Hugh Sheridan

Hugh Sheridan (born 30 June 1985) is an Australian actor, singer, and television presenter who is known for his role as Ben Rafter in the television series Packed to the Rafters. Sheridan is a four-time Logie Award winner, in the Logie Award for Most Popular Actor category.
Early life
Born in Adelaide, Sheridan was the second youngest of seven children, growing up in the suburb of Millswood, and completing early years of schooling at Loreto College Marryatville, before changing to Saint Ignatius' College, and in senior years to University Senior College. In primary school, Sheridan began training at Unley Youth Theatre and Terry Simpson Studios in Adelaide; he went on to study Music at the Victorian College of the Arts and Dance at the Australian Ballet School.
As a youth, Sheridan sang with the State Opera of South Australia, played football for St Ignatius and studied drama at Unley Youth Theatre. Upon leaving the Australian Ballet School, Sheridan was accepted into the prestigious Bachelor of Dramatic Art course at the National Institute of Dramatic Art. In 2007, he was awarded the Adele Koh Memorial Scholarship by the State Theatre Company of South Australia to study acting in New York.
Career
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. In 2009, Sheridan won the Logie Award for "Most Popular New Male Talent". In February 2011, he filled in as host on The Kyle & Jackie O Show alongside fellow Packed to the Rafters star George Houvardas. In 2012, Sheridan hosted the Network Ten talent show series I Will Survive, during a production break for Packed to the Rafters.
In 2017, Sheridan was appointed as one of three Fringe Ambassadors for the Adelaide Fringe.
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. 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. The letter also called for the recasting of Sheridan, who stated an attraction to both men and women but avoids a sexuality label. 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.
In March 2021, Sheridan debuted his stage show Hughman at Adelaide Fringe. Sheridan reprised his role as Ben Rafter in Back to the Rafters, an Amazon Prime Video reboot of Packed to the Rafters.
In 2022, Sheridan was revealed to be Rooster when he placed third in Season 4 of The Masked Singer Australia
In 2023, Sheridan performed the lead role of Jonathan Larson in Tick, Tick...Boom! in Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney.
Music
In December 2008, Sheridan performed on Seven Network's television concert special Carols in the Domain in which he performed "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas". In August 2009, he signed a recording contract with Sony Music Australia, releasing his first single "Just Can't Throw Us Away" on Seven's Dancing With the Stars in September 2009. The following month he released the follow-up single, "All About Me". His first album, Speak Love, was released on 27 November 2009 and peaked at number 86 on the Australian ARIA Albums Chart. In June 2010, a remix of the album's title track was released as the album's third and final single. In 2015, Sheridan formed The California Crooners Club with mates Emile Welman and Gabe Roland. In Spring 2016, CCC toured Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne to great critical acclaim.
Personal life
Sheridan's sister is Zoe Sheridan, the radio announcer and television presenter on the children's game show Challenger and daytime chat show The Catch-Up.
Sheridan came out as non-binary and bisexual in an Instagram post on 26 June 2021, In an October 2020 interview with Stellar, Sheridan revealed relationships with both women and men but preferred not to label his sexuality.
He was married to Venezuelan actor Rafael de la Fuente from 2009 to 2018. On 5 March 2021, Sheridan proposed to boyfriend Kurt Roberts during the opening night of the Hughman stage show; their separation was announced in November 2021.
Filmography
Film
Television
Discography
Albums
Singles
Notes
Awards and nominations
Notes
References
External links
Official website
California Crooners Club Official website
1985 births
21st-century Australian actors
21st-century Australian singers
21st-century Australian LGBT people
Australian Ballet School alumni
Australian television actors
Australian non-binary actors
Australian bisexual people
Bisexual singers
Non-binary singers
Bisexual actors
Australian LGBT actors
Australian LGBT singers
Living people
Logie Award winners
Australian children's television presenters
Male actors from Adelaide
Musicians from Adelaide
National Institute of Dramatic Art alumni
Bisexual non-binary people