Gary Sweet (born 22 May 1957) 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). He finished in the top 3 of Network 10’s I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here 2026, losing out to Concetta Caristo.
Early life
Sweet attended Brighton High School in Adelaide. He later obtained a teaching degree and took up drama while at Sturt Teachers' College.
Career
Film and television
Sweet's first role was in 1980 low-budget horror film Nightmares (also known as Stage Fright). In the early 1980s, he became recognisable through the ongoing role of Leslie 'Magpie' Maddern in the TV series The Sullivans, for which he won a Logie Award.
In 1984, Sweet had his first starring role as Donald Bradman in the miniseries Bodyline, the story of the 1932–33 Test cricket series between England and Australia, alongside Hugo Weaving. (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). Nine Network had considered a potential spin-off centred around Sweet's character, but decided not to go ahead with it. In June 2025, Sweet wrapped a six-week guest stint in Neighbours, which will go to air later in the year, before the serial ends. He branded it "a bucket list moment".
In January 2026, Sweet participated as a contestant on the twelfth season of reality competition series I’m a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!, hosted by Robert Irwin and Julia Morris.
Theatre
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, and in Trevor Ashley's musical comedy Little Orphan trAshley with Rhonda Burchmore.
Music
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.
Personal life
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. He is also a supporter of the Manly Sea Eagles rugby league club who play in the National Rugby League.
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. 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.
On a 1 February 2026 episode of I’m a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!, Sweet revealed that from birth, he was raised by his uncle and aunt, saying: "Phil and his wife were unable to have children. So when the baby was born, they (Bill and his wife) gave the baby to his younger brother, Phil. The baby was me… so my biological parents became my uncle and aunty, my sisters became my cousins… I've never, ever, ever told this story."
Filmography
Film
{|class="wikitable"
!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
|-
| rowspan="3"|1988
| The Dreaming
| Geoff
| Film
|-
| Fever
| Jeff Maslim
| Film
|-
| Becca
| Matt Bourke
| TV movie
|-
| rowspan="2"|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
|-
| rowspan="3"|2001
| Hard Knox
| Monorail Ron
| TV movie
|-
| The Big House
| Jacko
| Short film
|-
| Bodyjackers
| O'Grady
| Film
|-
| rowspan="2"|2002
| The Tracker
| The Fanatic
| Film
|-
| Tempe Tip
| Nico
| Film
|-
| rowspan="2"|2003
| Alexandra's Project
| Steve
| Film
|-
| Gettin' Square
| Chicka Martin
| Film
|-
| 2005
| Dust Storm
| Tom
| Short film
|-
| rowspan="3"|2006
| 2:37
| Mr Darcy
| Film
|-
| Operating Instructions
| Paul
| Short film
|-
| Macbeth
| Duncan
| Film
|-
| rowspan="2"|2008
| Bitter & Twisted
| Greg Praline
| Film
|-
| The Tumbler
| Hurtle Hamilton
| Film
|-
| 2009
| Subdivision
| Digger Kelly
| Film
|-
| rowspan="2"|2010
| The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
| Lord Drinian
| Film
|-
| Lucidya
| The Game Presenter
| Short film
|-
| rowspan="2"|2011
| The Telegram Man
| John Lewis
| Short film
|-
| Bush Basher
|
| Short film
|-
| rowspan="2"|2012
| Fatal Honeymoon
| Detective Gary Campbell
| TV movie
|-
| Dangerous Remedy
| Superintendent John Matthews
| TV movie
|-
| rowspan="4"|2013
| Adoration
| Saul
| Film
|-
| Nerve
| Ben Livingstone
| Film
|-
| Charlie's Country
| Publican
| Film
|-
| Trouble Down Under
| Big Red the Kangaroo (voice)
| Animated film
|-
| rowspan="2"|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
|-
| rowspan="3"|2019
| Ritual
| Ray Devlin
| Short film
|-
| Two Heads Creek
| Hans
| Film
|-
| Tour De Legacy – The Western Front
| Narrator
| Docufilm
|-
| rowspan="2"|2020
| Ayaan
| Sergeant Simmons
| Short film
|-
| Paper Champions
| Terry
| Film
|-
|2023
| A Savage Christmas
|Peter Hall
| Film
|-
|
|Scoby
|TBA
|Film
|-
|
| Patched
| Shark
| In post-production
|}
Television
{|class="wikitable"
|-
!Year
!Film
!Role
!Notes
|-
| 1981–1983
| The Sullivans
| Leslie 'Magpie' Maddern
| 377 episodes
|-
| 1983
| Starting Out
| Rod Turner
|
|-
| rowspan="2"|1984
| Carson's Law
| Paul Tabener
| 1 episode
|-
| Bodyline
| Donald Bradman
| Miniseries, 7 episodes
|-
| 1986
| Prime Time
| Craig Lawrence
|
|-
| 1987
|The Great Bookie Robbery
| Chico White
| Miniseries, 3 episodes
|-
| 1988
| A Country Practice
| Bernie Allen
| 2 episodes
|-
| 1988–1990
| The Flying Doctors
| Nick Sanderson / Vince Maguire
| 3 episodes
|-
| 1989–1992
| Tanamera - Lion of Singapore
| Tony
| Miniseries, 7 episodes
|-
| rowspan="2"|1990
| Come In Spinner
| Jack
| Miniseries, 4 episodes
|-
| Skirts
| Tom Waters
| 4 episodes
|-
| 1990–1996
| Police Rescue
| Sergeant Steve 'Mickey' McClintock
| 62 episodes
|-
| 1991
| All Together Now
| Roger Dixon Barrow
| 1 episode
|-
| 1992
| Children of the Dragon
| Larry
| Miniseries, 2 episodes
|-
| 1994
| The Battlers
| Snow Grimshaw
| Miniseries
|-
| 1994–1995
| Cody
| Cody
| 6 TV movies
|-
| 1997–1999
| Big Sky
| Chris Manning
| 53 episodes
|-
| rowspan="3"|1999
| Wildside
| Cleary
| 1 episode
|-
| Chuck Finn
| Captain Candlelight
| 1 episode
|-
| Dog's Head Bay
| Alex Santorini
| 13 episodes
|-
| 2000
| Pizza
| Army Commander
| 1 episode
|-
| 2000–2004
| Stingers
| Inspector Luke Harris / Bobby Tait
| 85 episodes
|-
| 2001
| Cold Feet
| Rod Ellison
| Season 4, episode 8: "Cold Feet"
|-
| 2001–2005
| Blue Heelers
| Danny OKeefe / Sergeant Bob Wilkie
| 5 episodes
|-
| 2007
| Rain Shadow
| Larry Riley
| 6 episodes
|-
| 2007–2010
| The Circuit
| Magistrate Peter Lockhart
| Season 2, 12 episodes
|-
| 2009
| Rescue: Special Ops
| Shane Gallagher
| Season 1, 5 episodes
|-
| rowspan="2" |2010
| The Pacific
| Gunnery Sgt. Elmo "Gunny" Haney
| Miniseries, 3 episodes
|-
| Cops L.A.C.
