An actor (usually actress for female; see terminology) is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity. The ancient Greek word for an "actor," ''(hypokrites)'', means literally "one who interprets"; in this sense, an actor is one who interprets a dramatic character.

Terminology

After 1660, when women first appeared on stage, ''actor'' and ''actress'' were initially used interchangeably for female performers, but later, influenced by the French ''actrice'', ''actress'' became the usual term. The etymology is a simple derivation from ''actor'' with ''ess'' added. The word ''actor'' refers to a person who acts regardless of gender, and "is increasingly preferred", while ''actress'' refers specifically to a female person who acts. ''Actress'' "remains in general use", although in a survey of a "wide cross-section of current British English", compiled in 2010, ''actor'' was almost twice as commonly found as ''actress''. Within the profession, however, the re-adoption of the neutral term dates to the 1950s–60s, the post-war period when women's contribution to cultural life in general was being re-evaluated. ''Actress'' remains the common term used in major acting awards given to female recipients.

The gender-neutral term "player" was common in film in the early days of the Motion Picture Production Code with regards to the cinema of the United States, but is now generally deemed archaic. However, it remains in use in the theatre, often incorporated into the name of a theatre group or company (such as the East West Players).

History

The first recorded case of an actor performing took place in 534 BC (though the changes in calendar over the years make it hard to determine exactly) when the Greek performer Thespis stepped on to the stage at the ''Theatre Dionysus'' and became the first known person to speak words as a character in a play or story. Prior to Thespis' act, stories were only known to be told in song and dance and in third person narrative. In honour of Thespis, actors are commonly called ''Thespians''. Theatrical legend to this day maintains that Thespis exists as a mischievous spirit, and disasters in the theatre are sometimes blamed on his ghostly intervention.

Actors were traditionally not people of high status, and in the Early Middle Ages travelling acting troupes were often viewed with distrust. In many parts of Europe, actors could not even receive a Christian burial, and traditional beliefs of the region and time period held that this left any actor forever condemned. However, this negative perception was largely reversed in the 19th and 20th centuries as acting has become an honoured and popular profession and art.

Techniques

Method acting

Method acting is a technique developed from the acting 'system' created in the early 20th century by Konstantin Stanislavski in his work at the Moscow Art Theatre and its studios. The Group Theatre first popularised the Method in the 1930s; it was subsequently advanced and developed in new directions by Stella Adler, Sanford Meisner, Uta Hagen, Lee Strasberg (at the Actors Studio in the 1940s and 50s), and others. In Stanislavski's system', the actor analyzes the character in order to play him or her with psychological realism and emotional authenticity. Using the Method, an actor may recall emotions or reactions from his or her own life and use them to identify with the character being portrayed.

Method actors are often characterized as immersing themselves so totally in their characters that they continue to portray them even off-stage or off-camera for the duration of the project. However, this is a popular misconception. While some actors do employ this approach, it is generally not taught as part of the Method. Stella Adler, who was a member of the Group Theatre, along with Strasberg, emphasised a different approach of using creative imagination.

Method acting offers a systematic form of actor training in which the actor's sensory, psychological, and emotional abilities are developed; it revolutionized theatre in the United States.

Presentational and representational acting

Presentational acting refers to a relationship between actor and audience, whether by direct address or indirectly by specific use of language, looks, gestures or other signs indicating that the character or actor is aware of the audience's presence. (Shakespeare's use of punning and wordplay, for example, often has this function of indirect contact.)

In representational acting, "actors want to make us 'believe' they are the character; they pretend." The illusion of the fourth wall with the audience as voyeurs is striven for.

As opposite gender

In the past, only men could become actors in some societies. In the ancient Greece and Rome and the medieval world, it was considered disgraceful for a woman to go on the stage, and this belief persisted until the 17th century, when in Venice it was broken. In the time of William Shakespeare, women's roles were generally played by men or boys.

When an eighteen year Puritan prohibition of drama was lifted after the English Restoration of 1660, women began to appear on stage in England. Margaret Hughes is credited by some as the first professional actress on the English stage. This prohibition ended during the reign of Charles II in part due to the fact that he enjoyed watching actresses on stage. The first occurrence of the term ''actress'' was in 1700 according to the OED and is ascribed to Dryden.

In Japan, men (onnagata) took over the female roles in kabuki theatre when women were banned from performing on stage during the Edo period. This convention has continued to the present. However, some forms of Chinese drama have women playing all the roles.

In modern times, women sometimes play the roles of prepubescent boys. The stage role of Peter Pan, for example, is traditionally played by a woman, as are most principal boys in British pantomime. Opera has several "breeches roles" traditionally sung by women, usually mezzo-sopranos. Examples are Hansel in ''Hänsel und Gretel'', Cherubino in ''The Marriage of Figaro'' and Octavian in Der Rosenkavalier.

Women in male roles are uncommon in film with the notable exceptions of the films ''The Year of Living Dangerously'' and ''I'm Not There''. In the former film Linda Hunt played the pivotal role of Billy Kwan, for which she received the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. In the latter film Cate Blanchett portrayed Jude Quinn, a representation of Bob Dylan in the sixties, for which she was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Having an actor dress as the opposite sex for comic effect is also a long-standing tradition in comic theatre and film. Most of Shakespeare's comedies include instances of overt cross-dressing, such as Francis Flute in ''A Midsummer Night's Dream''. The movie ''A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum'' stars Jack Gilford dressing as a young bride. Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon famously posed as women to escape gangsters in the Billy Wilder film ''Some Like It Hot''. Cross-dressing for comic effect was a frequently used device in most of the thirty Carry On films. Dustin Hoffman and Robin Williams have each appeared in a hit comedy film (''Tootsie'' and ''Mrs. Doubtfire'', respectively) in which they played most scenes dressed as a woman.

Occasionally, the issue is further complicated, for example, by a woman playing a woman acting as a man pretending to be a woman, like Julie Andrews in ''Victor/Victoria'', or Gwyneth Paltrow in ''Shakespeare in Love''. In ''It's Pat: The Movie'', filmwatchers never learn the gender of the androgynous main characters Pat and Chris (played by Julia Sweeney and Dave Foley).

A few roles in modern films, plays and musicals are played by a member of the opposite sex (rather than a character cross-dressing), such as the character Edna Turnblad in ''Hairspray''—played by Divine in the original film, Harvey Fierstein in the Broadway musical, and John Travolta in the 2007 movie musical. Linda Hunt won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for playing Billy Kwan in ''The Year of Living Dangerously''. Felicity Huffman was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress for playing Bree Osbourne (a man in the process of becoming a woman) in ''Transamerica''.

Acting awards

Academy Awards, also known as the Oscars, for American film

AFI Awards for Australian film

Berlinale German film festival in Berlin (Golden and Silver Bear)

British Academy of Film and Television Arts Award for film and television; also known as BAFTA

Cannes Film Festival Awards

César Awards for French film

Emmy Awards for American television

FAMAS Awards for Filipino cinema

Filmfare Awards honors excellence in the Indian Film Industry (Bollywood) – limited to Hindi language films only

Filmfare Awards South honors excellence in the Indian Film Industry (South Indian) – limited to Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada language films only

Genie Awards for Canadian film

Gemini Awards for Canadian television

Golden Globe Awards for American film and television

Golden Raspberry Awards Worst in American film

Goya Awards for Spanish film

IIFA Awards International Indian Film Academy Awards, for Bollywood

IFTA's for the Irish Film and Television

Star Screen Awards honors excellence in the Indian Film Industry.

