Hugh Sheridan

For the New Zealand boxer, see Hugh Sheridan (boxer).

Hugh Sheridan
Sheridan at the 2011 GQ Men of the Year Awards
Born
Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
EducationNational Institute of Dramatic Art (BFA)
Occupation(s)Actor, singer, television presenter
Years active2008–present
Spouse
​
​
(m. 2009; div. 2018)​

Hugh Sheridan is an Australian actor, singer, and television presenter who is known for his[a] role as Ben Rafter in the television series Packed to the Rafters. Sheridan is a four-time Logie Award winner, in the Most Popular Actor category.

In 2009 he released the album Speak Love, and has released three singles. He is also a co-founder and member of singing trio the California Crooners Club.

Early life and education

[edit]

Sheridan grew up in the Adelaide suburb of Millswood. His father, Denis Sheridan, was a jazz musician, and was mayor of Unley from 1982 to 1985, and his mother, Margaret, and all seven children in the family were active in the community. Hugh attended Loreto College in Marryatville for the junior primary years, before changing to Saint Ignatius' College.[2]

He began training at Unley Youth Theatre aged 5,[3][4] later (2010) becoming patron of the then renamed Urban Youth.[5]

From the age of 16 studied advanced dance at the Terry Simpson Studios in Adelaide, where his teacher recommended that he audition at the Australian Ballet School, where he was accepted. While studying dance there, he also studied opera at the Victorian College of the Arts.[4]

Upon leaving the Australian Ballet School, Sheridan was accepted into the Bachelor of Dramatic Art course at the National Institute of Dramatic Art in Sydney, aged 18. In his final year there, he won the role of Ben Rafter in the pilot for Packed to the Rafters.[4]

Acting career

[edit]

Sheridan performed in The Lost Echo with the Sydney Theatre Company, and was then hired for the Seven Network series Packed to the Rafters as Ben Rafter, for which he won several awards. In February 2011, he filled in as host on The Kyle & Jackie O Show alongside fellow Packed to the Rafters star George Houvardas.[6] In 2012, Sheridan hosted the Network Ten talent show series I Will Survive, during a production break for Packed to the Rafters.

Controversy In 2020, the Australian production of Hedwig and the Angry Inch was postponed after a petition highlighted the lack of LGBTQ representation in the show and expressed "disappointment" over the casting of Sheridan in the lead role of Hedwig, whom many believe to be a transgender character.[7] On Instagram, Zoe Terakes shared an open letter to the Sydney Festival penned by a group of people including Daya Czepanski, David Campbell and Michaela Banas, explaining why trans representation is vital when telling the story of a trans character.[7] The letter also called for the recasting of Sheridan, who stated an attraction to both men and women but avoids a sexuality label.[7] In response to the letter, the American creators of Hedwig, John Cameron Mitchell and Stephen Trask, issued a statement saying they did not believe that Hedwig was transgender, and that anyone could play the role, however, the Australian producers, Showtune Productions, cancelled the show.[8]

Other projects In March 2021, Sheridan debuted his stage show Hughman at Adelaide Fringe.[9] Sheridan reprised his role as Ben Rafter in Back to the Rafters, an Amazon Prime Video reboot of Packed to the Rafters.[10]

In 2022, Sheridan was revealed to be Rooster when he placed third in Season 4 of The Masked Singer Australia.[11]

In 2023, Sheridan performed the lead role of Jonathan Larson in Tick, Tick...Boom! in Melbourne, Brisbane, and Sydney.[1]

Music

[edit]

In 2009 he released the album Speak Love, which peaked at no. 86 on the Australian charts.[12] He has also released the singles "Just Can't Throw Us Away",[13] "All About Me",[14] and "Speak Love".[15]

Sometime before 2015 Sheridan and friends Emile Welman and Gabe Roland formed the singing trio California Crooners Club, after sharing their love of jazz music in Hollywood.[16] The California Crooners Club, based in Los Angeles,[2] has performed at the Adelaide Fringe (2015, 2019, 2020) to good reviews,[17][18][19] with six shows sold out before their first appearance. In 2015 they were also booked for Melbourne and Sydney.[16] They performed in a Spiegeltent at the Brisbane Festival in 2016 and 2018.[20][21]

Other roles

[edit]

