25 Facts About Paul Mercurio

Paul Joseph Mercurio was born on 31 March 1963 and is an Australian actor, choreographer, dancer, TV presenter and politician.

Paul Mercurio has been an Australian Labor Party member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly since 2022, representing the electorate of Hastings.

Paul Mercurio was born in Swan Hill, Victoria in March 1963, his father was American character actor and boxer Gus Paul Mercurio.

Paul Mercurio focused on acting during his high school years but after he graduated, he caught the Indian Pacific train from Perth back to Melbourne where he studied at the Australian Ballet School.

Paul Mercurio made his film debut in Baz Luhrmann's breakout film Strictly Ballroom, receiving an Australian Film Institute Award nomination in 1993.

Paul Mercurio starred, wrote, choreographed, produced and directed the short film Spilt Milk.

In 2019, Paul Mercurio appeared in a supporting role as Sal in Promised, a film directed and co-produced by Nick Conidi, and starring Tina Arena, Antoniette Iesue and Daniel Berini.

Paul Mercurio has not appeared in any other Luhrmann films and only appears briefly in Disc 4 of Red Curtain Trilogy as a pixelated image.

Concerned about being typecast early on in his film career, Paul Mercurio turned down the role of Adam Whitely, in the 1994 film, The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.

Paul Mercurio made his TV debut in a documentary on his life called Life's Burning Desire in 1992.

Paul Mercurio starred in the lead role of Joseph in the Emmy Award-winning US TV mini-series The Bible: Joseph in 1995.

Paul Mercurio was a judge on the Australian version of Dancing with the Stars until August 2008, when he was dropped from the judging panel because he was deemed "too nice" for television.

Paul Mercurio was a judge on the New Zealand version.

From 1982 until 1992 Paul Mercurio toured with Sydney Dance Company both nationally and internationally, performing as a principal dancer and choreographing.

Paul Mercurio has worked as a choreographer on five films, including Strictly Ballroom and the Will Smith movie I, Robot.

Paul Mercurio has choreographed an American TV campaign for Coca-Cola, the Harry M Miller production of Jesus Christ Superstar and Annie Get Your Gun as well as numerous other stage productions.

Paul Mercurio received a Mo Award for Dance Performer of the Year 1992, and was nominated in 2004 for a Helpmann Award for his choreography for the musical Annie Get Your Gun.

In 2005 Paul Mercurio released his own beer in Victoria, and since then has held beer dinners and beer cooking demos and been a judge for international beer competitions.

Paul Mercurio then opened his own beer cafe in 2014, produced a range of meat rubs and condiments and formed his own company "Beerlicious".

Paul Mercurio has since cooked in restaurants and at markets and festivals.

Paul Mercurio was elected as a councillor for Mornington Peninsula Shire in November 2020.

In November 2022, Paul Mercurio was elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly, winning the ultra-marginal seat of Hastings for the Australian Labor Party.

Paul Mercurio has been married to his wife Andrea since 1987, and together they have three children: Emily, Elise and Erin.

Paul Mercurio has reflected on this legacy in subsequent interviews and spoken about the effect it has had on his father, and his relationship with his father.

In December 2022, Paul Mercurio was hospitalised with complications from atrial fibrillation following his election win.