Indian National Film Awards for the Indian cinema

Kerala State Film Awards in India for the Malayalam cinema

Laurence Olivier Awards for the theatre

Lux Style Awards for Pakistan film

Nandi Awards in India for Telugu cinema

Nigar Awards also for Pakistani film

San Sebastián International Film Festival Spanish film festival Celebrated in San Sebastián

Sarah Siddons Award for female actress in Chicago Theatre

Screen Actors Guild Awards for American actors in film and television

Tony Awards for the theatre (specifically, Broadway theatre)

Volpi Cups at the Venice Film Festival

See also

Acting

Bit part

Body double

Cameo appearance

Casting (performing arts)

Cast member

Celebrity

Character actor

Charisma

Child actor

Drama school

Dramatis personæ

Ensemble cast

Extra (actor)

GOTE

Improvisational theatre

Leading actor

Lists of actors

Master of Fine Arts

Matinee idol

Method acting

Meisner technique

Mime

Movie star

Movie studio

Pornographic actor

Practical Aesthetics

Pre-production

Presentational acting and Representational acting

Q Score

Stunt work

Supporting actor

Thespis

Understudy

Vaudeville

Viewpoints

Voice Actor

References

Sources

Csapo, Eric, and William J. Slater. 1994. ''The Context of Ancient Drama.'' Ann Arbor: The U of Michigan P. ISBN 0-472-08275-2.

Elam, Keir. 1980. ''The Semiotics of Theatre and Drama''. New Accents Ser. London and New York: Methuen. ISBN 0-416-72060-9.

Weimann, Robert. 1978. ''Shakespeare and the Popular Tradition in the Theater: Studies in the Social Dimension of Dramatic Form and Function.'' Ed. Robert Schwartz. Baltimore and London: The Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 0-8018-3506-2.

Further reading

''An Actor's Work'' by Constantin Stanislavski

''A Dream of Passion: The Development of the Method'' by Lee Strasberg (Plume Books, ISBN 0-452-26198-8, 1990)

''Sanford Meisner on Acting'' by Sanford Meisner (Vintage, ISBN 0-394-75059-4, 1987)

''Letters to a Young Actor'' by Robert Brustein (Basic Books, ISBN 0-465-00806-2, 2005).

''The Empty Space'' by Peter Brook

''The Technique of Acting'' by Stella Adler

External links

Actors' Equity Association (AEA): a union representing U. S. theatre actors and stage managers.

American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA): a union representing U. S. television and radio actors and broadcasters (on-air journalists, etc.).

British Actors' Equity: a trade union representing UK artists, including actors, singers, dancers, choreographers, stage managers, theatre directors and designers, variety and circus artists, television and radio presenters, walk-on and supporting artists, stunt performers and directors and theatre fight directors.

Media Entertainment & Arts Alliance: an Australian/New Zealand trade union representing everyone in the media, entertainment, sports, and arts industries.

Screen Actors Guild (SAG): a union representing U. S. film and TV actors.

Category:Entertainment occupations Category:Acting Category:Theatrical professions Category:Television terminology

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Coordinates	44°51′15″N93°14′32″N
name	Hugh Jackman
birth name	Hugh Michael Jackman
birth date	October 12, 1968
birth place	Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
occupation	Actor
years active	1994–present
spouse	Deborra-Lee Furness (1996–present) }}

Hugh Michael Jackman (born 12 October 1968) is an Australian actor and producer who is involved in film, musical theatre, and television.

Jackman has won international recognition for his roles in major films, notably as action/superhero, period and romance characters. He is known for his role as Wolverine in the ''X-Men'' series, as well as for his leads in ''Kate & Leopold'', ''Van Helsing'', ''The Prestige'', and ''Australia''. Jackman is a singer, dancer, and actor in stage musicals, and won a Tony Award for his role in ''The Boy from Oz''.

In November 2008, ''Open Salon'' named Jackman one of the sexiest men alive. Later that same month, ''People'' magazine named Jackman "Sexiest Man Alive."

A three-time host of the Tony Awards, winning an Emmy Award for one of these appearances, Jackman also hosted the 81st Academy Awards on 22 February 2009.

Early life

Jackman was born in Sydney, New South Wales, the youngest of five children of English parents Chris Jackman and Grace Watson, and the second child to be born in Australia (he also has a younger half sister, from his mother's re-marriage). One of his paternal great-grandfathers was Greek. His parents divorced when he was eight, and he remained with his accountant father and siblings, while his mother moved back to England. As a child, Jackman liked the outdoors, spending a lot of time at the beach and on camping trips and vacations all over Australia. He wanted to see the world: "I used to spend nights looking at atlases. I decided I wanted to be a chef on a plane. Because I'd been on a plane and there was food on board, I presumed there was a chef. I thought that would be an ideal job."

Jackman went to primary school at Pymble Public School and later attended the all-boys Knox Grammar School, where he starred in its production of ''My Fair Lady'' in 1985, and became the captain of the school in 1986. Following graduation, he spent a gap year working at Uppingham School in England. On his return, he studied at the University of Technology, Sydney, graduating in 1991 with a BA in Communications. In his final year of university, he took a drama course to make up additional credits. The class did Václav Havel's The Memorandum with Jackman as the lead. He later commented, "In that week I felt more at home with those people than I did in the entire three years [at university]".

After obtaining his BA, Jackman completed the one-year course "The Journey" at the Actors' Centre in Sydney. About studying acting full-time, he stated, "It wasn't until I was 22 that I ever thought about my hobby being something I could make a living out of. As a boy, I'd always had an interest in theater. But the idea at my school was that drama and music were to round out the man. It wasn't what one did for a living. I got over that. I found the courage to stand up and say, 'I want to do it'." After completing "The Journey", 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 work

On the night of his final Academy graduation performance, Jackman received a phone call offering him a role on ''Correlli'': "I was technically unemployed for thirteen seconds." ''Correlli'', devised by Australian actress Denise Roberts, was a 10-part drama series on ABC, Jackman's first major professional job, and where he met his future wife Deborra-Lee Furness: "Meeting my wife was the greatest thing to come out of it." The show lasted only one season.

After ''Correlli'' Jackman went on the stage in Melbourne. In 1996, 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 Midsumma 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), and his television work includes ''Law of the Land'', ''Halifax f.p.'', ''Blue Heelers,'' and ''Banjo Paterson's The Man from Snowy River''.

''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. Jackman said "I totally felt like it can't get any better than this. On some level that production will be one of the highlights of my career." He also starred in the 1999 film version of the same stage musical, which has been screened in many countries.

''X-Men''

In 1999, Jackman was cast as Wolverine in Bryan Singer's ''X-Men'' (2000), replacing Dougray Scott. His co-stars included Patrick Stewart, James Marsden, Famke Janssen, and Ian McKellen. 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.

Wolverine was tough for Jackman to portray because he had few lines, but a lot of emotion to convey in them. To prepare, he watched Clint Eastwood in the ''Dirty Harry'' movies and Mel Gibson in ''Road Warrior''. "Here were guys who had relatively little dialogue, like Wolverine had, but you knew and felt everything. I'm not normally one to copy, but I wanted to see how these guys achieved it." Jackman was adamant about doing his own stunts for the movie. "We worked a lot on the movement style of Wolverine, and I studied some martial arts. I watched a lot of Mike Tyson fights, especially his early fights. There's something about his style, the animal rage, that seemed right for Wolverine. I kept saying to the writers, 'Don't give me long, choreographed fights for the sake of it. Don't make the fights pretty."

Jackman also had to get used to wearing Wolverine's claws. "Every day in my living room, I'd just walk around with those claws, to get used to them. I've got scars on one leg, punctures straight through the cheek, on my forehead. I'm a bit clumsy. I'm lucky I didn't tell them that when I auditioned."

Jackman, at 6'2½ (1.89 m), stands 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, and his co-stars wore platform soles. 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 ''X2: X-Men United'', 2006's ''X-Men: The Last Stand'', and 2009's ''X-Men Origins: Wolverine''. He also cameos as Wolverine in 2011's ''X-Men: First Class''.

2001

Jackman starred as Leopold in the 2001 romantic comedy film ''Kate & Leopold,'' a role for which he received a Best Actor Golden Globe nomination. Jackman plays a Victorian English duke who accidentally time-travels to 21st-century Manhattan, where he meets Kate (Meg Ryan), 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.

He hosted an episode of ''Saturday Night Live'' in 2001.

Stage 2002–2009

In 2002, Jackman sang the role of Billy Bigelow in the musical ''Carousel'' in a special concert performance at Carnegie Hall with the Orchestra of St. Luke's.

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 positive reviews. His hosting of the 2004 Tony Awards earned him an Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Performer in a Variety, Musical or Comedy program.

