Tony Sheldon (born 12 September 1955) is an Australian actor and singer, best known for his work in theatre, especially his role as Bernadette in the original Australian stage production of the musical Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. He is also a writer.
Early life Sheldon born in 1955, comes from one of Australia's leading theatrical families: his mother was Toni Lamond, who was born into a legendary Australian showbiz family. Her father was comedian Joe Lawman and her mother was vaudellian, actress and comedian Stella Lamond. Her mother subsequently married Maxwell Reddy with whom she had a second daughter Helen Reddy
His father was TV producer Frank Sheldon who died by suicide 2 days after Tony turned 11.
In 1993, Sheldon starred as the Baker in the Australian premiere of Into the Woods. One year later he starred as Mendel in Falsettos in its Australia premiere.Into the Woods Australia PremiereFalsettos Australia Premiere
Sheldon won the 2005 Helpmann Award, the Sydney Critics Award, the Mo Award and a Glugs Award for his performance as Roger de Bris in The Producers in 2005.Tony Sheldon, Jeremy Stanford & Daniel Scott" last.fm, accessed 5 May 2011 He was also nominated for a Helpmann and a Green Room Award for his work in The Witches of Eastwick in 2003. He wrote and directed The Times of My Life at the Ensemble Theatre (2006)Hopkins, Mark." 'The Times of My Life' " smh.com.au, 16 January 2007 and the Adelaide Cabaret Festival for his mother, Toni Lamond.
Sheldon played more than 1,700 performances as Bernadette in Priscilla Queen of the Desert in Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland, West End (2009)Paddock, Terri.Jason Donovan Leads Priscilla into Palace, 23 Mar" whatsonstage.com, 16 September 2008 and Toronto prior to the Broadway premiere in March 2011.Healy, Patrick."Theater:Tony Sheldon 'Priscilla Queen of the Desert'" New York Times, 20 February 2011" 'Priscilla' Broadway Bound, with Tony Sheldon to Star" stagewhispers.com.au, accessed 5 May 2011 He won the Green Room Award, Best Male Artist in a Leading Role,Priscilla sweeps Green Room Awards, 21 April" musicalsaustralia.com, accessed 5 May 2011 and was nominated for an Olivier Award (2010, London)."Olivier Winners, 2010, See Best Actor in a Musical or Entertainment" olivierawards.com, accessed 5 May 2011 He was nominated for the Tony Award as Best Actor in a Musical for his performance in Priscilla on Broadway.Jones, Kenneth and Gans, Andrew."2011 Tony Nominations Announced; Book of Mormon Earns 14 Nominations" playbill.com, 3 May 2011 He played Horace in Hello, Dolly! at the Goodspeed Opera House in 2013. In 2014, he portrayed Merlyn and Pellinore in a concert staging of Camelot at the Kennedy Center. As part of the tenth anniversary tour in Australia presented by Michael Cassel Group, Tony performed his 1800th performance as Bernadette in Melbourne on 7 March 2018 and hit the milestone of 1900 performances in the role on Wednesday 20 June at the Capitol Theatre in Sydney. He played Dufayel in the musical adaption of Amélie on Broadway in 2017. Starting in 2019 he played Grandpa Joe in the Australian production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory until February 2020.
Personal life Sheldon and his long-term partner, actor and playwright Tony Taylor, had been together for 45 years in 2025.
Awards and nominations Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, 2011 Glug Awards – Colleen Clifford Memorial Award Outstanding Performance in a Musical or Special Comedy Satire, co-winner, for
Broadway, "Priscilla", 2011 Tony Award-Leading Actor in a Musical (nomination) Drama League-Outstanding Performance (nomination) Drama Desk- Leading Actor in a Musical (nomination) Outer Critics Circle Award-Leading Actor in a Musical (nomination) Theatre World Award (winner)
West End, Priscilla, 2009 Oliver Award – Leading Performance in a Musical (nomination) What's on Stage Award – Leading Performance in a Musical (nomination)Full List: 2010 Whatsonstage.com Award Winners" whatsonstage.com, 14 February 2010
Australia, Priscilla, 2006/7 Sydney Theatre Critics Award – Best Actor in a Musical (winner) Greenroom Award – Best Actor in a Musical (winner)"2007 Nominations and Recipients" greenroom.org.au, accessed 5 May 2011 Mo Award – Musical Theatre Performer of the Year (winner) Aussietheatre.com – Best Actor in a Musical (winner) Helpmann Award for Best Male Actor in a Musical (nomination) Australian Dance Award – (nomination)
2005, The Producers Helpmann Award for Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical (winner) Mo Award – Best Featured Actor in a Musical (winner) Sydney Theatre Critics Award – Best Featured Actor in a Musical (winner) Glugs Award – "Most Versatile" (winner) Greenroom Award – Best Featured Actor in a Musical (nomination)
2003, The Witches of Eastwick Helpmann Award for Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical (nomination) Green Room Award for Male Actor in a Leading Role (Music Theatre) (nomination)
2000, A Poor Student Norman Kessell Memorial Award for Outstanding Performance – Actor
1994 Glugs Award – Best Actor in a Play, A Poor Student (winner) Green Room Award – Best Supporting Actor in a Musical, Falsettos
1991, Wherefore Art Thou, Cabaret? Mo Award – Performer of the Year (nomination) Mo Award – Best Actor in a Musical (nomination)
1985, Madonna and Child Green Room Award – Best Actor in a Musical (nomination) Greenroom Award – Best Director of a Musical (nomination)
1984, Torch Song Trilogy Greenroom Award – Best Actor in a Play (winner) Variety Club Heart Award – Actor of the Year (winner) Sidney Myer Award – Contribution to Sydney Theatre (nomination)
1977, Inner Voices National Theatre Award – Best Actor in a Play (winner) Sydney Theatre Critics Award – (winner)
Discography
Cast albums and soundtracks The Venetian Twins - original cast (1979) I Love My Wife - original Australian cast (1982) Once In A Blue Moon - a celebration of Australian musicals (1994) Lift Off Live (1995) Songs from Fame the musical - Australian cast (1999) Priscilla, Queen of the Desert - original Australian cast (2007) Priscilla, Queen of the Desert - original Broadway cast (2011) Man of La Mancha - Australian cast (2015)
Select acting credits
Film Spoiled (1974) as The Boy
Television Murder Call (1998, S2 E13: A Dress to Die For) as Garth Boyle
Theatre Year Title Role Notes1993Into the WoodsThe BakerAustralia premiere1994FalsettosDr. Mendel1996Merrily We Roll AlongJoe Josephsen2004-2005The ProducersRoger de BrisAustralia premiere tour2006-2008Priscilla, Queen of the DesertBernadette2009Palace Theatre, London2010-2011Toronto2011-2012Broadway2013CamelotKing PellinoreTheatre Under the StarsHello, Dolly!Horace VandergelderGoodspeed Opera HouseDirty Rotten ScoundrelsLawrence JamesonTheatre Royal, Sydney2014CamelotKing Pellinore / MerlynKennedy CenterMy Fair LadyColonel Hugh PickeringGuthrie TheaterThe Band WagonJeffrey CordovaEncores!2015Man of La ManchaMiguel Cervantes / Don QuixoteSeymour CentreEver After The MusicalLeonardo da VinciPaper Mill PlayhouseAmélieDufayel / CollignonBerkeley Repertory Theatre2016-2017Ahmanson Theatre2017Broadway2019-2020Charlie and the Chocolate FactoryGrandpa JoeCapitol Theatre & Her Majesty's Theatre
References
External links
Biography, Magnormos