Richard Huggett (actor)

{{Infobox person

| image =

| imagesize =

| name = Richard Huggett

| birthname =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1965|12|03|df=yes}}{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/dumfries-and-galloway-standard-i-hear-th/139851741/|title=I hear that...|date=16 October 1992|work=Dumfries and Galloway Standard|access-date=29 January 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}{{free access}}

| birth_place = Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

| occupation = Actor

| yearsactive = 1988–present

}}

Richard Huggett (born 3 December 1965) is an Australian film, television and theatre actor. After graduating from NIDA in 1988, Huggett guested in an episode of Home and Away, before he was cast as villain Sonny Bennett in E Street. Huggett's character killed four of the show's regulars, before taking his own life, bringing in strong ratings for the soap. Huggett went on to win the Logie Award for Most Popular New Talent in 1991 for his portrayal of Sonny. Huggett next played Glen Donnelly in another soap Neighbours from 1990 until 1992. He only stayed for a year, as he wanted more to pursue more demanding roles. In 1994, Huggett joined short-lived soap Paradise Beach as Sam Dexter and police drama Blue Heelers as supporting character Sean Neale. He has also made guest appearances in various television shows, including Col'n Carpenter, All Saints and Out of the Blue. He appeared in the Australian film Aiyai: Wrathful Soul in 2020 and re-joined the cast of Neighbours as Glen in 2021. In addition to his television and film work, Huggett has also appeared in a number of theatre productions.

Early life

Huggett's parents emigrated to Australia from London, UK. He was born in Brisbane and holds dual Australian and British nationally.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/sunday-mercury-why-theyll-axe-daft-neig/139828989/|title=Why they'll axe daft Neighbours by star Richard|last=Laws|first=Roz|date=23 August 1992|work=Sunday Mercury|access-date=29 January 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}{{free access}}

Huggett attended the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA). He appeared in a number of theatre productions as part of the graduating classes, including The Screens by Jean Genet and Fifth of July by Lanford Wilson.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-late-genet-los/139371262/|title=Late Genet lost in words|last=Kippax|first=H. G.|date=27 May 1988|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=29 January 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}{{free access}}{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-youthful-maste/139371361/|title=Youthful mastery needs ageing|last=Kippax|first=H. G.|date=29 September 1988|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=29 January 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}{{free access}}

Career

Huggett appeared in Home and Away in 1989.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-television-thi/139371893/|title=Television this week|last=Sadler|first=Kevin|date=8 May 1994|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=28 January 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}{{free access}} He came to prominence as villain Sonny Bennett in E Street. The soap's creator Forrest Redlich cast Huggett after spotting him in a production of A Midsummer Night's Dream.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-soap-studs/139371590/|title=Soap studs|last=Holmes|first=Peter|date=9 May 1991|work=The Age|access-date=29 January 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}{{free access}} Sonny was introduced as the "bad seed" brother of Lisa Bennett (played by Alyssa-Jane Cook) at a time when the storylines were becoming darker in order to keep the show's male audience interested. Sonny had been to prison for robbery, took drugs, and tried to kill Constable Max Simmons (Bruce Samazan).{{cite book|last=Mercado|first=Andrew|title=Super Aussie Soaps|year=2004|publisher=Pluto Press Australia|pages=289–291}} In his final months, Sonny killed four main characters and then himself, which was a critical and ratings success for E Street.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-guide-preview/139788707/|title=Guide Preview|last=Williams|first=Daniel|date=22 October 1990|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=29 January 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}{{free access}} For his performance as Sonny, Huggett won the Logie Award for Most Popular New Talent in 1991.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/102901841/vizard-fast-forwards-to-most-popular/|title=Vizard fast forwards to most popular personality|date=16 March 1991|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=29 January 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}{{free access}} He also received a nomination for the Logie Award for Most Popular Actor in Australia.{{cite magazine|last=Shelley|first=Garry|date=16 March 1991|title=The search for our silver sensations!|magazine=TV Week|pages=8–9}}