In 2010 Sheridan became patron of Urban Myth Theatre of Youth.[5]

In 2017, he was appointed as one of three Fringe Ambassadors for the Adelaide Fringe.[22]

Personal life

[edit]

Sheridan came out as non-binary and bisexual in an Instagram post on 26 June 2021,[23][24] In an October 2020 interview with Stellar, Sheridan revealed relationships with both women and men but preferred not to label his sexuality.[25]

He was married to Venezuelan actor Rafael de la Fuente from 2009 to 2018.[22] On 5 March 2021, Sheridan proposed to boyfriend Kurt Roberts during the opening night of the Hughman stage show;[26][27] their separation was announced in November 2021.[28]

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2009 Logie Awards Most Popular New Male Talent Packed to the Rafters (Season 1) Won [29]
Graham Kennedy Award for Most Outstanding Newcomer Nominated
2010 Most Popular Actor Packed to the Rafters (Season 2) Won [30]
2011 Packed to the Rafters (Season 3) Won [31]
Most Outstanding Actor Nominated
Equity Ensemble Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble Series in a Drama Series[b] Packed to the Rafters Nominated
2012 Logie Awards Most Popular Actor Packed to the Rafters (Season 4) Won [32]
Equity Ensemble Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble Series in a Drama Series[c] Packed to the Rafters Nominated
2013 Logie Awards Most Popular Actor Packed to the Rafters (Season 5) Nominated [33]
2014 Packed to the Rafters (Season 6) Nominated [34]
2022 Most Outstanding Supporting Actor Back to the Rafters Nominated [35]

Filmography

[edit]

Film

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
2023 Holiday Twist George
2021 Christmas on the Farm [36] David
2019 Dark Place Mike
2018 The Flip Side Nigel
2017 Boar Robert

Television

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
2008–2013 Packed to the Rafters Ben Rafter Seasons 1–5 (main), Season 6 (guest); 103 episodes
2009–2013 Play School Himself; presenter
2012 I Will Survive Himself; presenter
2014 INXS: Never Tear Us Apart [37] Garry Gary Beers 2 episodes
2015 The Divorce Toby 4 episodes
2017 House Husbands [38] Nick Gazecki Season 5 (main, 12 episodes)
2019–2023 Five Bedrooms Lachlan Best Seasons 1–2, 4 (main, 15 episodes)
2021 Back to the Rafters Ben Rafter 6 episodes
2022 The Masked Singer Self/Rooster Australian version; 7 episodes
Carols in the Domain Himself
This is Your Life: Rebecca Gibney Himself

Discography

[edit]

Albums

[edit]
List of studio albums, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart positions
AUS
[12]
Speak Love 86
Something Big
  • Released: 20 November 2024
  • Label: Yo Yo Music
  • Format: digital download
 —

Extended plays

[edit]
List of EPs, with selected details
Title Details
Solitary Man
  • Released: 22 August 2022
  • Label: Solitary Man
  • Format: digital download

Singles

[edit]
List of singles, with selected chart positions
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
AUS
[12]
"Just Can't Throw Us Away"[13] 2009 73 non-album single
"All About Me"[14] —[A] Speak Love
"Speak Love"[15] 2010 —
"Sweet Caroline 2022 — Solitary Man
"—" denotes items which failed to chart.

Notes

  1. ^ "All About Me" did not enter the ARIA Top 100 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 6 on the Physical Singles Chart .[12]

Footnotes

[edit]
  1. ^ Sheridan uses both he/him and they/them pronouns. This article uses he/him for consistency.[1]
  2. ^ Shared with: Michael Caton, Ryan Corr, Rebecca Gibney, George Houvardas, Gillian Jones, Jessica Marais, Angus McLaren, James Stewart, Erik Thomson, Zoe Ventoura
  3. ^ Shared with: Michael Caton, Ryan Corr, Merridy Eastman, Rebecca Gibney, George Houvardas, Jessica Marais, Hannah Marshall, Angus McLaren, James Stewart, Erik Thomson

