April/May 2009
www.thestarwalkers.com
Hugh Jackman- October 12th, 1968 -
Edited by –
Eric Walker
Early Life
Hugh Michael Jackman was born in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, the youngest of five children of English parents Chris Jackman and Grace Watson, and the second of his siblings to be born in Australia.His mother left the family when he was eight years old, and he remained with his accountant father and siblings.
Jackman attended the all-boys Knox Grammar School, where he starred in its production of the musical My Fair Lady in 1985. The following year he spent a gap year working at Uppingham School in England. On his return to Australia he studied at the University of Technology, Sydney, graduating in 1991 with a BA in Communications. After obtaining his BA, Jackman went on in 1991 to complete the one year course "The Journey" at the Actors' Centre in Sydney.
After completing the course he was offered a role on the popular soap opera Neighbours, but turned it down to attend the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts of Edith Cowan University in Perth, Western Australia, from which he graduated in 1994.
"Career"
Early stage, film, and television work
On stage in Melbourne, Jackman played Gaston in the local Walt Disney production of Beauty and the Beast and Joe Gillis in Sunset Boulevard. During his stage musical career in Melbourne, he starred in the 1998 festival cabaret production Summa Cabaret. He also hosted Melbourne's Carols by Candlelight and Sydney's Carols in the Domain.
Jackman's early film work includes Erskineville Kings and Paperback Hero (1999), while his television work includes Correlli (a 10 part drama series on the ABC and Jackman's first major professional job, devised by Australian actress Denise Roberts and where he also met his future wife, Deborra-Lee Furness), Law of the Land, Halifax f.p., Blue Heelers, and Banjo Paterson's The Man from Snowy River.
International stardom
Oklahoma!
Jackman became known outside of Australia in 1998, when he played the leading role of Curly in the Royal National Theatre's acclaimed stage production of Oklahoma!, in London's West End. The performance earned him an Olivier Award nomination for Best Actor in a Musical. He also starred in the 1999 television version of the stage classic 1999 film version of the same stage musical, which has been screened in many countries.
X-Men
In 2000, Jackman was cast as Wolverine in Bryan Singer's X-Men, replacing Dougray Scott. His co-stars include Patrick Stewart, Halle Berry, Ian McKellen, James Marsden, Famke Janssen and Anna Paquin. According to a CBS interview in November 2006, Jackman's wife Deborra-Lee Furness told him not to take the role, a comment she later told him she was glad he ignored.
Jackman, at 6' 2", stands nearly a foot taller than Wolverine, who is said in the original comic book to be 5' 3". Hence, the filmmakers were frequently forced to shoot Jackman at unusual angles or only from the waist up to make him appear shorter than he actually is. Jackman was also required to add a great deal of muscle for the role, and in preparing for the fourth film in the series, he bench-pressed over 300 pounds. An instant star upon the film's release, Jackman later reprised his role in 2003's X-Men 2, 2006's X-Men: The Last Stand, and X-Men Origins: Wolverine, due to be released in 2009.
2001
Jackman starred as Leopold, opposite Meg Ryan, in the 2001 romantic comedy film Kate & Leopold, a role for which he was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy. Jackman plays a Victorian English aristocrat who is accidentally time-traveled to 21st-century Manhattan, where he meets Kate, a cynical advertising executive.
In 2001, Jackman also starred in the action/drama Swordfish, with John Travolta, and Halle Berry. This was the second time Jackman worked with Berry, and the two have worked together twice more in the X-Men movies, making a total of four movies starring Jackman and Berry from 2000 to 2006.
Jackman went on to host NBC's Saturday Night Live later that year, on December 8th 2001.
Stage musicals 2002–2006
In 2002, Jackman sang the role of Billy Bigelow in the musical Carousel in a special concert performance at Carnegie Hall.
In 2004, Jackman won the Tony Award and the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical, for his 2003–2004 Broadway portrayal of Australian songwriter and performer Peter Allen, in the hit musical, The Boy from Oz, which he also performed in Australia in 2006.
In addition, Jackman hosted the Tony Awards in 2003, 2004, and 2005, garnering very positive reviews. His hosting of the 2004 Tony Awards earned him an Emmy Award win for Outstanding Individual Performer in a Variety, Musical or Comedy program in 2005.
Return to film
After 2003's X2: X-Men United, in 2004 Jackman played the title role of vampire hunter Gabriel Van Helsing in the film Van Helsing.
In 2005, Jackman filmed the parts of three different characters in Darren Aronofsky's 2006 science-fiction film The Fountain. As Tommy Creo, a neuroscientist, Jackman plays a man who was torn between his wife, Izzi (Rachel Weisz) who is dying of a brain tumor, and his work at trying to cure her. As Captain Tomas Creo, Jackman plays a Spanish Conquistador in 1532 Seville who is seeking the mythical Tree of Life for his queen, Isabel (also played by Weisz), in order to retain her throne. Captain Tomas is actually a character in the book Izzi is writing called The Fountain. Jackman's third character is the future astronaut, Tom, travelling to a golden nebula in an eco-spacecraft and seeking to be reunited with Izzi. Jackman said The Fountain was his most difficult film thus far, due to the physical and emotional demands of the part.
Also in 2005, Jackman was one of the choices to play James Bond, in 2006's Casino Royale, but eventually lost out to Daniel Craig.
The Prestige
Jackman starred in the 2006 film The Prestige, directed by Christopher Nolan and also starring Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Scarlett Johansson, Andy Serkis and David Bowie. As Robert Angier, Jackman portrayed a magician who built up a rivalry with contemporary Alfred Borden in attempt to 'one up' each other in the art of deception. Jackman stated that his main reason for doing The Prestige was to work with the musician Bowie, who played scientist Nikola Tesla.
