Priestley was the partner of actress and writer
Kate Mulvany.
Death On the afternoon of 27 August 2008 Priestley checked into the
Swissotel in Market Street, Sydney, under the name 'Damien Barker'. He jumped from a window at the hotel at about 2PM. Police confirmed that his body was found in an awning. A police spokesperson said that the incident was not being treated as suspicious. The actor was believed to have been suffering from
depression. Priestley continued to be seen posthumously in his
All Saints role until 18 November 2008. Priestley's funeral was held on 4 September 2008 at Perth's Holy Family Catholic Church in Como, with more than 500 people in attendance. Press and camera crews were allowed to enter the church at the permission of the family, under the condition that no details of the
eulogy be released in public. Priestley was privately cremated after the ceremony. Priestley was rewarded for his acclaimed work on
All Saints in April 2009, nominated for a posthumous Logie Award for Most Popular Male Actor on Television but lost out to
Home and Away actor
Todd Lasance. It is also noted at the end of the
Channel Seven Perth Telethon 2008 telecast as being in memory of him. == Notable roles ==