P. J. Lane
Lane at the red carpet premiere at State Theatre, Sydney
Born
Phillip Jacob Isaacson
Occupation(s)Actor, singer, philanthropist, TV presenter
Years active2009–present
WebsiteOfficial website

P. J. Lane is an Australian actor, entertainer, philanthropist, school basketball coach and former professional basketball player.

Early life

Born in the United States but raised in Australia, Lane is the only child of Jayne Ambrose and Logie Hall of Fame inductee Don Lane.[1] Lane attained a performing arts scholarship to The Scots College in Sydney, Australia, at the age of 12.[2] While attending Scots, Lane studied acting, voice, and classical piano.[3]

Despite his family affiliation with show business, Lane was known as a young basketball prospect.[4] Lane's father Don was the head basketball coach at St Aloysius' College. Lane often played for The Scots College with his father coaching the opposing team.[5] Lane's basketball ability led him to complete his high-school education at Westlake High School in Westlake Village, California.[6] While attending Westlake High, Lane continued his music study with former Beach Boys keyboard player Mike Meros.[7]

Basketball career

Upon his completion of high school, Lane was awarded a full basketball scholarship to Southern Connecticut State University.[8] While attending SCSU, Lane majored in music and made the dean's list for academic performance.[9] After university, Lane played for three seasons as a professional basketball player in the Greek league. He played for the teams of Apollon Patras BC, Aigio, and AS Manis.[10]

Lane returned to Australia in 2009. An article in the Australian Women's Day stated that his father's deteriorating health brought him back to Australia and prevented him from returning to Europe despite some lucrative offers.[11]

Lane continued to play basketball in the Australian Basketball Association Waratah League for the Hornsby Spiders.[12]

Television

Early in his career, Lane was the feature story on A Current Affair,[13] performed live on Mornings with Kerri-Anne,[14] and performed at the 2009 Carols in the Domain.[15] After his father's passing, Lane performed a Don Lane tribute at the Logie Awards of 2010.[16]

In late 2009, Lane began presenting stories for Sydney Weekender on the Seven Network. According to the Sydney Weekender website, Lane was still a featured presenter in 2012.[17]

Acting

In early 2010, Lane was asked to audition for the Australian film 6 Plots. It was later accepted to the 2012 Cannes Film Festival and released in 2012.[18][19] In July 2010, Lane appeared in the Australian television soap opera Neighbours as Sonya Mitchell's (Eve Morey) ex-boyfriend Eli Baker.[20] He had originally auditioned for another role in May 2010 but was unsuccessful.[20] Lane played the role of Michael Christiansen in Underbelly: Badness[21] and had to put on 18 kg of muscle for the role.[22] As of November 2020, his last on-screen acting role was a part in the 2014 movie Freedom.

Charity work

Lane's father Don Lane died in October 2009 from complications with Alzheimer's disease.[23] Since his father's passing, Lane has been an ambassador for Alzheimer’s Australia to raise funds and awareness for the disease.[24] Lane is the producer of the Memory Lane Concert, which raises funds for Alzheimer's Australia. In the variety style of The Don Lane Show, the concert showcases well-known performers in Australia.[25] In a 2011 interview, Lane said that Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia are under-funded based on the number of people affected by the disease.[26] The concert has featured the likes of Alan Jones, Rhonda Burchmore, David Campbell, Peter Cousens, Rob Mills, and other veterans of the industry.[27] The 2011 concert was held at Sydney's State Theatre.[28]

References

  1. ↑ "Don Lane dead at 75". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 22 October 2009. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  2. ↑ "SA 50s Lifestyle : SA 50s Summer 10 11, Page 3". Sa50lifestyle.realviewtechnologies.com. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  3. ↑ "PJ Lane / claxton speakers / speaker profile". Claxtonspeakers.com.au. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  4. ↑ "Waverley Basketball Association". Waverleybasketball.com. 30 July 2008. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  5. ↑ Trieste, Laura (29 October 2009). "St Aloysius boys honour their Don - News - North Shore Times". North-shore-times.whereilive.com.au. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  6. ↑ "Westlake boys off to fast start with new varsity hoops' coach | www.theacorn.com". The Acorn. 26 December 2002. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  7. ↑ "Keyboardist Mike Meros will be remembered Saturday in T.O. » Ventura County Star". Vcstar.com. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  8. ↑ "Champion the wonder horse". The Sydney Morning Herald. 21 October 2005. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  9. ↑ "PJ Lane - Entertainer". Ovations!. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  10. ↑ "P.J. Isaacson Basketball Player Profile, stats, biography, career". Eurobasket. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  11. ↑ "Don Lane's son: I gave up my career for Dad". Womansday.ninemsn.com.au. 31 May 2009. Archived from the original on 20 July 2012. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  12. ↑ Deare, Steven (21 June 2012). "Spider PJ and his life as the Fast Lane". Hornsby & Upper North Shore Advocate. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  13. ↑ Buy The Don Lane Show DVDs online (20 December 2010). "Memory Lane". Aca.ninemsn.com.au. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  14. ↑ Duck, Siobhan (23 October 2009). "Veteran television entertainer Don Lane laid to rest". The Advertiser. Adelaide. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  15. ↑ "Latest News Article". Carols in the Domain. 22 December 2007. Archived from the original on 23 February 2010. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  16. ↑ "Home and Away's Ray Meagher wins Gold Logie". Perth Now. 2 May 2010. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  17. ↑ "The Team". Visit NSW. 5 July 2012. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  18. ↑ Dudak, Gary (12 June 2012). "10 Questions with Saskia Hampele of '6 Plots'". Mandatory. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  19. ↑ "Film Detail :: Rialto Distribution". Archived from the original on 12 December 2011. Retrieved 2 July 2012.
  20. 1 2 "Don Lane's son PJ gets acting break in Neighbours". Herald Sun. 7 July 2010. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
  21. ↑ Jo Casamento (28 April 2012). "Twin littlies for Leona". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  22. ↑ "Who's who in Badness". TV Week (32): 21. 11–17 August 2012.
  23. ↑ Mex Cooper (22 October 2009). "Don Lane Dead &". The Age. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  24. ↑ "Alzheimer's Australia NSW Ambassadors | Alzheimer's Australia". Fightdementia.org.au. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  25. ↑ "Home - The Memory Lane Concert | Monday 24th October 2011". The Memory Lane Concert. 24 October 2011. Archived from the original on 26 January 2014. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  26. ↑ Habib, Rashell (16 June 2011). "Don Lane's son hosts dancing event for 1000 kids - Education - News - Inner West Courier". Inner-west-courier.whereilive.com.au. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  27. ↑ "The Memory Lane concert for Alzheimer's disease set up by PJ Lane after death of Don Lane". The Daily Telegraph. Australia. 20 October 2011. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  28. ↑ "The Memory Lane Concert - To benefit Alzheimer's - The State Theatre : Theatres in Sydney, Sydney". My247.com.au. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
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