Jackman co-starred with Daniel Craig on Broadway at the Schoenfeld Theatre in a limited engagement of the play ''A Steady Rain'', which opened in previews on 10 September 2009 and closed on 6 December 2009.

Films 2003–2008

After 2003's ''X2: X-Men United'', Jackman played the title role of monster killer Gabriel Van Helsing in the 2004 film ''Van Helsing''. Jackman and the film were noted in Bruce A. McClelland's book "Slayers and Their Vampires: A Cultural History of Killing the Dead".

Jackman was one of the choices to play James Bond in 2006's ''Casino Royale'', but eventually lost out to Daniel Craig. Jackman starred in the 2006 film ''The Prestige'', directed by Christopher Nolan and co-starring Christian Bale, Michael Caine, and Scarlett Johansson. 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 David Bowie, who played scientist Nikola Tesla.

Jackman portrayed three different characters in Darren Aronofsky's science-fiction film ''The Fountain'': Tommy Creo, a neuroscientist, who's torn between his wife, Izzi (Rachel Weisz) who is dying of a brain tumor, and his work at trying to cure her; Captain Tomas Creo, a Spanish Conquistador in 1532 Seville; and a future astronaut, Tom, travelling to a golden nebula in an eco-spacecraft 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.

Jackman 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 supplied the voice of a rat named Roddy who ends up being flushed down a family's toilet into the London sewer system. ''Flushed Away'' co-starred Kate Winslet and Ian McKellen (Jackman's fourth time working with him).

In 2007, Jackman produced and guest-starred in the television musical-dramedy series ''Viva Laughlin'', which was canceled by CBS after two episodes. 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-starred Nicole Kidman. The movie was released in late November 2008 in Australia and the U.S.

Jackman played 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 Aboriginal child she finds there.

Of the movie, Jackman said, "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 CV."

2009 to present

Jackman's ''X-Men'' sequel film, ''X-Men Origins: Wolverine'', opened in 2009.

Jackman had a one-man show at the Curran Theatre in San Francisco from 3–15 May 2011. The production was a mixture of his favorite Broadway and Hollywood musical numbers, backed by a 17-piece orchestra, from shows including ''Oklahoma'' and ''The Boy from Oz''. The show had a run-time of approximately 100 minutes, and also included slide shows of Jackman's youth, family, and work, as well as some one-on-one interaction with the audience. Jackman was backed by fellow musical theatre veterans Merle Dandridge and Angel Reda.

Future projects

Jackman also plans to play Billy Bigelow in a remake of ''Carousel'' Jackman is being considered, along with Ewan McGregor, to reprise the role of Joe Gillis in a new film version of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical ''Sunset Boulevard''. Jackman is 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. Jackman stars in an upcoming movie named ''Unbound Captives'', where he will play alongside his past co-star Rachel Weisz and Robert Pattinson. Jackman will star in ''The Greatest American Showman'', a contemporary musical based on the life of P.T. Barnum. The female love interest part is being written with Anne Hathaway in mind. ''Real Steel'' (2011), a DreamWorks science fiction film. Director Lee Daniels has confirmed Jackman has joined the cast of his upcoming film ''Selma'', a film about Martin Luther King Jr. and Lyndon Baines Johnson and the civil rights marches. On 27 January 2011, DreamWorks announced that Jackman will star in the film ''Rise of the Guardians'', scheduled to be released on 21 November 2012. Jackman has been cast in ''Movie 43'', an upcoming 2012 ensemble comedy. Jackman is in negotiations to star as Jean Valjean in a film adaptation of the musical rendition of ''Les Misérables''.

Production company

In 2005, Jackman joined with longtime assistant John Palermo to form a production company, Seed Productions, whose first project was ''Viva Laughlin'' in 2007. Jackman's wife Deborra-Lee Furness is also involved in the company, and Palermo had three rings made with a "unity" inscription for himself, Furness, and Jackman. Jackman said, "I'm very lucky in the partners I work with in my life, Deb and John Palermo. It really works. We all have different strengths. I love it. It's very exciting."

The Fox-based Seed label has grown in size to include execs Amanda Schweitzer, Kathryn Tamblyn, Allan Mandelbaum and Joe Marino, with Alana Free operating the Sydney-based production office whose goal is to mount modest-budget films to harness local talent in Jackman's home country.

Other interests

Charity work

As a philanthropist, Jackman is a longtime proponent of microcredit – the extension of very small loans to prospective entrepreneurs in impoverished countries. He is a vocal supporter of Muhammad Yunus, microcredit pioneer and the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize winner.

Jackman is a global advisor of the Global Poverty Project, for which he narrated a documentary; and he and the project's founder Hugh Evans visited the UN for the cause in 2009. Jackman hosted a preview of the Global Poverty Project Presentation in New York together with Donna Karran, Lisa Fox and his wife Deborra-Lee. He is also a World Vision ambassador and participated in the climate week NYC ceremony on 21 September 2009.

Jackman supports The Art of Elysium and the MPTV Fund Foundation, and he and his wife Deborra-Lee Furness are patrons of the Bone Marrow Institute in Australia. Jackman also narrated the 2008 documentary about global warming, ''The Burning Season''.

Jackman also uses his Twitter account for charity. On 14 April 2009 Jackman posted on his Twitter page that he would donate $100,000 to one individual's favorite non profit organization. On 21 April 2009 he revealed his decision to donate $50,000 to Charity:Water and $50,000 to Operation of Hope.

Hugh Jackman and Daniel Craig made a unique place for themselves in the history of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS fundraising 8 December 2009, when it was announced that they had raised $1,549,953 in the 21st annual Gypsy of the Year competition, from six weeks of curtain appeals at their hit Broadway drama, ''A Steady Rain''.

Sports and other activities

Jackman has shown keen interest in sports. In high school, he played rugby union and cricket, took part in high jumping and was on the swimming team. He enjoys basketball and kayaking. He has expressed an interest in football, committing his support to Norwich City FC. In the United States, Jackman supports the Philadelphia Union of Major League Soccer, attending a game at PPL Park in June 2010. On 22 June 2011, Jackman again attended a home Union match against Sporting KC, sitting in front of the Sons of Ben supporters section, nicknamed "The River End".

Jackman is a longtime fan and supporter of the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles, a NRL club based in Sydney's north. He sang the national anthem at the 1999 NRL Grand Final.

Jackman plays the piano, does yoga, and has been a member of the School of Practical Philosophy since 1992.

Personal life

Jackman married Deborra-Lee Furness on 11 April 1996. They met on ''Correlli'', an Australian television series. Jackman personally designed an engagement ring for Furness, and their wedding rings bore the Sanskrit inscription "Om paramar mainamar", translated as "we dedicate our union to a greater source".

Furness had two miscarriages, following which she and Jackman adopted two children, Oscar Maximillian (born 15 May 2000) and Ava Eliot (born 10 July 2005).

Filmography

! Year	! Film	! Role	! Notes
1994	''Law of the Land''	Charles McCray	1 episode
1995	''Correlli''	Kevin Jones	10 episodes
1995	''Blue Heelers''	Brady Jackson	1 episode
1996	''''	Duncan Jones	5 episodes
1999	''Erskineville Kings''	Wace
1999		Jack Willis
2000			Saturn Award for Best Actor
2001	''Kate & Leopold''	Leopold	Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
2001		Eddie
2001		Stanley Jobson
2003
2004
2004	''Van Helsing: The London Assignment''	Gabriel Van Helsing	(voice)
2005	''Stories of Lost Souls''	Roger	segment "Standing Room Only"
2006	''Happy Feet''	Memphis	(voice)
2006	''Flushed Away''	Roddy	(voice)
2006	''''	Robert Angier	Nominated – Australian Film Institute Award for Best Actor
2006	''''	Tomas / Tommy / Tom Creo	Nominated – Satellite Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Drama
2006		Peter Lyman
2006	''X-Men: The Last Stand''
2007	''Viva Laughlin''	Nicky Fontana	TV series, also executive producer
2008		Wyatt Bose	Producer
2008	''Uncle Jonny''	Uncle Russell	Tropfest 2008 Finalist Film
2008		The Drover	Nominated – Teen Choice Award for Choice Actor in a Drama
2008	''''	Narrator	Documentary
2009	''X-Men Origins: Wolverine''	rowspan=2	Producer
2011	''X-Men: First Class''	Uncredited cameo
2011		Arthur
2011	''Real Steel''	Charlie Kenton	Post-production
2011		Boyd Bolton	Post-production

