Hugh Michael Jackman is an Australian actor and producer known for his remarkable versatility in film, musical theatre, and television. He gained recognition outside of Australia for his role as Curly and skyrocketed to stardom as Wolverine in the blockbuster hit X-Men. Jackman has received critical acclaim for his performances in various films, including Kate & Leopold, Swordfish, The Prestige, and Les Misérables. He has also showcased his talent as a host, leading the Tony Awards and Academy Awards multiple times. With his impressive voice acting skills, Jackman has lent his voice to numerous animated characters. Throughout his career, he has been honored with awards such as an Emmy, two Tonies, and a Golden Globe.
Quick Facts
- Australian Celebrities Born In October
- Also Known As: Hugh Michael Jackman
- Age: 55 Years, 55 Year Old Males
- Family:
- Spouse/Ex-: Deborra-Lee Furness (m. 1996)
- Father: Christopher John Jackman
- Mother: Grace McNeil (née Greenwood)
- Children: Ava Eliot Jackman, Oscar Maximilian Jackman
- Born Country: Australia
- Quotes By Hugh Jackman
- Actors
- Ancestry: English Australian, Greek Australian
- Notable Alumni: Edith Cowan University, University Of Technology Sydney
- City: Sydney, Australia
- More Facts
- Education: University Of Technology Sydney, Edith Cowan University
Childhood & Early Life
Hugh Jackman was born on 12 October 1968 in Sydney, New South Wales. His parents, Grace McNeil and Christopher John Jackman, were English and had migrated to Australia in 1967. He has four older siblings and a younger half-sister from his mother’s re-marriage. When he was eight, his parents divorced and his mother moved back to England with his two sisters. Jackman attended Pymble Public School and later Knox Grammar School, where he starred in the production of My Fair Lady in 1985. He took a drama course in his final year at the University of Technology, Sydney, and graduated in 1991. He then attended the Actors’ Centre in Sydney and the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, from which he graduated in 1994.
Career
Jackman’s first professional job was in the Australian television series Correlli in 1995. He gained recognition outside of Australia for his role as Curly in the Royal National Theatre’s production of Oklahoma! in London’s West End in 1998. In 2004, he won accolades for his portrayal of Peter Allen in the Broadway musical The Boy from Oz. He also co-starred with Daniel Craig in the play A Steady Rain. In 2005, Jackman formed a production company called Seed Productions with his assistant John Palermo. He has appeared in various films, including The Prestige, The Fountain, and Australia. He also had a one-man show in San Francisco in 2011 and starred as Jean Valjean in the film adaptation of Les Misérables.
Major Works
One of Jackman’s major works is his role as Wolverine in the X-Men series. He first played the character in Bryan Singer’s X-Men in 2000 and reprised the role in several sequels. He also starred in the romantic comedy film Kate & Leopold in 2001. Jackman’s performance in Les Misérables earned him a Golden Globe Award in 2013.
Awards
Jackman has received numerous awards throughout his career. He won a Golden Globe Award for his role in Les Misérables and was nominated for an Oscar. He also won an Emmy Award for his performance in The 58th Annual Tony Awards. His role as Wolverine in the X-Men series has earned him several awards, including the Saturn Best Actor Award and People’s Choice Favorite Action Movie Star Award. He has also won two Tony Awards for his work in The Boy from Oz.
Personal Life & Legacy
Jackman married Deborra-Lee Furness in 1996, and they have two adopted children. He is a global advisor of the Global Poverty Project and a vocal supporter of Muhammad Yunus, a microcredit pioneer and Nobel Peace Prize winner.
Trivia
In an interview, Jackman revealed that he is a fan of the “Friday The 13th” film series and became an actor because he wanted to play Jason in one of the movies. He was also voted one of The 50 Most Beautiful People in the World by People magazine and does not smoke in real life because he finds it horrible to smoke in movies.