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Gary Sweet

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Gary Sweet
Sweet and his girlfriend Nadia Dyall in 2012
Born (1957-05-22) 22 May 1957 (age 67)
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Spouse(s)Lenore Smith (m. 1981–83, divorced)
Jill Miller (m. 1987–??, divorced, 2 children)
Johanna Griggs (m. 1995–99, divorced, 2 children)
Nadia Dyall (m. ??–present; 2 children)
Children6, including Frank Sweet
AwardsAustralian Film Institute Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Television Drama: (1991, 1992 – Police Rescue)
Logie Award for Most Popular Actor: (1993Police Rescue)
Logie Award for Most Outstanding Actor in a Series: (1993 – Police Rescue)
Inductee into the Australian Film Walk of Fame: (2011)

Gary Sweet (born 22 May 1957)[1] is an Australian film and television actor known for his roles in Alexandra's Project (as Steve), Police Rescue (as Sergeant "Mickey" McClintock), Cody (as Cody), Big Sky (as Chris Manning), Bodyline (as Donald Bradman), Stingers (as DI Luke Harris) and House Husbands (as Lewis Crabb).

Early life

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Sweet attended Brighton High School in Adelaide. He later obtained a teaching degree and took up drama while at Sturt Teachers' College.[2]

Career

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Sweet's first role was in low-budget horror film Nightmares. In the early 1980s, he became recognisable through the ongoing role of Leslie "Magpie" Maddern in the TV series The Sullivans.

In 1984, Sweet had his first major role as Donald Bradman in the miniseries Bodyline, the story of the 1932–33 Test cricket series between England and Australia.

Early films included a lead role in the 1985 film An Indecent Obsession, as well as a role in 1987's The Lighthorsemen.

From 1990 to 1996, Sweet starred in a leading role in the TV drama series Police Rescue as Sgt. Steve "Mickey" McClintock. This role led him to win several major television awards, including an AFI Award for Best Lead Actor in a TV Drama[3] (in 1991 and 1992), the Variety Club Heart Award for TV Actor of the Year (1993), and a TV Week Silver Logie Award for Most Popular Actor and Most Outstanding Actor (1994).[4][5]

Sweet starred in Big Sky, and Dog's Head Bay. He took a continuing role in the police drama series Stingers until the show's conclusion in 2004. Other prominent television roles have included The Circuit, Rain Shadow and police drama Cops L.A.C.. In 2008, he narrated the documentary series Sudden Impact. From 2012 to 2017 Sweet had a leading role in the drama/comedy House Husbands.

Notable film roles have included The Tracker, Alexandra's Project and Gettin' Square. He appeared in the acclaimed independent drama film 2:37, as well as in a modern-day imagining of Macbeth, alongside Sam Worthington.

Internationally, Sweet appeared in American studio film The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader as Lord Drinian. He also featured in the miniseries The Pacific.

Sweet was a contestant on Season 5 of Dancing with the Stars and made it to the final seven. His partner was dancer Eliza Campagna.

Sweet has also appeared in several stage productions, including The Club, and Tony McNamara's play The Recruit. He has appeared in the Frankie Valli-tribute musical Oh, What a Night,[5] and in Trevor Ashley's musical comedy Little Orphan trAshley with Rhonda Burchmore.[6]