Awards and nominations

Awards

1997 Variety Club Award for Best Actor in a Musical – ''Sunset Boulevard''

1998 Mo Award for Best Actor in a Musical – ''Sunset Boulevard''

1999 Australian Movie Convention, Australian Star of the Year

2000 Saturn Award for Best Actor – ''X-Men''

2004 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical – ''The Boy from Oz''

2004 Theatre World Award – ''The Boy from Oz''

2004 Broadway Audience Award – ''The Boy from Oz''

2004 Drama League Award for Distinguished Performance of the Year – ''The Boy from Oz''

2004 Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Actor in a Musical – ''The Boy from Oz''

2004 TDF-Astaire Award for Best Male Dancer in Theatre – ''The Boy from Oz''

2004 Theater Fan's Choice Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical – ''The Boy from Oz''

2004 Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical – ''The Boy from Oz''

2004 New York International Independent Film & Video Festival – Short Film Award for Best Actor – "Making the Grade"

2004 Australian Showbusiness Ambassador of the Year

2005 Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program – 58th Annual Tony Awards Ceremonies

2006 ShoWest Award for Male Star of the Year

2006 Mo Award for Australian Performer of the Year

2008 WAAPA – Chancellor's Alumni Award for Excellence, UTS Towering Achievement Award

2008 Australian Dance Award for Outstanding Performance in a Stage Musical – ''The Boy from Oz''

2008 Australian Film Institute Award Readers' Choice

2008 ''People'' Magazine's Sexiest Man Alive Award

2008 Australian GQ Man of the Year

2008 Teen Choice Award for Choice Actor in an Action Adventure ''X-Men Origins: Wolverine''

2009 Jackman had his hand and footprint ceremony on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on 21 April 2009.

2009 Best Performance By A Human Male at the 2009 Spike Video Game Awards as Wolverine in ''X-Men Origins: Wolverine''

2010 People's Choice Award for Favorite Action Star – ''X-Men Origins: Wolverine''

Nominations

1997 Mo Award for Best Actor in a Musical – ''Beauty and the Beast''

1998 Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical – ''Oklahoma!''

2001 Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy – ''Kate & Leopold''

2001 CFCA Award for Most Promising Actor

2006 Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program – 59th Annual Tony Awards Ceremonies

2006 Green Room Award for Best Male Artist in a Leading Role – ''The Boy from Oz''

Mentions in popular culture

Jackman was chosen as ''People'' magazine's Sexiest Man Alive of 2008.

In the ABC comedy-drama ''Scrubs'', one of the more prominent running gags is Dr. Cox's (John C. McGinley) seemingly irrational hatred of Jackman.

In the 7th season of ''Punk'd'', Jackman was led to believe that he had accidentally blown up director Brett Ratner's house. On the Season 6, Episode 13 of ''Will & Grace'', which aired on 10 February 2004, the character Jack McFarland (Sean Hayes), mentions he is going to see ''The Boy From Oz'', because he can not wait to see Hugh Jackman. He later discusses wanting to sue Jackman for stealing some of his dance moves.

References

External links

'A Steady Rain' Rules Broadway – opening night blog at broadway.tv

Jackman, Hugh National Library of Australia, ''Trove, People and Organisation'' record for Hugh Jackman

Category:1968 births Category:Australian expatriate actors in the United States Category:Australian film actors Category:Australian male singers Category:Australian musical theatre actors Category:Australian people of English descent Category:Australian stage actors Category:Australian television actors Category:Australian television presenters Category:Australian voice actors Category:Emmy Award winners Category:Living people Category:People educated at Knox Grammar School Category:People from Sydney Category:Tony Award winners Category:University of Technology, Sydney alumni

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Coordinates	44°51′15″N93°14′32″N
name	Ringo Starr
alt	A man in his sixties wearing sunglasses and a black T-shirt bearing the sequined words "LOVE" and "PEACE". Only his torso is visible, but his left hand appears to be on his hip. His right hand forms a V-shaped peace symbol in reference to his quote "Peace and Love".
background	solo_singer
birth name	Richard Starkey
alias	Ringo Starr
birth date	July 07, 1940
birth place	Liverpool, England, UK
instrument	Drums, vocals, percussion, keyboards, guitar
genre	Rock, pop, psychedelic rock, world
occupation
years active	1957–present
label
associated acts	The Beatles, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes, Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band, Plastic Ono Band
website	RingoStarr.com
notable instruments	Ludwig Super Classic DrumsetLudwig Black Oyster Pearl Drumset }}

Richard Starkey, MBE (born 7 July 1940) better known by his stage name Ringo Starr, is an English musician, singer-songwriter, and actor who gained worldwide fame as the drummer for The Beatles. When the band formed in 1960, Starr was a member of another Liverpool band, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. He became The Beatles' drummer in August 1962, taking the place of Pete Best. In addition to his contribution as drummer, Starr featured as lead vocals on a number of successful Beatles songs (in particular, "With a Little Help from My Friends", "Yellow Submarine", and The Beatles version of "Act Naturally"), as co-writer with the song "What Goes On" and primary writer with "Don't Pass Me By" and "Octopus's Garden".

As drummer for The Beatles, Starr was musically creative, and his contribution to the band's music has received high praise from notable drummers in more recent times. Starr described himself as "your basic offbeat drummer with funny fills", technically limited by being a left-handed person playing a right-handed kit. Drummer Steve Smith said that Starr's popularity "brought forth a new paradigm" where "we started to see the drummer as an equal participant in the compositional aspect" and that Starr "composed unique, stylistic drum parts for The Beatles songs". In 2011, Starr was picked as the fifth-best drummer of all-time by ''Rolling Stone'' readers, behind drummers such as John Bonham, Keith Moon and Neil Peart.

Starr is the most documented and critically acclaimed actor-Beatle, playing a central role in several Beatles films, and appearing in numerous other movies, both during and after his career with The Beatles. After The Beatles' break-up in 1970, Starr achieved solo musical success with several singles and albums, and recorded with each of his fellow ex-Beatles as they too developed their post-Beatle musical careers. He has also been featured in a number of TV documentaries, hosted TV shows, narrated the first two series of the children's television series ''Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends'' and portrayed "Mr. Conductor" during the first season of the PBS children's television series ''Shining Time Station''. He currently tours with the All-Starr Band.

Early life

Ringo Starr was born Richard Starkey on 7 July 1940 at 9 Madryn Street, Dingle, Liverpool, England, the son of Elsie (née Gleave) and Richard Starkey, a confectioner. His paternal grandfather was born with the surname "Parkin", and later adopted his stepfather's surname, "Starkey". Starr's parents split up when he was three years old, and his mother subsequently married Harry Graves, who encouraged his interest in music. Starr's family moved when he was three years old to a smaller home at 10 Admiral Grove. Starr attended an Evangelical Anglican church during his childhood. He was afflicted by illness for much of his early years. When aged six, he had appendicitis, which developed complications, causing him to fall into a coma. At thirteen, he developed chronic pleurisy and was admitted to a sanatorium for two years. After this extended hospital visit he did not return to school. The periods of hospitalisation left him behind scholastically, and as a result he was ineligible to attend grammar school or even sit its Eleven plus qualifying examination. Earlier, Starr attended St Silas, a Church of England primary school in High Park Street, close to his home in Admiral Grove; singer Billy Fury attended the school at the same time. Later, Starr attended Dingle Vale Secondary Modern School, leaving in 1955. While there, he showed an aptitude for art and drama as well as practical subjects including mechanics. Starr's health problems had another enduring effect in the form of allergies and sensitivities to food, and when The Beatles travelled to India in 1968, he took his own food with him.

Like John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison, Starr became caught up in Liverpool's skiffle craze. In 1957, he and his friend Eddie Miles formed the Eddie Clayton Skiffle Group. In 1959, he joined the Raving Texans, now adopting the stage name "Ringo Starr" because of the rings he wore and because it sounded "cowboyish", and his drum solos were billed as "Starr Time". By October 1960, the band was renamed Rory Storm and the Hurricanes, and while they were performing in Hamburg, Starr met The Beatles. On 16 October 1960 he drummed in Hamburg with Lennon, McCartney and Harrison, recording with them for the first time to back Hurricanes singer Lu Walters.

