Gary Sweet (born 22 May 1957)"Born today...", Brisbane Times, 20 May 2008; "Gary Sweet, Australian actor (born 1957), Fairfax Photos; 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.watch/transcripts/s1071337.htm The Larrikin Grows Up, The Sydney Morning Herald, 17 June 2002]
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.
Early films included a lead role in the 1985 film An Indecent Obsession, based on the novel of the same name by Colleen McCullough, as well as a role in 1987 war film The Lighthorsemen. He also starred in award-winning 1987 miniseries The Great Bookie Robbery, playing the role of Chico White.
From 1990 to 1996, Sweet starred in a leading role in the TV drama series Police Rescue as Sgt. Steve 'Mickey' McClintock. This role led him to win several major television awards, including an AFI Award for Best Lead Actor in a TV DramaAustralian Film Institute, Past Winners, Television 1986–2006 (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).TV Week Logies official site , retrieved 15 March 2008 During this period, Sweet also appeared in 1994 miniseries The Battlers, opposite Jaqueline McKenzie.
Sweet starred in Big Sky, and Dog's Head Bay. He took a continuing role in the police drama series Stingers until the show's conclusion in 2004. Other prominent television roles have included The Circuit, Rain Shadow (both 2007) and police drama Cops L.A.C.. In 2008, he narrated the documentary series Sudden Impact.
From 2012 until 2017, Sweet had a leading role in the drama/comedy House Husbands as Lewis Crabb. Nine Network had considered a potential spin-off centred around Sweet's character, but decided not to go ahead with it.
Sweet's notable film roles have included The Tracker (2002), Alexandra's Project (2003) and Gettin' Square (2003. He also appeared in the acclaimed independent drama film 2:37 (2006), with his son, as well as in a modern-day imagining of Macbeth (2006), alongside Sam Worthington.
Internationally, Sweet appeared in 2010 American studio film The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader as Lord Drinian. He also featured in 2010 war miniseries The Pacific.
Sweet was a contestant on Season 5 of competition series Dancing with the Stars and made it to the final seven. His partner was dancer Eliza Campagna.
On 29 October 2024, Sweet was named as part of the cast in the feature film Scoby. In June 2025, Sweet wrapped a six-week guest stint in Neighbours, which went to air later in the year, before the serial ended. 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."Adults-only panto too funny for Sweet to miss out" by Natalie Bochenski, Brisbane Times, 11 July 2013
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 married actress Lenore Smith on 7 November 1981 in his parents' garden in Warradale. The couple had met in a lift at Crawford Productions a little over five months beforehand. They divorced in 1983. From 1987 to 1993, Sweet was married to lawyer Jill Miller. They have two children, including Frank Sweet who became an actor. Sweet married television presenter and former Commonwealth Games swimmer Johanna Griggs in 1995 and they had two children.
In 2013, Sweet was criticised by some women's magazines after he admitted that he was "a five or six out of 10 dad" to his children. Sweet has been in a relationship with former air hostess Nadia Dyall since 2011. They have two children. In March 2018, Sweet became a grandfather.
Gary Sweet is an ambassador and ex player for the Glenelg Tigers, an Australian rules football club who play in the South Australian National Football League.Glenelg Football Club Ambassadors 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.Press Release, GlaxoSmithKline and Bayer Pharmaceuticals, 28 July 2004 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.Sweet's Potent Drug, Media Watch, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, March 2004Choice Consumer Advocates
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."
On 20 August 2026, Sweet was named in the cast of film Before You Leave.
Filmography
Film YearFilmRoleNotes 1980 Nightmares Terry Besanko Film 1985 An Indecent Obsession Michael Wilson Film 1986 Body Business Brian Doyle TV movie 1987 The Lighthorsemen Frank Film1988 The Dreaming Geoff Film Fever Jeff Maslim Film Becca Matt Bourke TV movie1990 What the Moon Saw Alan Wilson Film More Winners: Boy Soldiers Sergeant TV movie1992Children of the DragonLarryTV 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 movie2001 Hard Knox Monorail Ron TV movie The Big House Jacko Short film Bodyjackers O'Grady Film2002 The Tracker The Fanatic Film Tempe Tip Nico Film2003 Alexandra's Project Steve Film Gettin' Square Chicka Martin Film 2005 Dust Storm Tom Short film2006 2:37 Mr Darcy Film Operating Instructions Paul Short film Macbeth Duncan Film2008 Bitter & Twisted Greg Praline Film The Tumbler Hurtle Hamilton Film 2009 Subdivision Digger Kelly Film2010 The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader Lord Drinian Film Lucidya The Game Presenter Short film2011 The Telegram Man John Lewis Short film Bush Basher Short film2012 Fatal Honeymoon Detective Gary Campbell TV movie Dangerous Remedy Superintendent John Matthews TV movie2013 Adoration Saul Film Nerve Ben Livingstone Film Charlie's Country Publican Film Trouble Down Under Big Red the Kangaroo (voice) Animated film2015 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 film2019 Ritual Ray Devlin Short film Two Heads Creek Hans Film Tour De Legacy – The Western Front Narrator Docufilm2020 Ayaan Sergeant Simmons Short film Paper Champions Terry Film2023 A Savage ChristmasPeter Hall Film2027Before You LeaveDustyFilm ScobyTBAFilm Patched Shark In post-production
Television YearFilmRoleNotes 1981–1983 The Sullivans Leslie 'Magpie' Maddern 377 episodes 1983 Starting Out Rod Turner1984 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 episodes1990 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 episodes1999 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 episodes2010 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","The Doctor Blake Mysteries: episode guide series 3, Australian Television Information Archive Season 5 episode 7: "A Good Drop" & Season 5 episode 8: "Hark the Angels Sing"The Doctor Blake Mysteries – BBC broadcast series 5: "A Good Drop", episode 7; "Hark the Angels Sing", episode 8 2012–2017 House Husbands Lewis Crabbe 58 episodes2016 Wolf Creek Jason 1 episode Janet King Roger Embry 3 episodes 2017 Wake in Fright Tim Hynes Miniseries, 2 episodes2018 Harrow Bruce Reimers 1 episode Orange Is the New Brown Art Gallery Owner / Spoiler Cop 3 episodes2020 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 episode2021 Jack Irish Det Phil Maitland 4 episodes Wentworth Dale Langdon 3 episodes2023No Escape Peter Winbourne 4 episodes The ClearingWilkes 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 YearFilmRoleNotes 2021 The Orchard DJ Simes Miniseries (Audible)
Other appearances YearTitleRoleNotes 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
Theatre