In this era of Shortland Street, storylines were externally driven, with challenges and topical events emanating from Central (Hospital), the Ministry (of Health), and the wider community.

[5] Becoming widely known first on 1980s soap Gloss, Elliott was nominated for 'Best Actor' playing the scheming character Rex Redfern.

Gloss was a seminal NZ drama/ soap opera, one of the first local productions to achieve NZ-wide fame & audience.

He covers the range from Shakespeare to pantomime, and works frequently with notable directors such as Simon Prast Elric Hooper, Jonathan Hardy, Raymond Hawthorne and Shane Bosher..[7] He was also the corporate voice for New Zealand's leading talk radio station Newstalk ZB up until 2011.

[9] In the 2021 New Years Honours, Elliott was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to the performing arts and baseball.