George Miller's first choice for the starring role of Max Rockatansky was Healey himself whom at the time worked at a Melbourne abattoir, while pursuing his theatrical film debut.
Upon reading the script of Mad Max (1979) given to him, Healey declined the role of the strong but taciturn character, finding the lead's meager and terse dialogue too unappealing for his vocal acting performance.
During the release of Mad Max 2 in theaters, Healey on the other hand had a regular role on the soap opera The Restless Years as the murderous villain Gary Fisher in 1981.
He appeared in the show throughout the 1987–88 season, during which time his character became the fourth husband of Alexis Carrington Colby, played by Joan Collins after saving her life following a car crash.
In 1993, Healey was convicted of assault with a deadly weapon, and sentenced to 200 hours of community service and three years' probation upon suspension of a two-year state prison term.