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Byrne, Tim (31 January 2023). "Hugh Sheridan: 'I was overwhelmed with grief – I couldn't believe that people could turn so quickly'". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  2. ^ a b Villani, Celeste (11 October 2016). "What actor Hugh Sheridan looks forward to most when he returns to Adelaide". The Advertiser (Adelaide)/ Eastern Courier Messenger. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  3. ^ "Hugh Sheridan". The Harbour Agency. 2 September 2016. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  4. ^ a b c "School alumni: Hugh Sheridan - Actor, Dancer, Musician and Television Presenter". Terry Simpson Studios. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  5. ^ a b "New Patron for Urban Myth Theatre of Youth!". Glam Adelaide. 5 July 2010. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  6. ^ POPSUGAR Celebrity AU. "Fun and Funny Celebrity Twitter Pictures From Lea Michele, Justin Bieber and More". POPSUGAR Celebrity Australia. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 25 May 2011.
  7. ^ a b c "Hedwig Postponed Over Casting Of Hugh Sheridan As Trans Lead". HuffPost. 18 November 2020. Archived from the original on 19 November 2021. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  8. ^ Button, James (19 November 2021). "'They cancelled me as a human': What nearly killed Logie winner Hugh Sheridan". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  9. ^ Moylan, Ali (7 March 2021). "Adelaide Fringe review: Hughman". InDaily. Archived from the original on 7 March 2021. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  10. ^ "Hugh Sheridan talks Packed to the Rafters reboot, their new man and upcoming show". 7NEWS.com.au. 2 March 2021. Archived from the original on 3 March 2021. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  11. ^ Guertin, Lachlan (28 August 2022). "Masked Singer winner revealed after epic grand finale". Yahoo Life. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
  12. ^ a b c d "ARIA Report Issue 1033" (PDF). 14 December 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 January 2010. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
  13. ^ a b "Just Can't Throw That Away – single". iTunes Australia. 3 September 2009. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
  14. ^ a b "All About Me – single". iTunes Australia. 30 October 2009. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
  15. ^ a b "Speak Love – single". iTunes Australia. 18 June 2010. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
  16. ^ a b "California Crooners Club Shows". Girl.com.au. 2015. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  17. ^ "Fringe review: California Crooners Club, Masonic – Gluttony". Upside Adelaide. 16 February 2020. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  18. ^ Hogan, Jil (15 February 2019). "Get Up Close With Hugh Sheridan's California Crooners Club Tonight". Glam Adelaide. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  19. ^ Edwards, Fran (16 February 2020). "Fringe Review: California Crooners Club". Glam Adelaide. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  20. ^ "California Crooners Club". Australian Stage. 5 September 2016. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  21. ^ "Spiegeltent swellegance". Blue Curtains Brisbane. 9 September 2018. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  22. ^ a b Fowler, Bella (18 October 2022). "Man Hugh Sheridan was married to for nine years revealed as Rafael de la Fuente". News.com.au. News.com. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  23. ^ "Packed to the Rafters star Hugh Sheridan identifies as non-binary". New Zealand Herald. 27 June 2021.
  24. ^ "Australian actor Hugh Sheridan comes out as 'non-binary bisexual human'". GAY TIMES. 28 June 2021. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
  25. ^ Milton, Josh (18 October 2020). "Actor Hugh Sheridan says he's been with men and women but prefers not to label his sexuality". Pink News. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  26. ^ Paine, Hannah (6 March 2021). "'Thrilled': Hugh Sheridan engaged to boyfriend". News.com.au. Archived from the original on 7 March 2021. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  27. ^ Harris, Amy (6 March 2021). "Hugh Sheridan proposes to boyfriend Kurt Roberts on stage". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  28. ^ Cartwright, Lexie (18 November 2021). "Hugh Sheridan announces split from fiance Kurt Roberts". news.com.au. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  29. ^ "2009 Logie Awards". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  30. ^ "2010 Logie Awards". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  31. ^ "2011 Logie Awards". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  32. ^ "2012 Logie Awards". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  33. ^ "2013 Logie Awards". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  34. ^ "2014 Logie Awards". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  35. ^ "2022 Logie Awards". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  36. ^ "Airdate: Christmas on the Farm | TV Tonight". 11 November 2021.
  37. ^ "Hugh Sheridan back on Seven for INXS drama | TV Tonight". 21 June 2013.
  38. ^ "Hugh Sheridan joining House Husbands | TV Tonight". 8 March 2016.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hugh_Sheridan&oldid=1255011529"