On 29 October 2024, Sweet was named as part of the cast in the feature film Scoby.[7]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Film Role Notes
1980 Nightmares Terry Besanko Film
1985 An Indecent Obsession Michael Wilson Film
1986 Body Business Brian Doyle TV movie
1987 The Lighthorsemen Frank Film
1988 The Dreaming Geoff Film
Fever Jeff Maslim Film
Becca Matt Bourke TV movie
1990 What the Moon Saw Alan Wilson Film
More Winners: Boy Soldiers Sergeant TV movie
1992 Children of the Dragon Larry TV series
1993 Crimebroker Luke Blair TV movie
1994 Police Rescue: The Movie Sgt. Steve "Mickey" McClintock TV movie
1996 Two Bob Mermaid White father Short film
1997 Love in Ambush Eddie Norton TV movie
2001 Hard Knox Monorail Ron TV movie
The Big House Jacko Short film
Bodyjackers O'Grady Film
2002 The Tracker The Fanatic Film
Tempe Tip Nico Film
2003 Alexandra's Project Steve Film
Gettin' Square Chicka Martin Film
2005 Dust Storm Tom Short film
2006 2:37 Mr Darcy Film
Operating Instructions Paul Short film
Macbeth Duncan Film
2008 Bitter & Twisted Greg Praline Film
The Tumbler Hurtle Hamilton Film
2009 Subdivision Digger Kelly Film
2010 The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader Lord Drinian Film
Lucidya The Game Presenter Short film
2011 The Telegram Man John Lewis Short film
Bush Basher Short film
2012 Fatal Honeymoon Detective Gary Campbell TV movie
Dangerous Remedy Superintendent John Matthews TV movie
2013 Adoration Saul Film
Nerve Ben Livingstone Film
Charlie's Country Publican Film
Trouble Down Under Big Red the Kangaroo (voice) Animated film
2015 A Month of Sundays (aka A Sunday Too Far) Self Film
House of Bulger: The AFL Footy Show TV movie
2017 Making Muriel Self Docufilm
2018 It’s Christmas Mick Kingston Short film
2019 Ritual Ray Devlin Short film
Two Heads Creek Hans Film
Tour De Legacy – The Western Front Narrator Docufilm
2020 Ayaan Sergeant Simmons Short film
Paper Champions Terry Film
2023 A Savage Christmas Peter Hall Film
TBA Scoby TBA Film
TBA Patched Shark In post-production

Television

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Year Film Role Notes
1981–1983 The Sullivans Leslie "Magpie" Maddern TV series (Channel 9) – 377 episodes
1983 Starting Out Rod Turner TV series (Channel 9)
1984 Carson's Law Paul Tabener TV series (Channel 10) – 1 episode
Bodyline Donald Bradman Miniseries (Channel 10) – 7 episodes
1986 Prime Time Craig Lawrence TV series (Channel 9)
1987 The Great Bookie Robbery Chico White Miniseries – 3 episodes
1988 A Country Practice Bernie Allen TV series (Channel 7) – 2 episodes
1988–1990 The Flying Doctors Nick Sanderson / Vince Maguire TV series (Channel 9) – 3 episodes
1989–1992 Tanamera - Lion of Singapore Tony Miniseries (ITV) – 7 episodes
1990–1996 Police Rescue Sergeant Steve "Mickey" McClintock TV series (ABC) – 62 episodes
1990 Come In Spinner Jack Miniseries (ABC) – 4 episodes
Skirts Tom Waters TV series (Channel 7) – 4 episodes
1991 All Together Now Roger Dixon Barrow TV series (Channel 9) – 1 episode
1992 Children of the Dragon Larry Miniseries (ABC) – 62 episodes
1994 The Battlers Snow Grimshaw Miniseries (Channel 7)
1994–1995 Cody Cody TV series – 6 TV movies (Channel 7)
1997–1999 Big Sky Chris Manning TV series (Channel 10) – 53 episodes
1999 Wildside Cleary TV series (ABC) – 1 episode
Chuck Finn Captain Candlelight TV series (Channel 7) – 1 episode
Dog's Head Bay Alex Santorini TV series (ABC) – 13 episodes
2000 Pizza Army Commander TV series (SBS) – 1 episode
2000–2004 Stingers Inspector Luke Harris / Bobby Tait TV series (Channel 9) – 85 episodes
2001 Cold Feet Rod Ellison TV series (ITV) – S4 E8: Cold Feet
2001–2005 Blue Heelers Danny OKeefe / Sergeant Bob Wilkie TV series (Channel 7) – 5 episodes
2006 Dancing with the Stars Contestant TV series (Channel 7) – S5 – 6 episodes. Placed 7th.
2007 Things To Try Before You Die Co-host TV series (Channel 9) – 1 episode
Rain Shadow Larry Riley TV series (ABC) – 6 episodes
2007–2010 The Circuit Magistrate Peter Lockhart TV series (SBS) – S2 – 12 episodes
2008 Sudden Impact Narrator Documentary series (Channel 9)
2009 Rescue: Special Ops Shane Gallagher TV series (Channel 9) – S1 – 5 episodes
2010 The Pacific Gunnery Sgt. Elmo "Gunny" Haney Miniseries (HBO) – 3 episodes
Cops L.A.C. Superintendent Jack Finchin TV series (Channel 9) – 13 episodes
Australian Druglords Presenter TV series – (Channel 9) – 10 episodes
2011 Small Time Gangster Barry Donald TV series (SBS) – 8 episodes
2012 Problems Mr Moth TV series (ABC) – 4 episodes
2013 Commando Self (voice) Documentary miniseries – 4 episodes
2015 & 2017 The Doctor Blake Mysteries Norman Baker TV series (BBC) – S3 E7: Room Without a View,[8] S5 E7: A Good Drop & S5 E8: Hark the Angels Sing[9]
2012–2017 House Husbands Lewis Crabbe TV series (Channel 9) – 58 episodes
2016 Wolf Creek Jason TV series (Stan) – 1 episode
Janet King Roger Embry TV series (ABC) – 3 episodes
2017 Wake in Fright Tim Hynes Miniseries (Channel 10) – 2 episodes
2018 Harrow Bruce Reimers TV series (ABC) – 1 episode
Orange Is the New Brown Art Gallery Owner / Spoiler Cop TV series (Channel 7) – 3 episodes
2020 Hungry Ghosts Hugh Miniseries (SBS) – 1 episode
Bloom Old Donnie TV series (Stan) – 4 episodes
Mint Condition Conway Web miniseries (SBS)
Mystery Road: Origins Alkemi TV series (ABC) – 6 episodes
2121 Geoff Maxwell Web miniseries – 1 episode
2021 Jack Irish Det Phil Maitland TV series (ABC) – 4 episodes
Wentworth Dale Langdon TV series (SoHo/Fox Showcase) – 3 episodes
2022 Access All Areas: Erebus Motorsport Narrator Documentary miniseries – 8 episodes
2023 No Escape Peter Winbourne 4 episodes
2023 The Clearing Wilkes Miniseries (Disney+) – 4 episodes