He also starred in Woody Allen's 2006 film Scoop, opposite Scarlett Johansson. He rounded out 2006 with two animated films: Happy Feet, directed by George Miller, in which he voiced the part of Memphis, an emperor penguin, and Flushed Away, where Jackman also supplied the voice of a rat named Roddy who ends up being flushed down his Kensington family's toilet into the London sewer system. Flushed Away also starred Kate Winslet, Ian McKellen (the fourth time Jackman has worked with him), Jean Reno, Andy Serkis (the second time Jackman has worked with him, the first being in The Prestige) and Bill Nighy.
In 2007, Jackman produced and guest-starred in the television musical-dramedy series Viva Laughlin, which was cancelled by CBS after two episodes. A decision about the remaining episodes already filmed at the time of cancellation has yet to be made.
Jackman's 2008 movies included Deception (which he starred in and produced), Uncle Jonny, and Australia.
Australia
In 2008, director Baz Luhrmann cast Jackman to replace Russell Crowe as the male lead in his much-publicized epic film, Australia, which co-stars Nicole Kidman. The movie was released in late November 2008 in Australia and the U.S., and is being released in stages worldwide. Jackman plays a tough, independent cattle drover, who reluctantly helps an English noblewoman in her quest to save both her philandering husband's Australian cattle station and the (half-caste)mixed-race Aboriginal child she finds there.
Of the movie, Jackman says, "This is pretty much one of those roles that had me pinching myself all the way through the shoot. I got to shoot a big-budget, shamelessly old-fashioned romantic epic set against one of the most turbulent times in my native country's history, while, at the same time, celebrating that country's natural beauty, its people, its cultures.... I'll die a happy man knowing I've got this film on my."
Future projects
- Jackman produced and stars in the movie X-Men Origins: Wolverine, due to be released on May 1, 2009 in most countries.
- An action drama, Drive, starring Jackman, is currently in production, and is scheduled to be released in 2009.
- Jackman is also planned to star in a remake of Carousel, scheduled to be released in 2010, in which he will play Billy Bigelow.
- An adaptation of Cecelia Ahern's novel If You Could See Me Now is in the works, starring Jackman as the invisible friend of a 6-year-old boy.
- Jackman is also currently working on creating a new comic book series, Nowhere Man, with U.S. publisher Virgin Comics and writer Marc Guggenheim, with hopes of adapting it to a film as well.
Personal life
Jackman married Deborra-Lee Furness in April 1996. They met on the set of his first TV acting job in Correlli, an Australian television series. Furness had two miscarriages, after which she and Jackman adopted two children, Oscar Maximillian (born 15 May 2000) and Ava Eliot (born 10 July 2005). They currently live in Manhattan, NY.
Jackman personally designed an engagement ring for Furness, and their wedding rings bore the Sanskrit inscription "Om paramar mainamar," translated by Furness as "we dedicate our union to a greater source."
Honours
- Jackman was appointed a goodwill ambassador of Seoul, South Korea on 10 April, 2009.
- Hollywood Walk of Fame - Jackman had his hand and footprint ceremony at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on 21 April, 2009.
Charity work
As a philanthropist, Jackman is a longtime proponent of microcredit — the extension of very small loans to impoverished prospective entrepreneurs in undeveloped countries. He is a vocal supporter of Muhammad Yunus, microcredit pioneer and the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize winner.
Jackman recently narrated a video for the Global Poverty Project. He also narrated the documentary The Burning Season about global warming.
Jackman also supports The Art of Elysium, and the MPTV Fund Foundation and he and his wife Deborra-Lee Furness are patrons of the Bone Marrow Donor Institute in Australia.
He also used twitter for charity. On 14 April 09 Jackman posted on his twitter page that he would donate $100,000 to one individual's favorite non profit organization.On 24 April 09 he revealed his decision to donate $50,000 to Charity:Water and $50,000 to Operation Of Hope.
A STAR WALKER SALUTATION
We here at Star Walker would like to pay tribute to Hugh Jackman.
Within the ranks of the elite warriors known as Ken Ju Kai (from the world of Star Walker), we extend to you, Hugh Jackman, the honorary 6th Rank Ken Ju Kai. May god continue to embrace and keep your spirit.
Commenteors – What other people have to say about this Star Walker of the Month, these commentaries are like comets and meteors, brief but prolific and enlightening – sure to leave a trail of insightfulness across your heart - what we call Commenteors.
To Star Walk – Click here and find the star of Hugh Jackman as he is forever remembered in the galaxy of the stars within the Star Walker Universe. View and watch the skies slowly fill in the coming months and years as the light of Star Walker, after Star Walker, after Star Walker fills the heavens. We do this as an interactive tribute to those who have through fate, destiny, and even under divine purpose, left the rest of us behind, as well as to those who are still with us.
Past Star Walkers of the Month:
February/March 2009 - Pam Grier
December 2008 - January 2009 - The Wright Brothers
November 2008 - Vince Lombardi
September/October 2008 - Robert Downey Jr.
June/July/August - Harrison Ford
April/May 2008 – Oprah Winfrey
February/March 2008 – Bob Marley
January 2008 – Seal & Heidi Klum
December 2007 – Star Walker of the Year - Chuck Norris
November 2007 – Brandon Lee
October 2007 – Queen Latifah
September 2007 – Vince Lombardi
August 2007 – Chuck Norris
July 2007 - Deforest Kelley
June 2007 - Liviu Librescu
May 2007 - Watchman Nee
April 2007 - Helen Hayes
March 2007 - Nelson Mandela
February 2007 - James Brown
January 2007 - Mother Teresa
December 2006 - Paul Allen Knopf
November 2006 - Princess Diana
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