Anh Do (born 2 June 1977) is an Australian author, actor, comedian, and painter. He has appeared on Australian television shows such as Thank God You're Here and Good News Week, and was runner-up on Dancing with the Stars in 2007. He studied a combined Business Law degree at the University of Technology, Sydney.Celebrity Speakers Anh Do He is the brother of film director Khoa Do and has acted in several of Khoa's films, including Footy Legends, which he co-wrote and produced. In 2012, his TV show Anh Does Vietnam began airing. He has been four times a finalist in the Archibald Prize and won the 2017 People's Choice Award. From 2016 to 2021, Do hosted Anh's Brush with Fame on ABC TV in which he concurrently interviews and paints a portrait of prominent Australians.
Early life Anh Do was born in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Do and his family fled to Australia as refugees in 1980. In his 2010 autobiography, The Happiest Refugee, Do tells of how his family survived five days in a leaky fishing boat nine and a half metres long and two metres wide. During the trip his family and the rest of the passengers were attacked by two different bands of pirates. The first group stole one of the two engines and the second group of pirates stole the second engine, which had been broken but repaired by Do's father using a piece of rubber from a thong. It was reported that as the second band of pirates left, one of them threw a gallon of water onboard which kept all but one of the refugees alive, until they were finally rescued by a German merchant ship. The boat was packed with 40 Vietnamese refugees fleeing across the Indian Ocean.
Do's family settled in the Sydney suburb of Yagoona. Do attended St Aloysius' College in Milsons Point for his secondary education. When he was 14 he started a small business breeding tropical fish. While studying his first year of law at the University of Technology, Sydney, he owned a stall which sold American Indian artifacts, which he later expanded to four franchised stores. Career
Six months before finishing his combined Business Law degree, law firms offered him jobs which required 60 hours of work a week. He opted to take up stand-up comedy instead.
Do's memoir The Happiest Refugee has won awards, including the 2011 Australian Book of the Year, Biography of the Year and Newcomer of the Year, as well as the Indie Book of the Year Award 2011, Non-fiction Indie Book of the Year 2011, and it was shortlisted for the 2011 NSW Premier's Literary Awards, Community Relations Commission Award.
Since 2013, Do has cut back on comedy to focus on painting full-time. He was a finalist in the Archibald Prize in 2014, 2017, 2019 and 2022. From 2016 to 2021, Do hosted Anh's Brush with Fame on ABC TV. In this popular program, Anh Do concurrently interviews and paints a portrait of prominent Australians. He has been criticised for pre-painting the portraits from photographs and enlisting help from his art tutor.
Personal life Do is married to Suzanne (Suzie) Do and they have three sons and a daughter. Do met Suzie whilst they were both studying at university. His mother, Hien, played the role of Van Nguyen's mother, Kim, in Better Man, a film which was produced by Anh's brother Khoa Do.David Wenham proud of Better Man's message, TV Tonight, 30 July 2013
Awards 2011 Independent Booksellers Book of the YearComedian Anh Do wins indie book prize | ABC Radio 26 July 2011. Retrieved 2 August 2013 (for The Happiest Refugee) 2011 Joint winner (with musician Paul Kelly) of the Biography of the YearComedian wins top book prize | ABC News 15 March 2011. Retrieved 2 August 2013 (for The Happiest Refugee) 2011 Best Newcomer (for The Happiest Refugee) 2011 Book of the Year (for The Happiest Refugee) 2017 People's Choice Award, Archibald Prize (for portrait of Jack Charles) 2024 Young Australian Best Book Award for Fiction for younger readers (for Hot Dog #10: Beach Time!, illustrated by Dan McGuiness)