Podcast

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Year Film Role Notes
2021 The Orchard DJ Simes Miniseries (Audible)

Theatre

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Year Production Role Notes
What the Butler Saw Sturt College of Advanced Education
The Wild Duck Sturt College of Advanced Education
1991 The Removalists Kenny Carter STCSA
1998 The Club Laurie MTC
2001 Tony McNamara's The Recruit Josh MTC
2002 Frankie Valli’s Oh, What a Night Paul Burns Majestic Theatre Company
2013 Trevor Ashley's Little Orphan trAshley Daddy Warlow Showqueen Productions
2014 Our Don Narrator Adelaide Symphony Orchestra
2014 La Cage aux Folles Edouard Dindon The Production Company
2017 Muriel's Wedding Bill Heslop STC

Music

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Sweet dabbled in the Australian music scene with limited success in the early 1990s. Sweet released a cover of Billy Thorpe's "Most People I Know (Think That I'm Crazy)" in 1994 through Polygram Records Australia. The single peaked at number 52 on the ARIA Charts, and spent seven weeks in the top 100.[10]

Singles

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List of singles, with selected chart positions
Title Year Chart positions
AUS
[11]
"Most People I Know (Think That I'm Crazy)" 1994 52

Awards

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Sweet's plaque at the Australian Film Walk of Fame, the Ritz Cinema, Randwick, Sydney

Sweet has won several awards in his acting career, including two Logie Awards – one in 1982 for The Sullivans (Most Popular New Talent) and one in 1994 for Police Rescue (Most Popular Actor).

