Robert Hughes

Robert Hughes wasn’t exactly your cookie-cutter star from the start. Born and raised in Crows Nest, Sydney—yeah, the kind of place where you probably know the name of your neighbor’s dog—he didn’t just waltz into the spotlight. First, he cut his teeth in journalism, slogging through a cadetship and picking up tricks at the Max Rowley Media Academy. Not exactly glamorous, but hey, everyone starts somewhere, right? From there, he kicked off his actual career as a humble copy boy at a Sydney newspaper. Sort of like being the runner on a movie set, doing all the little jobs no one else wants. But Robert didn’t stay stuck fetching coffee and sorting mail. Music came knocking, and he jumped into the whole band scene with the Flying Circus. That gig didn’t last long, though. Maybe rock stardom wasn’t in the cards, or maybe he realized the theatre had better snacks. So, theatre it was. He dove into acting, landing roles in Sydney productions like Errol Flynn’s “Great Big Adventure Book For Boys”—which, honestly, sounds like the kind of wild show you’d only find in Australia—and even tackled the classic “Macbeth.” The guy could do goofy or go full-on Shakespearean tragedy. On top of that, he racked up appearances on a bunch of Aussie TV series, sometimes just popping in for guest roles, sometimes really making his mark. But if you’re talking big moments, you can’t miss his lead in the comedy series Hey Dad..! back in ’87 on the Seven Network. That’s the one where he really carved out his spot in the entertainment world.