After returning to the UK, Starr sat in for Pete Best as The Beatles' drummer on 18 August 1961 and 5 February 1962. The Beatles removed Pete Best as their drummer on 16 August 1962, after Best had played in the early recording sessions at EMI Studios.

Starr's first performance as a full Beatle was on 18 August 1962 at a Horticultural Society dance at Port Sunlight. After his appearance at the Cavern Club performance as a full Beatle the following day, Best's fans were upset at his sacking, holding vigils outside Best's house and fighting at the club, shouting 'Pete forever! Ringo never!' George Harrison received a black eye from one of the fans.

When he arrived at EMI Studios for the second time on 11 September, Starr was shocked to find another drummer there, session drummer Andy White who was commissioned by producer George Martin. Using sessions drummers familiar with studio techniques was a normal procedure for studio recordings in those days. Starr's view at the time was that Andy White was brought in because he thought George Martin viewed him as crazy. Of the 4 September rehearsal session, Starr stated, "He [George Martin] thought I was crazy and couldn't play. Because when we were doing 'Please Please Me', I was actually playing the kit and in one hand I had a tambourine and a maracas in the other, because I was trying to play the percussion and the drums at the same time, because we were just a four piece band". Starr also stated, "I thought, 'That’s the end, they’re doing a Pete Best on me.'"

The Beatles: 1962–1970

Vocals

Starr generally sang at least one song on each studio album as part of an attempt to establish the vocal personality of all four members. In some cases, Lennon or McCartney wrote the lyrics and melody especially for him, as they did for "Yellow Submarine" from ''Revolver'' and "With a Little Help from My Friends" on ''Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band''. These melodies were tailored to Starr's baritone vocal range. Starr's backing vocals are heard on songs such as "Carry That Weight", and "The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill".

Composition

The Beatles used Starr's unusual turns of phrase, or "Ringoisms" as they became known, such as "a hard day's night" and "tomorrow never knows", and turned them into songs. Recalling this, McCartney said, "Ringo would do these little malapropisms, he would say things slightly wrong, like people do, but his were always wonderful, very lyrical... they were sort of magic". As well as inspiring his bandmates' creativity in this way, Starr occasionally contributed his own lyrics to unfinished Lennon and McCartney songs, such as the line "''darning his socks in the night when there's nobody there''" in "Eleanor Rigby". Frustrated at times of being the odd man out in the group in regard to songwriting, Starr commented in ''The Beatles Anthology'' that when he presented a song to The Beatles, it would often sound to the other three Beatles like a popular song of the day. Starr did eventually begin composing, and is credited with "Don't Pass Me By" (on ''The White Album'') and "Octopus's Garden" (on ''Abbey Road'') as sole songwriter.

His disgust with the band's tensions and boredom at waiting around to contribute during the sessions for the ''White Album'' caused him to quit the group temporarily. He spent two weeks with actor Peter Sellers on the latter's yacht, ''Amelfis'', in Piraeus, where he wrote "Octopus's Garden". He did not return for two weeks, even though the other Beatles urged him to come back: Lennon sent telegrams, and Harrison set up flowers all over the studio for Starr's return saying "Welcome home". Starr's name also appears as a co-writer for the ''Rubber Soul'' track "What Goes On" along with Lennon and McCartney, while the songs "Flying" (on the ''Magical Mystery Tour'' album) and "Dig It" (on ''Let It Be'') are listed as being written by the entire group. On issued material after the break-up, Starr wrote "Taking a Trip to Carolina" from the second "bonus" CD of ''Let It Be... Naked'', and received joint songwriting credits with the other three Beatles for "12-Bar Original", "Los Paranoias", "Christmas Time (Is Here Again)", "Suzy Parker" (heard in the ''Let It Be'' film), "Jessie's Dream" (heard in the Magical Mystery Tour (film)) and The Beatles' version of "Free as a Bird".

1964 Illness

In June 1964, The Beatles were scheduled to tour Denmark, the Netherlands, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. On 3 June, the day before the tour, Starr collapsed during an early morning photo session for the ''Saturday Evening Post'' at a portrait studio in Barnes, London. Stricken with a 102-degree fever and tonsillitis, he was rushed to the hospital. This bout with tonsillitis necessitated a stay in hospital and a few days of recuperation at home. During this time, Starr was temporarily replaced for the Sweden, Denmark, Netherlands, Hong Kong and Adelaide concert dates by 24-year-old session drummer Jimmie Nicol. Beatles producer George Martin suggested Nicol because he had recently recorded at EMI with Tommy Quickly and recently became familiar with Beatles numbers while drumming on a recording session for an album called ''Beatlemania''. At first, Harrison did not want Starr to be replaced and refused to go on the tour without Starr, but Brian Epstein and George Martin convinced Harrison to begin the tour. Starr was discharged from the hospital on 11 June, and he rejoined the group in Melbourne on 15 June 1964. Ultimately, Starr had his tonsils removed during The Beatles' Christmas vacation period later in the year. Starr would later admit that he feared that he would be permanently replaced during his illness.

Drumming skills

While Starr himself has been the first to acknowledge the technical limitations of his drumming for The Beatles, the overall effect of his contribution has received high praise from notable drummers. Starr said, "Whenever I hear another drummer I know I'm no good. I'm no good on the technical things [...] I'm your basic offbeat drummer with funny fills. The fills were funny because I'm really left-handed playing a right-handed kit. I can't roll around the drums because of that." Martin's version was, "Ringo hit good and hard and used the tom-tom well, even though he couldn't do a roll to save his life", although Martin later added, "He's got tremendous feel. He always helped us to hit the right tempo for a song, and gave it that support – that rock-solid back-beat – that made the recording of all The Beatles' songs that much easier." In 1968, Martin praised Starr's drumming on ''Sgt. Pepper,'' calling him "probably ... the finest rock drummer in the world today." Lennon, when asked if Starr was the best drummer in the world, jokingly replied, "He's not even the best drummer in The Beatles!", but also said, "Ringo's a damn good drummer. He always was a good drummer. He's not technically good, but I think Ringo's drumming is underrated the same way as Paul's bass playing is underrated." McCartney sent Starr a postcard on 31 January 1969 (the day after the band's performance on the roof of Apple Studios) stating: 'You are the greatest drummer in the world. Really.' This postcard is included in Starr's book ''Postcards from the Boys''.

Drummer Steve Smith extolled Starr's qualities beyond the technical, in terms of his musical contribution as drummer: Phil Collins, the drummer for Genesis, who was himself influenced by Starr, said:

In September 1980, John Lennon had this to say about Starr:

Many drummers acknowledge Starr as an influence, including Steve Gorman of The Black Crowes, Dave Grohl of Nirvana, Jen Ledger of Skillet, Max Weinberg of the E Street Band, Danny Carey of Tool, Liberty DeVitto of Billy Joel's band, Nicko McBrain of Iron Maiden, Eric Carr of Kiss, Phil Rudd of AC/DC, Orri Páll Dýrason of Sigur Rós, the former Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy, Pedro Andreu of Heroes del Silencio and others.

In his extensive survey of The Beatles' recording sessions, Mark Lewisohn confirmed that Starr was both proficient and remarkably reliable and consistent. According to Lewisohn, there were fewer than a dozen occasions in The Beatles' eight-year recording career where session 'breakdowns' were caused by Starr making a mistake, while the vast majority of takes were stopped owing to mistakes by the other three members.

Starr drummed on all but five of the band's released tracks that feature drumming. For the band's second recording session with Starr as a member on 11 September 1962, producer George Martin replaced the studio-inexperienced Starr with session drummer Andy White to record takes for what would be the two sides of The Beatles' first single, "Love Me Do" backed with "P.S. I Love You". Starr played tambourine on "Love Me Do" and maracas on "P.S. I Love You" for this session. McCartney took over the drums on "Back in the U.S.S.R." and "Dear Prudence" from the ''White Album'' (1968) after Starr had walked out, and also played the drums on "The Ballad of John and Yoko", recorded on 14 April 1969, since only he and Lennon were immediately available to record the song. Starr commented that he was lucky in being "surrounded by three frustrated drummers" who could only drum in one style.