Mo Awards The Australian Entertainment Mo Awards (commonly known informally as the Mo Awards), were annual Australian entertainment industry awards. They recognise achievements in live entertainment in Australia from 1975 to 2016. Anh Do won one award in that time. (wins only) |- | 2012 | Anh Do | Rodney Rude Stand Up Comedian of the Year
Filmography +YearTitleRoleNotesThe NRL Footy ShowHimselfComedianShort and CurleyHost2000SeaChangeQuan Tho2002Don't Blame MeVinnie2003All SaintsTim SalterEpisode: "The Devil to Pay"The Finished PeopleFactory Worker2005Little FishTranBlue Water HighRobboEpisode: "It's Hard to Be Normal"2005-2007PizzaChong Fat2006Two TwistedParamedicSoloNguyenFooty LegendsLuc Vu2006 & 2007Thank God You're HereHimselfImprovised comedy series Contestant2007KickHoa TranDancing with the StarsContestantReality television seriesDeal or No DealContestantReality television series Celebrity special Won maximum prize of $200,0002008Crooked BusinessBenny WingDouble the FistKrakbotMade in ChinaHost2009The SquizHostGame show television seriesTop Gear AustraliaGuestMotoring reality television series2010Matty Johns ShowHimselfAnh Can Do segmentTalking HeadsGuestSeries 6, Episode 332012Pictures of YouGuestTalk show2012-2014Anh DoesHostTravel and lifestyle television series2014-2016Long Lost Family (Australia)Co-hostDocumentary series2016-2021Anh's Brush with FameHostTalk show
Books Series WeirDo +YearNo.TitlePublisherISBNNotes20131.WeirDoScholastic AustraliaIllustrated by Jules Faber20142.Even Weirder!Scholastic AustraliaIllustrated by Jules Faber3.Extra WeirdScholastic AustraliaIllustrated by Jules Faber20154.Super Weird!Scholastic AustraliaIllustrated by Jules Faber5.Totally Weird!Scholastic AustraliaIllustrated by Jules Faber20166.Crazy Weird!Scholastic AustraliaIllustrated by Jules Faber7.Mega Weird!Scholastic AustraliaIllustrated by Jules Faber20178.Really Weird!Scholastic AustraliaIllustrated by Jules Faber9.Spooky Weird!Scholastic AustraliaIllustrated by Jules Faber201810.Messy Weird!Scholastic AustraliaIllustrated by Jules Faber11.Splashy Weird! Scholastic AustraliaIllustrated by Jules Faber201912.Hopping Weird!Scholastic AustraliaIllustrated by Jules Faber13.Weirdomania!Scholastic AustraliaIllustrated by Jules Faber202014.Vote WeirdoScholastic AustraliaIllustrated by Jules Faber15.Planet WeirdScholastic AustraliaIllustrated by Jules Faber202116.Tasty Weird!Scholastic AustraliaIllustrated by Jules Faber17.Spinning WeirdScholastic AustraliaIllustrated by Jules Faber202218.Weird History!Scholastic AustraliaIllustrated by Jules Faber19.Cheesy Weird!Scholastic AustraliaIllustrated by Jules Faber202320.Forever Weird!Scholastic AustraliaIllustrated by Jules Faber21.Weird Wedding!Scholastic AustraliaIllustrated by Jules Faber202422.Weird Holiday!Scholastic AustraliaIllustrated by Jules Faber23.Funny Weird!Scholastic AustraliaIllustrated by Jules Faber202524.Weird Power!Scholastic AustraliaIllustrated by Jules Faber25.Weird Star!Scholastic AustraliaIllustrated by Jules Faber202626.Weird Rescue!Scholastic AustraliaIllustrated by Jules Faber27.Weirdest Ever!Scholastic AustraliaIllustrated by Jules Faber
Hotdog! +YearNo.TitlePublisherISBNNotes20161.HotDog!Scholastic AustraliaIllustrated by Dan McGuiness20172.Party Time!Scholastic AustraliaIllustrated by Dan McGuiness3.Circus Time!Scholastic AustraliaIllustrated by Dan McGuiness20184.Game Time!Scholastic AustraliaIllustrated by Dan McGuiness5.Camping Time!Scholastic AustraliaIllustrated by Dan McGuiness20196.Movie Time!Scholastic AustraliaIllustrated by Dan McGuiness7.Show Time!Scholastic AustraliaIllustrated by Dan McGuiness20208.Art Time!Scholastic AustraliaIllustrated by Dan McGuiness9.Snow Time!Scholastic AustraliaIllustrated by Dan McGuiness202110.Beach Time!Scholastic AustraliaIllustrated by Dan McGuiness11.Tool Time!Scholastic AustraliaIllustrated by Dan McGuiness202212.Lolly Time!Scholastic AustraliaIllustrated by Dan McGuiness13.Soccer Time!Scholastic AustraliaIllustrated by Dan McGuiness202314.Tidy Time!Scholastic AustraliaIllustrated by Dan McGuiness15.Toy Time!Scholastic AustraliaIllustrated by Dan McGuiness202416.Garden Time!Scholastic AustraliaIllustrated by Dan McGuiness17.Scary Time!Scholastic AustraliaIllustrated by Dan McGuiness202518.Robot Time!Scholastic AustraliaIllustrated by Dan McGuiness19.Detective Time!Scholastic AustraliaIllustrated by Dan McGuiness202620.Puzzle Time!Scholastic AustraliaIllustrated by Dan McGuiness21.Island Time!Scholastic AustraliaUpcoming publication Illustrated by Dan McGuiness
