If you've ever sat through the credits of a binge-worthy show, you know the feeling. The screen goes black, the music swells, and a simple white line of text appears: In Memory of... For fans of the gritty Australian masterpiece Mr Inbetween, that moment happened at the end of Season 2, Episode 10 ("See You Soon"). The name on the screen was Kane Mason.
People lost their minds.
Was Kane Mason a secret character? Was he the real-life hitman the show was based on? Or was he, as some wild Reddit theories suggested, an alter ego of the show’s creator and star, Scott Ryan?
The truth is much more grounded, deeply personal, and honestly, pretty tragic.
Who Was Kane Mason?
Kane Mason wasn't a character in the television series Mr Inbetween. He never stood toe-to-toe with Ray Shoesmith in a dimly lit Sydney alley. He wasn't one of Freddy’s goons or a rival hitman from a neighboring suburb.
Kane Mason was a real person. Specifically, he was a close friend of Scott Ryan.
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To understand who he was, you have to go back way before the FX checks started rolling in. Back to the early 2000s in Melbourne. Scott Ryan was a student at RMIT University, trying to make a low-budget mockumentary called The Magician.
This was the "proto-Ray" era.
Ryan didn't have a massive crew or a Hollywood budget. He had about $3,000, a camera, and a handful of mates who were willing to play criminals for free. One of those mates was Kane Mason.
The Role of Benny in The Magician
In that original 2005 film, Kane Mason played a character named Benny.
Benny was a "junkie" and a former associate of Ray's who had gotten himself into a world of trouble. In the film, Ray is tasked with dealing with him because Benny has been "talking to the cops."
It’s a pivotal relationship.
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It showed a side of Ray Shoesmith that would later become the backbone of the TV show: the professional killer who still has a sliver of loyalty for his old friends. Ray tries to save Benny by driving him out of the state, but Benny—being Benny—can't stay away.
Kane's performance was raw. It fit the DIY, "found footage" vibe of the movie perfectly. He wasn't a polished A-list actor; he was a guy from the Melbourne suburbs helping a friend realize a dream.
Why the Kane Mason Mr Inbetween Tribute Happened
Fast forward to 2019. Mr Inbetween is a cult hit. Scott Ryan is finally getting the global recognition he deserved decades ago. But behind the scenes, things weren't all smiles.
Kane Mason passed away in 2019. According to accounts from those who knew him during his time at RMIT, Kane took his own life. The loss hit the tight-knit crew of the original Magician project incredibly hard.
When you spend 13 months filming a movie on weekends with no money, you don't just stay colleagues. You become family.
Scott Ryan and director Nash Edgerton decided to honor their friend the only way they knew how. They dedicated the Season 2 finale to him.
Debunking the Myths
Internet forums are a weird place. Because the show feels so real, people often mistake fiction for fact. Let's clear up some of the nonsense surrounding Kane Mason Mr Inbetween searches:
- He is NOT Scott Ryan: Some people thought "Kane Mason" was a stage name Ryan used early in his career. Nope. Different guys.
- He wasn't a "real" hitman: The show is not a documentary. While Ray Shoesmith feels authentic, he's a fictional creation. Kane Mason was just an actor and a friend.
- He didn't play "Benny" in the TV show: While there is a character named Benny in the TV series (played by Clayton Jacobson), that is a different role. Kane’s Benny existed only in the 2005 movie.
The Legacy of a Melbourne Creative
It's easy to dismiss a "In Memory of" title card as just industry standard. But for the Mr Inbetween crew, it represented the bridge between their humble beginnings and their massive success.
Without the guys who worked for free on The Magician—people like Kane Mason—the character of Ray Shoesmith might have died in a student film graveyard.
Kane’s ashes were reportedly scattered in the Victorian highlands, a quiet end for a man who helped spark one of the best crime dramas of the 21st century.
What You Should Do Next
If you’ve only seen the TV show, you’re missing half the story. To truly appreciate why the Kane Mason Mr Inbetween tribute was so significant, you need to see where it all started.
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- Watch The Magician (2005): It’s a bit rough around the edges, but you’ll see Kane Mason as Benny. You’ll see the chemistry he had with Scott Ryan. It makes the tribute in the TV show feel a lot heavier.
- Re-watch Season 2, Episode 10: Knowing the context of their friendship turns that "See You Soon" title into a heartbreaking farewell from Ryan to his old mate.
- Look for the cameos: The show is full of nods to the original film crew. Keep your eyes peeled for recurring names in the credits; it’s a masterclass in how to stay loyal to the people who were there when you had nothing.
The show is about a man caught "in between" two worlds. For Scott Ryan, the tribute to Kane Mason was a way to bring his two worlds—his past struggles and his current success—together for one final goodbye.
Check out The Magician on streaming platforms or physical media. It’s the best way to honor the legacy of the guy who helped build the world of Ray Shoesmith.
Practical Insight: If you're a fan of the show's lore, always look toward the 2005 mockumentary for answers. Most of the emotional beats in the series are echoes of the relationships Scott Ryan forged during that decade-long struggle to get the film made.