After the Beatles

1970s

After the announcement of the break-up of The Beatles on 10 April 1970, Starr released two albums before the end of that year. ''Sentimental Journey'' featured Starr's renditions of many pre-rock standards and included the arranger talents of Quincy Jones, Maurice Gibb, George Martin and McCartney, among others. His next album, ''Beaucoups of Blues'', put Starr in a country context, and included renowned Nashville session musician Pete Drake. He scored hit singles with "It Don't Come Easy" (1971) (US #4) and "Back Off Boogaloo" (1972) (US #9), the latter of which was his biggest UK hit, peaking at #2. He achieved two No.1 hits in the US, with "Photograph" (co-written with Harrison) and "You're Sixteen" (written by the Sherman Brothers of ''Mary Poppins'' fame).

He participated in ''The Concert for Bangladesh'' organised by Harrison in 1971, as well as drumming on Harrison's ''All Things Must Pass'' and ''Living in the Material World'', Lennon's ''John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band'', and Yoko Ono's early solo work. Starr then made his debut as a film director with the T. Rex documentary ''Born to Boogie''. Starr became firm friends with T. Rex frontman Marc Bolan and during the period of filming the documentary, Starr released the single "Back Off Boogaloo".

In 1971, he started a furniture company with designer Robin Cruikshank. Starr's own avant-garde designs included a flower-shaped table with adjustable petal seats and a donut-shaped fireplace.

The 1973 album ''Ringo'', produced by Richard Perry, with participation by the other three former Beatles on different tracks, was commercially successful. The album ''Goodnight Vienna'' followed the next year and was also successful. Hits and notable tracks from these two albums included "Photograph" and "You're Sixteen" both reaching number one on the US charts, "Oh My My" (US #5) and "I'm the Greatest" (written by Lennon) from ''Ringo'', and "Only You (And You Alone)" (US #6) and "No No Song" (US #3) from 1974's ''Goodnight Vienna''. In late 1975, these singles and others were collected for Starr's first greatest hits compilation, ''Blast from Your Past'', which was the last album to be released on Apple Records. During this period he became romantically involved with Lynsey de Paul. He played tambourine on a song she wrote and produced for Vera Lynn, "Don't You Remember When", and he inspired another De Paul song, "If I Don't Get You the Next One Will", which she described as being about revenge after he missed a dinner appointment with her because he was asleep in his office.

Starr's recording career subsequently diminished in commercial impact, although he continued to record and remained a familiar celebrity presence. Starr signed with Atlantic Records in the mid-1970s, and in 1976 the album ''Ringo's Rotogravure'' was released. Although yielding two minor hit singles, "A Dose of Rock 'n' Roll" (US #26) and a cover of "Hey! Baby" (US #74) the album achieved moderate sales but reached a respectable #28. This caused the label to revamp Starr's formula; the results were a curious blend of disco and '70s pop. The album ''Ringo the 4th'' (1977) was a commercial disaster, reaching no higher than No.162 on the charts. Afterward, Starr soon signed with Portrait Records. His stint with Portrait began on a promising note: 1978 saw the release of ''Bad Boy'', as well as a network TV special. However, neither were very popular, with ''Bad Boy'' reaching a disappointing No.129 on the US charts. Consequently, Starr did not release another album with Portrait Records.

In 1975, Starr founded his own record label called Ring O'Records, and four albums were released on the label between 1975 and 1978 (''Startling Music'' by David Hentschel, ''Graham Bonnet'' by Graham Bonnet, ''Restless'' by Rab Noakes and a re-release of an Apple Records album, ''The Whale'' by John Tavener) as well as 16 singles by artists such as: Bobby Keys, Carl Grossman, Colonel Doug Bogie, David Hentschel, Graham Bonnet, Suzanne, Johnny Warman, Rab Noakes and Dirk & Stig (the last being names of characters from The Beatles' pastiche band "The Rutles", created by Eric Idle and Neil Innes).

1980s

In 1980, Harrison wrote "All Those Years Ago" for Starr to sing on his album ''Can't Fight Lightning'' which was later released as ''Stop and Smell the Roses''. Harrison sang a rewritten version himself, including it on his 1981 album ''Somewhere in England'' following Lennon's murder. Starr, along with Paul and Linda McCartney, played on Harrison's version. Ronnie Wood from The Rolling Stones also collaborated with Starr while recording ''Stop and Smell the Roses'', at Cherokee Studios, adding guitar, bass, saxophone, keyboards, and back-up vocals. Starr was interviewed by ''Rolling Stone'' and ''Musician'' around this time. ''Stop and Smell the Roses'' was a well-regarded album, but again did not sell particularly well. During recording of "Stop and Smell the Roses", Lennon had offered Starr a pair of songs to use on ''Roses'': "Nobody Told Me" and "Life Begins at 40". However, following Lennon's murder, Starr did not feel comfortable recording them; the former was released posthumously under Lennon's name on the album ''Milk and Honey'', while the latter's painfully ironic lyrics kept it unissued until 1998's ''John Lennon Anthology''.

After Lennon was murdered in 1980, Starr and his girlfriend Barbara Bach flew to New York City to comfort Lennon's widow Yoko Ono.

In 1984 and 1986, Starr narrated the children's series ''Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends'', a Britt Allcroft production, which was first shown on Central Television and subsequently across the ITV network. He was unsure about taking the role at first, having never previously read the books by Reverend Awdry, and at the time he felt that children would be more interested in "dinosaurs with lasers." Nevertheless, he had a change of heart and took the role, narrating the first two series. Starr also portrayed the character Mr. Conductor in the programme's American spin-off ''Shining Time Station'', which debuted in 1989 on PBS. Starr left after the first season.

In 1985, he performed, with his son Zak Starkey, as part of Artists United Against Apartheid on the recording ''Sun City''.

In 1987, Starr drummed on the George Harrison song "When We Was Fab" from his album ''Cloud Nine''. The song, co-written by Harrison and Jeff Lynne, charted in the Top 30 in both the UK and the USA. The same year, Starr, Harrison, and Lynne joined Eric Clapton, Elton John, Phil Collins, and Ray Cooper in a performance for the Prince's Trust charity.

In October 1988, Starr and Bach attended a detox clinic in Tucson, Arizona, each receiving a six-week treatment for alcoholism. Starr later complained that it had been difficult to recover with the "press flying overhead" on a constant basis. On 23 July 1989, 'Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band' gave their first performance to an audience of ten thousand in Dallas, Texas. The band consisted of Starr and a varying assortment of musicians who had been successful in their own right with popular songs at different times. The concerts interchanged Starr's singing, including selections of his Beatles and solo songs, with performances of each of the other artists' well-known material, the latter incorporating either Starr or another musician as drummer. The eighth All-Starr Band tour took place in 2003.

In 1989 Starr and his daughter Lee appeared together in a TV ad as part of the "New Generation of Olds" campaign featuring the catchphrase "This is not your father's Oldsmobile."

1990s

The success of the initial All-Starr tour led to the release of ''Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band'', a compilation of live performances from the tour, in the fall of 1990. In the same year, Starr recorded a version of the song "I Call Your Name" for a television special marking the 10th anniversary of John Lennon's death and the 50th anniversary of his birth. The track, produced by Jeff Lynne, features a supergroup composed of Lynne, Tom Petty, Joe Walsh and Jim Keltner.

In 1991, he made an animated appearance as himself on ''The Simpsons'' episode "Brush with Greatness" and contributed an original song, "You Never Know", to the soundtrack of the John Hughes film ''Curly Sue''. Starr released his first studio album in nine years, 1992's ''Time Takes Time''. The album was produced by four of the top producers in music: Phil Ramone, Don Was, Jeff Lynne and Peter Asher, and featured guest appearances by various stars including Brian Wilson and Harry Nilsson. In 1995, Starr appeared with Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones, and Peter Tork of the Monkees in a Pizza Hut commercial. In the commercial, he claims he is trying to reunite "the lads." The commercial ends with the three Monkees joining Starr. He looks into the camera and says "wrong lads."