Ninja Kid +YearNo.TitlePublisherISBNNotes20181.From Nerd to Ninja!Scholastic AustraliaIllustrated by Jeremy Ley2.Flying Ninja!Scholastic AustraliaIllustrated by Jeremy Ley20193.Ninja Switch!Scholastic AustraliaIllustrated by Jeremy Ley4.Amazing Ninja!Scholastic AustraliaIllustrated by Jeremy Ley20205.Ninja Clones!Scholastic AustraliaIllustrated by Anton Emdin6.Ninja Giants!Scholastic AustraliaIllustrated by Anton Emdin20217.Ninja Toys!Scholastic AustraliaIllustrated by Anton Emdin8.Ninja Dogs!Scholastic AustraliaIllustrated by Anton Emdin20229.Ninja Fish!Scholastic AustraliaIllustrated by Anton Emdin10.Ninja Heroes!Scholastic AustraliaIllustrated by Anton Emdin202311.Ninja Artists!Scholastic AustraliaIllustrated by Anton Emdin12.Hypno Ninja!Scholastic AustraliaIllustrated by Anton Emdin202413.Ninja Games!Scholastic AustraliaIllustrated by Anton Emdin14.Ninja Buddies!Scholastic AustraliaIllustrated by Anton Emdin202515.Ninja Talent!Scholastic AustraliaIllustrated by Mario Gonzales16.Ninja Rewind!Scholastic AustraliaIllustrated by Mario Gonzales202617.Invisible Ninja!Scholastic AustraliaIllustrated by Mario Gonzales18.Ninja Fright!Scholastic AustraliaIllustrated by Mario Gonzales
Rise of the Mythix +YearNo.TitlePublisherISBNNotes20191.Golden Unicorn Allen & UnwinIllustrated by Chris Wahl20202.Mighty MinotaurAllen & UnwinIllustrated by Chris Wahl20213.Flight of the GriffinAllen & UnwinIllustrated by Chris Wahl4.Legends UniteAllen & UnwinIllustrated by Chris Wahl20225.The Last GladiatorAllen & UnwinIllustrated by Marcelo Baez
Wolf Girl +YearNo.TitlePublisherISBNNotes20191.Into the Wild Allen & UnwinIllustrated by Jeremy Ley2.The Great EscapeAllen & UnwinIllustrated by Jeremy Ley20203.The Secret CaveAllen & UnwinIllustrated by Lachlan Creagh4.The TraitorAllen & UnwinIllustrated by Lachlan Creagh20215.Across the SeaAllen & UnwinIllustrated by Lachlan Creagh6.Animal TrainAllen & UnwinIllustrated by Lachlan Creagh20227.Crash CourseAllen & UnwinIllustrated by Lachlan Creagh8.Welcome to ParadiseAllen & UnwinIllustrated by Lachlan Creagh20239.Sink or SwimAllen & UnwinIllustrated by Lachlan Creagh10.The Race Is onAllen & UnwinIllustrated by Lachlan Creagh202411.Hide and SeekAllen & UnwinIllustrated by Lachlan Creagh12.Shadows and SecretsAllen & UnwinIllustrated by Jeremy Ley202513.New FriendsAllen & UnwinIllustrated by Jeremy Ley14.The Break InAllen & UnwinIllustrated by Jeremy Ley202615.HuntedAllen & UnwinIllustrated by Chris Wahl16.Under WaterAllen & UnwinUpcoming publication Illustrated by Chris Wahl
E-Boy +YearNo.TitlePublisherISBNNotes20201.E-BoyAllen & UnwinIllustrated by Chris Wahl20212.RobofightAllen & UnwinIllustrated by Chris Wahl3.Enter the JungleAllen & UnwinIllustrated by Chris Wahl20224.A New GeminiAllen & UnwinIllustrated by Tim McEwen20235.Superhuman ArmyAllen & UnwinIllustrated by Marcelo Baez
Skydragon +YearNo.TitlePublisherISBNNotes20201.SkydragonAllen & UnwinIllustrated by James Hart20212.Fly FreeAllen & UnwinIllustrated by James Hart3.Ride the WindAllen & UnwinIllustrated by James Hart20224.Brave the StormAllen & UnwinIllustrated by James Hart5.Wave BreakerAllen & UnwinIllustrated by James Hart20236.Rescue FlightAllen & UnwinIllustrated by James Hart7.FirestormAllen & UnwinIllustrated by James Hart20248.Scorpion's CurseAllen & UnwinIllustrated by James Hart
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