Gold Logie-winning actor Craig McLachlan has successfully stayed defamation proceedings he brought against the ABC and The Sydney Morning Herald, meaning the case may not return to court for several years, after criminal charges were laid against him last week.

Mr McLachlan, 53, was charged by Victoria Police on January 11 with one count of common assault, eight counts of indecent assault and one count of attempted indecent assault relating to alleged incidents in 2014.

Actor Craig McLachlan.

He is due to appear before Melbourne Magistrates Court on February 8.

Mr McLachlan launched defamation action against the media organisations and his former colleague Christie Whelan Browne after an investigation published in January 2018 aired allegations of harassment and sexual misconduct made against him by female performers in the 2014 stage production of The Rocky Horror Show.