In 1997, Starr guested on drums on two songs on the McCartney album ''Flaming Pie''. McCartney had written a song about Starr's ex-wife Maureen Starkey Tigrett ("Little Willow") and asked Starr if he'd play on another ("Beautiful Night"). The day after the "Beautiful Night" session, the two recorded a jam session which developed into another ''Flaming Pie'' song, "Really Love You", notable for being the first song ever credited to McCartney/Starkey and officially released on an album. In 1998, he released two albums on the Mercury label. The studio album ''Vertical Man'' marked the beginning of a nine-year "partnership" with Mark Hudson, who produced the album and, with his band the Roundheads, formed the core of the backing group for the album. In addition, many "famous guests" joined on various tracks, including Martin, McCartney, and—in his final appearance on a Starr album before his death—Harrison. Most of the songs were written by Starr and the band. The Roundheads and Joe Walsh joined Starr for his appearance on ''VH1 Storytellers'', which was released as an album under the same name. On the show, he performed greatest hits and new songs, and told anecdotes relating to them.

2000s

In 2000, he appeared in a television commercial for Charles Schwab Investments. As he sits with a group of young musicians trying to find a word that rhymes with "elation", Ringo suggests such financial terms as "dividend reinvestment participation", "market capitalisation" and "asset allocation". As the song "Money" plays in the background, the musicians stare at him in confusion. He finally says, "What? Too many syllables?"

In 2002, Starr was inducted into the Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame joining an elite group of percussive inductees, which includes Buddy Rich and William F. Ludwig, Sr. and Jr.

On 29 November 2002 (the first anniversary of George Harrison's death) , Starr performed "Photograph" and a cover of Carl Perkins' "Honey Don't" at the ''Concert for George'' held in the Royal Albert Hall, London. According to the official ''Concert for George'' website, "Ringo Starr caught everyone with a tear in their eye with a rendition of 'Photograph', a composition he wrote with George, which seemed to sum up how everyone felt." The song includes the lines, "Every time I see your face / it reminds me of the places we used to go / But all I've got is a photograph / and I realise you're not coming back any more".

In 2003, Starr formed Pumkinhead Records with All-Starr Band member Mark Hudson. The label was not prolific, but their first signing was Liam Lynch, who produced a 2003 LP entitled ''Fake Songs''.

Starr was an "honorary Santa Tracker" and voice over for the London stop in Santa's annual Christmas Eve journey in 2003 and 2004 as depicted in the annual NORAD tracks Santa program. According to NORAD officials, he was "a Starr in the east" who helped guide North American Aerospace Defense Command's Santa-tracking tradition.

In September 2005, Liverpool City Council decided they would bulldoze 9 Madryn Street, Starr's birthplace, as it had 'no historical significance', despite a previous reprieve back in July. The LCC later announced that the building would be taken apart brick by brick and preserved after all.

In 2006, Starr featured on the Jerry Lee Lewis duet album, ''Last Man Standing''; he performed a cover, with Lewis, of Chuck Berry's "Sweet Little Sixteen". It was also announced he would be the star in a Pow! Entertainment animated film and comic book produced by comics creator Stan Lee.

In the 24 December 2007 issue of ''Time'' (European edition), Starr was profiled in a three-page article focusing on his happiness in life and his music. The article mentioned the ''Liverpool 8'' album, but only briefly. It also stated that Starr and Dave Stewart were collaborating on writing a musical, to be called ''The Hole in the Fence'', and discussed Starr's then-upcoming performance in Liverpool on 11 January 2008.

In January 2008, the studio album ''Liverpool 8'', produced by Dave Stewart, Mark Hudson and Starr himself, was released. Mark Hudson was the initial producer of the record but was replaced by Stewart after a falling out with Starr. (The album's production credits read, "Produced by Ringo Starr and Mark Hudson; Re-Produced by Ringo Starr and David Stewart." All of the songs but one were written with members of the Roundheads, although Stewart also has several co-writing credits.) Starr's attorney Bruce Grakal told journalist Peter Palmiere that the partnership between Hudson and Starr was over and they would never work together again. This happened after Hudson dropped out of the 2006 tour as musical director to do the TV show ''The One: Making a Music Star''. According to Palmiere, Hudson now claims that the split was over Starr's insistence on using synthesised sounds, for which Stewart is known, whereas Hudson wanted real guitars, pianos, strings etc.

On 10 October 2008, Starr posted a video on his website stating that he will not be signing autographs after 20 October 2008. He stated that he is too busy and that anything after that date sent to any address will not be signed.

On 4 April 2009, Starr reunited with McCartney at the David Lynch "Change Begins Within" Benefit Concert at Radio City Music Hall. After separate performances from Starr and other artists, McCartney's set came last, and towards the end he announced "Billy Shears", whereupon Starr joined him to perform "With a Little Help from My Friends" and, with all performers, "I Saw Her Standing There" and "Cosmically Conscious". In late May 2009, it was announced that Starr will collaborate with Bob Dylan and Paul McCartney to record some new tracks to record an entire album.

Starr appeared on-stage at Microsoft's 1 June 2009 E3 press conference with Yoko Ono, McCartney and Olivia Harrison to promote ''The Beatles: Rock Band'' video game.

Starr remains the only Beatle not to top the UK singles charts as a solo artist, although he did chart two number one singles in the US. He is also the only Beatle not to top the UK album listings, his highest position being #7, achieved in the UK with both ''Sentimental Journey'' and ''Ringo''; the latter reached No.2 in the US charts, giving Starr his highest album position there. In the USA, Starr's Apple singles fared rather well. Of all four members of The Beatles- in their respective solo careers- he has the second most consecutive top ten singles in the US with seven in a row: "It Don't Come Easy" (#4), "Back Off Boogaloo" (#9), "Photograph" (#1), "You're Sixteen" (#1), "Oh My My" (#5), "Only You (And You Alone)" (#6) and "No No Song" (#3). McCartney has the most with eight in a row.

In November 2009, Starr once again performed the voice of Thomas the Tank Engine for "The Official BBC Children in Need Medley". This is the first No.1 UK hit Starr has been involved in since The Beatles disbanded in 1970 (not counting guest appearances on other singles by other artists).

2010s

On 12 January 2010, he released his fifteenth studio album ''Y Not''. On 13 January 2010, Starr and his band performed "Walk With You" from the album on ''The Daily Show with Jon Stewart'' and closed out the show with a rousing rendition of "With a Little Help from My Friends". Starr also appeared on ''Late Night with Jimmy Fallon'', performing with Ben Harper. Starr was also featured on ''The Jay Leno Show'', where he played "The Other Side of Liverpool". On 22 January 2010, Starr appeared on ''Hope for Haiti Now: A Global Benefit for Earthquake Relief'' as a Celebrity phone operator. Starr appeared at the 52nd Grammy Awards with Norah Jones to present 'Record Of The Year' to Kings Of Leon on 31 January 2010 .

On 11 April 2010, Starr appeared on ''Weekend Wogan'', a live radio show on BBC 2 Radio presented by Sir Terry Wogan, to promote his album ''Y Not'' in the UK and on 12 April 2010 he appeared on ''Loose Women'', a lunchtime chat show on ITV. On 13 April 2010 Starr appeared on CNN's ''Connect the World'' on CNN International. On 7 July 2010, Starr celebrated his 70th birthday at Radio City Music Hall, New York with another All-Starr Band concert, topped with friends and family joining him on stage including Yoko Ono and his son Zak, and Paul McCartney as a surprise guest.

On 13 May 2011, Starr appeared on The One Show on BBC One, where he announced that he was working on a new album featuring a song called "In Liverpool".

Starr has recently contributed a cover of Buddy Holly's "Think It Over" for the upcoming tribute album, ''Listen to Me: Buddy Holly'' to be released on 6 September 2011.

