noel; the late Werner Stocker as Darius; Jim Byrnes as Joe Dawson, a member of the Watchers; Elizabeth Gracen as Amanda, another immortal; and Peter Wingfield as Methos (a five-thousand-year-old immortal masquerading as a Watcher.)
While the first season suffered from a lack of diversity in story lines (the basic theme involves immortals beheading each other in a process called "The Game" -- the survivor receives the energy of the loser via "The Quickening"), the producers finally managed to provide some interesting twists via the introduction of the Watchers, a secret society of mortals dedicated to observing the lives of the immortals. Vandernoot, homesick for Paris (where the series filmed half its episodes, due to a co-production deal), chose to leave the series at the start of the second season, with her character being killed off and Richie being revealed as an immortal at the same time. Blues artist Jim Byrnes became a regular during the second season. The Watchers were featured in many episodes, with the existence of the organization (and of immortals) sometimes on the verge of being revealed to the world. In the fifth season, Duncan was revealed as a Champion for Good, eventually resulting in an ultimate battle against the evil Ahriman and the death of Richie at the end of the fifth season and the beginning of the abbreviated final season. After six seasons, production on the show was ended, with Adrian Paul signed to appear as Duncan in the fourth movie (several movie-length videos were released during the course of the series) and producers Davis/Panzer planning a new television spin-off, this time featuring a female immortal. ~ Steven E. McDonald, All Movie Guide
"Danse Diabolique" is the title of a "cursed" ballet, which has been performed only three times. On the first two occasions, the prima ballerina has died under mysterious circumstances--and the same thing happens to the unfortunate young lady who stars in the third performance. Suspecting that murder rather than superstition is the cause of these three deaths, Jessica (Angela Lansbury) investigates, at one point posing as a scatterbrained Southern matron in order to weed out some vital information about some significant roses. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Living a hermitlike existence in the woods, Vietnam veteran Leo Atkins (Vincent Schiavelli) is charged with murder by sheriff Howard Crowley (John Novak). The victim was a mortal friend of Immortal Duncan MacLeod (Adrian Paul) -- and Duncan is convinced that Leo is innocent. Could the actual culprit be a local bully named Lemoyne (Garry Chalk), or is the guilty party the proverbial Least Likely Suspect? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Adrian Paul, Alexandra Van Der Noot, (more)
To the citizens of Vancouver, Duncan MacLeod (Adrian Paul) is just your average handsome, ponytailed, introspective antiques dealer. In truth, however, Duncan is an Immortal, born 400 years ago in Scotland, totally impervious to death or serious injury unless he is beheaded in a sword fight with another Immortal. He has also, over the centuries, built up enormous strength and energy, the result of absorbing those qualities from evil immortals whom he has decapitated. Duncan's mortal lover Tessa Noel (Alexandra Vandernoot) is aware of his secret identity, and though saddened by the fact that she will grow old while he remains forever young, she loves him all the same. Among Duncan's friends and acquaintances are Richie Ryan (Stan Kirsch), a reformed burglar who works in Duncan's antique shop, and TV reporter Randi McFarland (Amanda Wyss), who after witnessing a number of strange events is certain that there's something "different" about Duncan but can't put her finger on it. Halfway through the first season of Highlander, Duncan, Tessa, and Richie move to Paris establishing a pattern that would be followed in most seasons to come. Apprised by his mentor Darius (Werner Stocker) that evil forces are conspiring against him, Duncan is successful in warding those forces off -- but alas, Darius is not so lucky, and thereby hangs the plot strand that will be picked up when season two of Highlander gets under way. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Adrian Paul, Stan Kirsch, (more)
















