Adrian Paul Hewett (born May 29, 1959), better known as Adrian Paul, is an actor best known for his role on the television series Highlander: The Series as Duncan MacLeod. He was born in London, England in 1959, the first of three brothers to an Italian mother and a British father. Paul first became a model, then a dancer and choreographer. In 1985, he left Europe for the United States to pursue a dance and modeling career. In 1998, he founded The Peace Fund charitable organization.
He was cast in the role that would bring him to the most prominence to date, that of Duncan MacLeod in the syndicated television series Highlander: The Series, in 1992. Paul also starred in the spin-off movie, Highlander: Endgame (2000), and the fifth Highlander film: Highlander: The Source, released as a made-for-TV movie on the SCI-FI channel on September 15, 2007.
His first role was on the ABC television series, The Colbys as the Russian ex-patriate ballet dancer, Kolya (1987-1988). This was followed by guest appearances on the television shows Beauty and the Beast (1987), Murder, She Wrote (1984), Tarzan (1991), Relic Hunter (1999), and as himself in WWF SmackDown (1999). He appeared in a January 2003 episode of Charmed and off Broadway in the play Bouncers. He also appeared in the made-for-TV movies Shooter (1988) and The Cover Girl Murder (1993) which starred Lee Majors.
He appeared in a regular role in the second season of the television series War of the Worlds (1989-1990) as John Kincaid, three episodes of Dark Shadows (1991) as Jeremiah Collins, and made a pilot for CBS Television for a series called The Owl (1991). In 2001, he starred in Tracker.
Paul's first film appearance was in the 1988 film Last Rites, which starred Tom Berenger. He starred in the remake of The Masque of the Red Death (1989), a re-telling of the Edgar Allan Poe tale. Other movies which he has starred or co-starred are Dance to Win (also known as War Dancing) (1989), Love Potion No. 9 (1992) as Enrico Pazzoli, Dead Men Can't Dance (1997), Susan's Plan (also known as Dying to Get Rich) (1998), Merlin: The Return (1999) as Lancelot, Convergence (also called Premonition) (1999), The Void (2001), The Breed (2001), Code Hunter (2002), Nemesis Game (2003) Throttle (2005), and Phantom Below (also known as Tides of War) (2005). In 2006 he co-starred in the horror film Séance and in Little Chicago. He also starred as Ananias Dare in the Sci Fi original film, Wraiths of Roanoke (2007). He has recently finished work on the futuristic thriller Eyeborgs, and the thriller/drama The Heavy, both of which are currently in post-production.
During his tenure with Highlander: The Series Paul directed and produced numerous shows which eventually led to his role as Producer for the spinoff movies of the series. In 2008 he began voice acting the character of Patrick O'Brien in the animated War of the Worlds television show. Paul has spent time in the theater with numerous plays, the most notable of which being a guest appearance in Beauty and the Beast which he has stated helped shape his acting ability.
Paul was married to actress Meilani Paul but later divorced. He has no children. Since 1997, Paul has worked extensively for his charity organization PEACE (Protect, Educate, Aid Children Everywhere) under the auspices of Athletes and Entertainers for Kids, which puts into action the "School Makes a Difference" program, taking celebrities into schools and community centers to mentor children.