Personal life

Starr married Maureen Cox in February 1965, and they had three children Zak (b. 13 September 1965), Jason (b. 19 August 1967), and Lee (b. 11 November 1970); the couple divorced in 1975, and Cox died in 1994. In 1980, on the set of the film ''Caveman'', he met actress Barbara Bach, well known for her role as Major Anya Amasova (female lead and main 'Bond girl') in ''The Spy Who Loved Me''. They were married on 27 April 1981, just a few weeks after the release of ''Caveman''. In 1985, Starr was the first of The Beatles to become a grandfather upon the birth of Zak's daughter, Tatia Jayne Starkey.

Zak Starkey is also a drummer, who until August 2008 was a semi-official member of Oasis—one of the many bands influenced by The Beatles. Starr arranged for Zak to receive drumming instruction from Zak's idol, The Who's drummer Keith Moon, who was Zak's godfather and a close friend of Starr's. Zak also performs with the Who live (such as during the Super Bowl XLIV Halftime show in 2010) and sometimes in the studio. Zak has performed with his father during some All-Starr Band tours.

Like fellow ex-Beatle McCartney, Starr is a vegetarian, albeit for different reasons. McCartney is vegetarian for ethical reasons, but in Starr's case it is because of stomach problems he had in the past. As a child, Starr was left-handed until he became ambidextrous when his grandmother helped him learn to write with his right hand.

In the Sunday Times Rich List 2011 Starr was listed at number 56 with an estimated personal wealth of £150m.

Like many drummers, Starr collects percussive instruments from around the world and has the largest Wobble board collection outside of Australia.

Films

Aside from The Beatles' films ''A Hard Day's Night'' (1964), ''Help!'' (1965), ''Magical Mystery Tour'' (1967), ''Yellow Submarine'' (1968), ''Let It Be'' (1970), Starr has acted in several films such as ''Candy'' (1968), ''The Magic Christian'' (1969) (alongside Peter Sellers), ''Blindman'' (1971), ''Son of Dracula'' (1974) and ''Caveman'' (1981). Starr directed and appeared in ''Born to Boogie'' (1972), a concert film featuring Marc Bolan and T.Rex. For the 1979 documentary film on the Who, ''The Kids Are Alright'', Starr appeared in interview segments with fellow drummer Keith Moon. He starred as Larry the Dwarf in Frank Zappa's ''200 Motels'' (1971). His voice is also featured in Harry Nilsson's animated film ''The Point!'' (1971). He appeared in ''The Last Waltz'', the Martin Scorsese film about the 1976 farewell concert of The Band, a favourite of The Beatles. He co-starred in ''That'll Be the Day'' (1973) as a Teddy Boy. He played 'The Pope' in Ken Russell's ''Lisztomania'' (1975), and a fictionalised version of himself in the Paul McCartney-penned ''Give My Regards to Broad Street'' in 1984.

Awards and recognition

In the Queen's Birthday Honours of 12 June 1965, Starr and the three other Beatles were appointed Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE); they received their insignia from Queen Elizabeth II at an investiture at Buckingham Palace on 26 October. He and the other Beatles were cumulatively nominated for a BAFTA Award for Best Newcomer for their performances in the 1964 film ''A Hard Day's Night''. The Beatles won the Academy Award for 'Best Original Song Score' for the 1970 film ''Let It Be''. Each Beatle received an Oscar statuette.

The minor planet 4150 Starr, discovered on 31 August 1984 by Brian A. Skiff at the Anderson Mesa Station of the Lowell Observatory, was named in his honour. Starr was nominated for a 1989 Daytime Emmy Award for 'Outstanding Performer in a Children's Series' for his role as Mr. Conductor in the television series ''Shining Time Station''.

All four of The Beatles were elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame when the group was inducted in 1988. Since then, Lennon (1994), McCartney (1999), and Harrison (2004) have been inducted for their solo careers as well. Starr remains the only Beatle not to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for his solo career. However, it was announced on 5 September 2007 that Starr would be on the ballot for membership in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist. If Starr is inducted, it would be the only time both a rock group, and each of its individuals members, were inducted separately.

During the 50th Grammy Awards, Starr, George Martin and Giles Martin accepted the Best Compilation Soundtrack award for ''Love''.

On 9 November 2008, Starr accepted a Diamond Award on behalf of The Beatles during the 2008 World Music Awards ceremony in Monaco.

On 8 February 2010, Starr was honoured with the 2,401st star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. It is located at 1750 North Vine Street, in front of the Capitol Records building, as are the stars for Lennon and Harrison.

Discography

;Studio albums

''Sentimental Journey'' (1970)

''Beaucoups of Blues'' (1970)

''Ringo'' (1973)

''Goodnight Vienna'' (1974)

''Ringo's Rotogravure'' (1976)

''Ringo the 4th'' (1977)

''Bad Boy'' (1978)

''Stop and Smell the Roses'' (1981)

''Old Wave'' (1983)

''Time Takes Time'' (1992)

''Vertical Man'' (1998)

''I Wanna Be Santa Claus'' (1999)

''Ringo Rama'' (2003)

''Choose Love'' (2005)

''Liverpool 8'' (2008)

''Y Not'' (2010)

Filmography

''The Beatles Come to Town'' (1963) (short subject) – with The Beatles

''A Hard Day's Night'' (1964) – with The Beatles

''Help!'' (1965) – with The Beatles

''Reflections On Love'' (1966) (short subject)

''Magical Mystery Tour'' (1967) – with The Beatles

''The Beatles Mod Odyssey'' (1968) (short subject) – with The Beatles

''Yellow Submarine'' (1968)- with The Beatles

''Candy'' (1968)

''The Magic Christian'' (1969)

''Let It Be'' (1970) (documentary) – with The Beatles

''Music!'' (1971) (documentary)

''200 Motels'' (1971)

''Blindman'' (1971)

''The Point!'' (1971) (Narrator on Home Video release)

''Did Somebody Drop His Mouse?'' (1972) (short subject)

''The Concert for Bangladesh'' (1972) (documentary)

''Born to Boogie'' (1972) (documentary) (also director)

''That'll Be the Day'' (1973)

''Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars'' (1973) (documentary)

''Son of Dracula'' (1974)

''Lisztomania'' (1975)

''The Day the Music Died'' (1977) (documentary)

''The Beatles and Beyond'' (1977) (documentary)

''Sextette'' (1978)

'' Ringo (1978) TV Movie

''The Last Waltz'' (1978) (documentary)

''The Kids Are Alright'' (1979) (documentary)

''Caveman'' (1981)

''The Cooler'' (1982) (short subject)

''Give My Regards to Broad Street'' (1984)

''Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends'' (1984–1986) (Narrator)

''Water'' (1985) (Cameo)

''Alice in Wonderland'' (1985)

''Sun City/The Making of Sun City'' (1986) (documentary)

''Queen: The Magic Years'' (1987) (documentary)

''Walking After Midnight'' (1988) (documentary)

''The Return of Bruno'' (1988)

''Shining Time Station'' (1989) (Mr. Conductor)

''The Beatles Anthology (1995) (documentary) – with The Beatles

''Concert for George'' (2003) (documentary)

''Oh My God'' (2009) (documentary)

== All-Starr Band editions ==

: ''For a detailed list of bands and members, see: Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band''

To date, Starr has toured with eleven versions of his All-Starr Band, where "everybody on stage is a star in their own right." The band has consistently toured for over a decade, and, in similar fashion to Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings, rotates its line-up depending on the musicians' projects at a given time.

References

Bibliography

External links

Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band

Ringo Starr's Drummerworld profile

Ringo Starr Artwork

Press Conference with Ringo Starr on The BackStage Pass internet radio show

The art of Ringo Starr

NYTimes interview for his 70th birthday

Ringo Starr (Paris Le Palais des Sports 2011)

Category:The Beatles members Category:Academy Award winners Category:Actors from Liverpool Category:Apple Records artists Category:Atlantic Records artists Category:Best Original Music Score Academy Award winners Category:British expatriates in the United States Category:English baritones Category:English film actors Category:English rock drummers Category:English vegetarians Category:E1 Music artists Category:Grammy Award winners Category:Living people Category:Members of the Order of the British Empire Category:Mercury Records artists Category:Music from Liverpool Category:Musicians from Liverpool Category:People self-identifying as alcoholics Category:Plastic Ono Band members Category:Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends Category:World Music Awards winners Category:1940 births

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