In 2011, Sweet was initiated into the Australian Film Walk of Fame on 13 March, as part of the closing night celebrations of the Australian Film Festival.[12]

Awards

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Year Award Title Status
1982 TV Week Logie Award Most Popular New Talent (The Sullivans) Won
1991 AFI Award Best Actor in a Lead Role in a TV Drama (Police Rescue) Won
1992 AFI Award Best Actor in a Lead Role in a TV Drama (Police Rescue) Won
1992 TV Week Logie Award Most Popular Actor (Police Rescue) Nominated
1993 Variety Club Heart Award TV Actor of the Year Won
1994 TV Week Logie Award Most Outstanding Actor (Police Rescue) Won
1996 TV Week Logie Award Most Outstanding Actor (Police Rescue) Nominated
2003 TV Week Logie Award Most Outstanding Actor (Stingers) Nominated
2004 TV Week Logie Award Most Outstanding Actor (Stingers) Nominated
2011 Australian Film Festival Australian Film Walk of Fame Inductee Inducted
2021 MEAA Ensemble Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Miniseries / TV movie (Hungry Ghosts) Won
2021 MEAA Ensemble Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (Mystery Road: Origins) Won

Controversy

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In 2004, Sweet become the public face of "The Performance Pack Initiative", an information campaign for men with impotence problems from Bayer, GlaxoSmithKline and Impotence Australia.[13] Bans against direct advertising prescription medicines meant that Sweet was unable to directly mention the drug, Levitra, but this code was broken when Sweet mentioned Levitra on an Adelaide radio programme. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation's Media Watch reported that Sweet was being investigated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration for possible breach of advertising codes.[14][15]

Personal life

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Sweet is divorced from his third wife, television presenter and former Commonwealth Games swimmer, Johanna Griggs. They have two sons. Sweet has two children from his second marriage, to Jill Miller.[2] Following in his father's footsteps, Frank Sweet is also an actor. Sweet's first marriage was to actress Lenore Smith.

Gary Sweet is an ambassador and ex player for the Glenelg Tigers, an Australian rules football club who play in the South Australian National Football League.[16] He is also a supporter of the Manly Sea Eagles rugby league club who play in the National Rugby League.

References

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  1. ^ "Born today...", Brisbane Times, 20 May 2008; "Gary Sweet, Australian actor (born 1957), Fairfax Photos; Albert Moran; Chris Keating (2009). The A to Z of Australian Radio and Television. Scarecrow Press. p. 357. ISBN 9780810870222.
  2. ^ a b watch/transcripts/s1071337.htm The Larrikin Grows Up, The Sydney Morning Herald, 17 June 2002]
  3. ^ Australian Film Institute, Past Winners, Television 1986–2006 Archived 28 November 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ TV Week Logies official site Archived 9 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine, retrieved 15 March 2008
  5. ^ a b "Gary Sweet".
  6. ^ "Adults-only panto too funny for Sweet to miss out" by Natalie Bochenski, Brisbane Times, 11 July 2013
  7. ^ Slatter, Sean (28 October 2024). "Claudia Dzienny's 'Scoby' commences production in Sydney with writer and star Emma Leonard". IF Magazine. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
  8. ^ "The Doctor Blake Mysteries: episode guide series 3, Australian Television Information Archive
  9. ^ The Doctor Blake Mysteries – BBC broadcast series 5: "A Good Drop", episode 7; "Hark the Angels Sing", episode 8
  10. ^ "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – Week Ending 24 Apr 1994". ARIA. Retrieved 3 March 2016.
  11. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 273.
  12. ^ "Australian Film Festival Kicks Off". FilmInk. Archived from the original on 5 March 2011. Retrieved 23 June 2011.
  13. ^ Press Release, GlaxoSmithKline and Bayer Pharmaceuticals, 28 July 2004
  14. ^ Sweet's Potent Drug, Media Watch, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, March 2004
  15. ^ Choice Consumer Advocates
  16. ^ Glenelg Football Club Ambassadors Archived 2 May 2013 at the Wayback Machine
[edit]
  • Gary Sweet at IMDb Edit this at Wikidata
  • The Dictionary of Performing Arts in Australia – Theatre . Film . Radio . Television – Volume 1 – Ann Atkinson, Linsay Knight, Margaret McPhee – Allen & Unwin Pty. Ltd., 1996
  • The Australian Film and Television Companion – compiled by Tony Harrison – Simon & Schuster Australia, 1994