| Superintendent Jack Finchin
| 13 episodes
|-
| 2011
| Small Time Gangster
| Barry Donald
| 8 episodes
|-
| 2012
| Problems
| Mr Moth
| 4 episodes
|-
| 2015; 2017
| The Doctor Blake Mysteries
| Norman Baker
| Season 3, episode 7: "Room Without a View", Season 5 episode 7: "A Good Drop" & Season 5 episode 8: "Hark the Angels Sing"
|-
| 2012–2017
| House Husbands
| Lewis Crabbe
| 58 episodes
|-
| rowspan="2"|2016
| Wolf Creek
| Jason
| 1 episode
|-
| Janet King
| Roger Embry
| 3 episodes
|-
| 2017
| Wake in Fright
| Tim Hynes
| Miniseries, 2 episodes
|-
| rowspan="2"|2018
| Harrow
| Bruce Reimers
| 1 episode
|-
| Orange Is the New Brown
| Art Gallery Owner / Spoiler Cop
| 3 episodes
|-
| rowspan="5"|2020
| Hungry Ghosts
| Hugh
| Miniseries, 1 episode
|-
| Bloom
| Old Donnie
| 4 episodes
|-
| Mint Condition
| Conway
| Web miniseries
|-
| Mystery Road: Origins
| Alkemi
| 6 episodes
|-
| 2121
| Geoff Maxwell
| Web miniseries, 1 episode
|-
| rowspan="2"|2021
| Jack Irish
| Det Phil Maitland
| 4 episodes
|-
| Wentworth
| Dale Langdon
| 3 episodes
|-
| rowspan="2" |2023
|No Escape
| Peter Winbourne
| 4 episodes
|-
| The Clearing
|Wilkes
| Miniseries, 4 episodes
|-
| 2024
| Darby and Joan
| Ellory Malcolm
| Episode 1
|-
| 2025
| Neighbours
| Greg Murphy
| Recurring role
|-
| 2026
| NCIS: Sydney
| Aussie Bob Prince
| 1 episode
|}
Podcast
{|class="wikitable"
|-
!Year
!Film
!Role
!Notes
|-
| 2021
| The Orchard
| DJ Simes
| Miniseries (Audible)
|}
Other appearances
{| class="wikitable"
!Year
!Title
!Role
!Notes
|-
| 2006 || Dancing with the Stars || Contestant || Season 5, 6 episodes. Placed 7th
|-
| 2007 || Things To Try Before You Die || Co-host || 1 episode
|-
| 2008 || Sudden Impact || Narrator || Documentary series
|-
| 2010 || Australian Druglords || Presenter || 10 episodes
|-
| 2013 ||Commando || Voice || Documentary miniseries, 4 episodes
|-
| 2022 || Access All Areas: Erebus Motorsport || Narrator || Documentary miniseries, 8 episodes
|-
| 2026 || I’m a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! || Contestant || Season 12
|-
! scope="row"| "Most People I Know (Think That I'm Crazy)"
| 1994
| 52
|}
Awards
thumb|right|260px|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.
Awards
{|class="wikitable"
|-
!Year
!Award
!Title
!Status
|-
| 1982
| TV Week Logie Award
| Most Popular New Talent (The Sullivans)
|
|-
| 1991
| AFI Award
| Best Actor in a Lead Role in a TV Drama (Police Rescue)
|
|-
| 1992
| AFI Award
| Best Actor in a Lead Role in a TV Drama (Police Rescue)
|
|-
| 1992
| TV Week Logie Award
| Most Popular Actor (Police Rescue)
|
|-
| 1993
| Variety Club Heart Award
| TV Actor of the Year
|
|-
| 1994
| TV Week Logie Award
| Most Outstanding Actor (Police Rescue)
|
|-
| 1996
| TV Week Logie Award
| Most Outstanding Actor (Police Rescue)
|
|-
| 2003
| TV Week Logie Award
| Most Outstanding Actor (Stingers)
|
|-
| 2004
| TV Week Logie Award
| Most Outstanding Actor (Stingers)
|
|-
| 2011
| Australian Film Festival
| Australian Film Walk of Fame Inductee
|
|-
| 2021
| MEAA Ensemble Awards
| Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Miniseries / TV movie (Hungry Ghosts)
|
|-
| 2021
| MEAA Ensemble Awards
| Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (Mystery Road: Origins)
|
|}
References
External links
- 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