Where Are They Now: The “Beastmaster” Edition

On October 1, 1999, a fantasy show called Beastmaster premiered on Syfy that was unlike anything else on television. Loosely based on the 1982 film The Beastmaster, the show revolved around Dar, the last of his tribe, and his various friends as they wandered the lands, struggling to maintain the balance between human demands and the animal kingdom. The basic storyline of the show was as follows: due to the expansion of civilization and the rise of technology, the old orders of magic and sorcery are fading; as a result, the Dark One, Balcifer, has taken advantage of the world’s vulnerability to seize power. He starts by launching an assault on King Eldar, Dar’s ancestor, and attempts to kill the entire royal family. However, his efforts are thwarted. To protect them, each family member is transformed into an animal and is scattered across the lands. It falls on Dar’s shoulders to reunite them and send them to the Crystal Arc so that they can defeat Balcifer. Along the way, Dar also has to contend with Balcifer’s agent on Earth, the savage and evil King Zad, who is intent on pillaging and enslaving all the races of the world.

Although the show only ran for three seasons, it covered quite a lot story-wise. In the beginning, the show was very action-packed, but as the series progressed, it became remarkably pacifistic and nature-oriented, which changed the tone of the show as a whole. With its impressive cinematography and attention to detail, it’s no wonder that the show received positive critical attention and accolades. In 2000, it was nominated for the Open Craft Award in the category of cinematography by the Australian Film Institute, and for the Saturn Award for Best Syndicated /Cable Television Series by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films, USA, in 2001. Had the show not been cut short prematurely, I have no doubt that it would’ve gone on to win awards in much more mainstream categories.

Sadly, Beastmaster ended before it could realize its full potential and its cast has moved on to other projects. So, what have the actors and actresses who played our favorite characters been up to since Beastmaster closed its curtains for the last time? Find out below!

Daniel Goddard (Dar)

Before scoring the part of Dar in Beastmaster, Daniel Doddard played Eric Phillips on the show Home and Away. After Beastmaster ended, Goddard landed parts in the movies Dream Warrior, Age of Kali, Immortally Yours and The Perfect Sleep. He also guest-starred on Wild Card and Monk. His most recent role was on the soap opera The Young and the Restless as the character Cane Ashby.

Jackson Raine (Tao)

Trained in martial arts, Jackson Raine made his television debut in 1998 as Dr. Who in the show All Saints. The year after, he landed the part of Dar’s loyal friend Tao on Beastmaster. Since it ended, Raine has been involved in a multitude of projects both in front of and behind the camera. He guest-starred on several different shows, including Stingers, Sea Patrol, Neighbors and Maximum Choppage. He also wrote and directed the 2011 short film Jordana’s Choice.

Monika Schnarre (The Sorceress)

Prior to being cast as The Sorceress in Beastmaster, Monika Schnarre already had quite a few acting gigs under her belt. She scored her first role in 1989 as a recurring character in the show Friday’s Curse. From there, she landed parts in The Bold and the Beautiful, Beverly Hills 90210, Silk Stalkings, Breaker High, Dead Man’s Gun, The New Addams Family and Caroline in the City. After leaving Beastmaster, she went on to guest star on Just Cause, Charmed, King of Queens, Mutant X, Andromeda, Cracked and, most recently, Saving Hope. She also played Linda Avery in the movie Love on the Side.

Marjean Holden (Arina)

Like Schnarre, Marjean Holden had worked on a plethora of different projects before she joined the cast of Beastmaster. While most of them were guest spots on shows from a variety of genres, including A Different World, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Renegade and Hangin’ With Mr. Cooper, she did land a major role in Crusade as the character Dr. Sarah Chambers. Post-Beastmaster, she played Carol Flores in the film Hostages and guest-starred on ER. Her upcoming projects include the movies Bring Me the Head of Lance Henriksen, Garrison 7: The Fallen and Garrison 7.

Dylan Bierk (The New Sorceress)

While Dylan Bierk was only in the show for a short time—nine episodes, in fact—she certainly made an impression on fans as The New Sorceress. Once her stint on the show was complete, she went on to guest star on Mutant X, Andromeda, Bury the Lead, Soul Food, Playmakers, Wild Card and Good Dog. She also played the character Briggs in the 2001 film Jason X.

Steven Grives (King Zad)

Prior to playing the ruthless King Zad on Beastmaster, Steven Grives was making a name for himself acting-wise, scoring prominent roles in the shows Flamberds, The Ravelled Thread, Holiday Island, Second Chance, The Explorers and Water Rats. In addition, he played Gibson in the mini-series Captain James Cook. The year after Beastmaster ended, he joined the cast of Fat Cow Motel as the character Dennis Dreeble. Then, in 2005, he was cast as Wilson on the show Scooter: Secret Agent. His most recent role was in 2011’s TV movie Sinbad and the Minotaur.

Emilie de Ravin (Curupira)

Without a doubt, Emilie de Ravin went on to have the most successful career after Beastmaster. When the show ended, she immediately joined the cast of Roswell as the character Tess Hardling. From there, she scored starring roles in the films The Hills Have Eyes, The Perfect Game, Public Enemies, Remember Me and The Chameleon. Then, in 2004, she landed the part of Claire Littleton on Lost, which remains one of her most memorable roles. She is currently playing the character Belle French in the hit fantasy show Once Upon a Time.

Natalie Mendoza (Kyra)

After playing Kyra on Beastmaster, Natalie Mendoza scored minor roles in the films Muggers and Moulin Rouge. Then, in 2005, she was cast as Juno in the hit horror film The Descent and Mina in the action-thriller The Great Raid. From there, she landed a recurring part in the show Hotel Babylon, reprised her role as Juno in The Descent: Part 2 and guest-starred on the shows Americana and Midsomer Murders.

Grahame Bond (The Ancient One)

Grahame Bond’s career prior to Beastmaster was extensive and admirable. A renowned comedian and stage performer, Bond created the Australian TV series Aunty Jack in 1971, on which he played a variety of characters. He also wrote and performed several musicals in the 1980s, including “Captain Bloody” for the Elizabethan Theatre Trust. In addition, he is credited for writing the episode “Valhalla” for Beastmaster while he was on it. Nowadays, Bond spends most of his time traveling and is planning on releasing a documentary in the future.

David Paterson (King Voden)

Last but not least, we have David Paterson, who played the notorious King Voden in Beastmaster. Prior to scoring that part, his most prominent role was Todd on the show Dog’s Head Bay. His post-Beastmaster television credits include: The Secret Life of Us, Blue Heelers, Stingers and, most recently, Winners and Losers. He has no upcoming projects on the horizon at this time.