Hugh Jackman Biography

Australian actor Hugh Jackman was born on October 12, 1968, in Sydney, . Jackman was born to English parents as the youngest of their five children. He earned a communications degree with a major in journalism from Sydney 's University of Technology , and then went on to study drama at Western Australia Academy of Performing Arts. Jackman landed his first big break straight after graduation when he was offered a starring role in the Australian television series Corelli. While working on the show, Jackman played the role of an angry prisoner who falls in love with his counselor, played by Deborrah-Lee Furness. In 1996 Jackman and Furness married each other.

In addition to appearing on the small-screen, Jackman also became known for his work on stage during the 90s, starring in such productions as Beauty and the Beast, Sunset Boulevard, and Oklahoma ! By the end of the decade, Jackman was recognized with a Best Actor nomination from the Australian Film Institute for his performance in the urban drama Erskineville Kings (1999).

Jackman kicked off the new millennium playing Wolverine in a big-screen adaptation of X-Men, alongside Patrick Stewart, Anna Paquin, James Marsden, and Halle Berry . A last minute addition to the X-Men cast, audiences noticed that Jackman possessed that certain "X"-factor, and his career began to take off. He was then selected to star in romantic comedy Someone Like You (2001), also starring Ashley Judd and Marisa Tomei; as well as Swordfish, also starring John Travolta. By 2003, Jackman had returned to the role of Wolverine for X2: X-Men United, and followed up one year later in the title role of the 2004 big-budget, critically panned film, Van Helsing. In 2005, Jackman teamed up with his longtime assistant, John Palermo, to form Seed Productions, which is slated to produce its first feature film project, Wolverine, in 2008.

Jackman has also lent his voice to such animated productions as Flushed Away and Happy Feet in 2006. Also in 2006, Jackman announced his plans to produce and star in a big-screen adaptation of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, Carousel; as well as being cast to replace Russell Crowe in Baz Luhrmann's Australia, alongside fellow Aussie, Nicole Kidman.

In his free time, Jackman enjoys wind surfing, playing piano, guitar, and violin. He currently lives in Melbourne with wife, Deborrah-Lee Furness, and their two adopted children, son Oscar Maximilian, born on May 15, 2000 and daughter, Ava Eliot, born on July 10, 2005.

By 2009 Hugh's career had reached enormous proportions and he was signed up to host the 2009 Oscars at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood. He brought a renewed sense of style, glamour, excitement and old time entertainment to the show with his song and dance routines and his general charismatic personality.

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