Following his departure from E Street, Huggett joined the cast of Neighbours as Glen Donnelly, the illegitimate son of Jim Robinson (Alan Dale).{{cite news|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000560/19920208/220/0035|title='Lost' Glen brings bother to the Neighbourhood|last=Malins|first=Sue|date=8 February 1992|work=Daily Mirror|access-date=4 February 2022|url-access=subscription|via=British Newspaper Archive}} Huggett had to relocate from Sydney to Melbourne for the role, which negatively impacted his personal life.{{cite magazine|last=Brown|first=David|date=20 July 1991|title=Fame takes its toll: 'Am I just doing this for a bunch of couch potatoes?'|magazine=TV Week|pages=6–7}} He was branded the show's new "heart-throb" by the press. During his time in the show, Glen had an incestuous relationship with his half-sister Lucy Robinson (Melissa Bell). Scenes featuring the pair together was edited for broadcast by the BBC in the UK.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/rossendale-free-press-shocking/139834517/|title=Shocking! ...but viewers in Oz did see love scenes snipped by the BBC censors|date=5 June 1991|work=Rossendale Free Press|access-date=29 January 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}{{free access}} In September 1991, Chrissie Camp of TV Week confirmed that Huggett had decided to quit Neighbours and not renew his one-year contract, which ran out in November.{{cite magazine|last=Camp|first=Chrissie|date=7 September 1991|title='One year is enough'|magazine=TV Week|page=7}} Huggett stated that a year was enough and, while he enjoyed playing Glen, he wanted more demanding roles. He would later say that he was bored in the role, which he felt was going nowhere.{{cite magazine|last=Devlyn|first=Darren|date=13 August 1994|title=Heelers heals Richard's blues|magazine=TV Week|page=26}}

While he was appearing in Neighbours, Huggett made a guest appearance in an episode of Col'n Carpenter.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-green-guide-monday-2-december/139825544/|title=Green Guide Monday 2 December|date=28 November 1991|work=The Age|access-date=29 January 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}{{free access}} Huggett later admitted that he was not comfortable with the level of fame he received from his two biggest roles.{{cite news|url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/fiona-byrne/richard-huggett-returns-to-ramsay-st-as-glen-donnelly/news-story/69c770c6bc5c4c5a871f1445af249466|title=Richard Huggett returns to Ramsay St as Glen Donnelly|last=Byrne|first=Fiona|date=15 August 2021|work=Herald Sun|access-date=28 January 2024}} The day after he finished up on Neighbours, Huggett and his long-term partner Myriam Loda left Australia for Europe and the Middle East. Upon returning home, Huggett struggled to find acting work and they went to the UK. He appeared in various theatre productions in England, including Anzacs Over England at the Swan Theatre,{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-citizen-late-fame-for-the-wizards-fr/139827195/|title=Late fame for the Wizards from Oz|last=Worsnip|first=Hugh|date=12 August 1992|work=The Citizen|access-date=29 January 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}{{free access}} and the pantomime Sleeping Beauty in Leeds in December 1992.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-post-soap-star-has-pub-bar-role/139830666/|title=Soap star has pub bar role|last=Skorupski|first=Judith|date=16 September 1992|work=Bristol Evening Post|access-date=29 January 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}{{free access}} Huggett and Loda married in January 1993 and returned to Australia in November that same year.

In 1994, Huggett joined the Nine Network soap opera Paradise Beach in the six-week role of Sam Dexter, a love interest for Kimberley Joseph's character Cassie Barsby. He was billed as "An enigmatic – and dangerous – professional protester, Dexter is the kind of man who travels the world looking for lost causes." Kevin Sadler of The Sydney Morning Herald noted that while Sam would call himself an "environmental crusader", Paradise Beach viewers would soon describe him as a "terrorist". That same year, he appeared in Blue Heelers as Sean Neale. Huggett called his character "very methodical and logical". He enjoyed working on Blue Heelers, saying "it forces you to think a bit. After working for so long on soaps, these scripts are amazing." In 1996, Huggett starred in a production of James McLure's Lone Star at the Belvoir Downstairs.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-power-play/139826331/|title=Power play|date=23 February 1996|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=29 January 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}{{free access}}

Huggett later chose to step back from his acting career and he became a shearer in New South Wales. He has also worked as a personal trainer and a truck driver, before relocating to Brisbane and working for an events company.{{cite news|url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A490448760/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=75e8d450|title=Coming full circle to a different fat cat|last=Byrne|first=Fiona|date=23 April 2017|work=Herald Sun|access-date=10 February 2024|via=Gale|url-access=subscription}} He appeared in All Saints in the early 2000s, and the Australian soap opera Out of the Blue in 2008.{{cite web|url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2008/06/out-of-the-ratings-blue.html|title=Out of the Blue ratings|last=Knox|first=David|date=21 June 2008|publisher=TV Tonight|access-date=28 January 2024}} Huggett had a supporting role in Home and Away in 2012, as Gary Reed.{{cite magazine|last1=McWhirter|first1=Erin|last2=Miller|first2=Erin|date=8–14 September 2012|title=Calling the Bay home|magazine=TV Week|issue=36|page=22}} In 2017, Huggett had a small guest role in the Nine Network miniseries House of Bond. The following year, he starred in an advertisement campaign for the Brisbane Broncos.{{cite web|url=https://mumbrella.com.au/brisbane-broncos-just-logo-says-new-campaign-497955|title=Brisbane Broncos 'more than just a logo' says new campaign|last=Dawson|first=Abigail|date=8 February 2018|publisher=Mumbrella|access-date=29 January 2024}} Two years later, Huggett appeared in the Australian mystery thriller film Aiyai: Wrathful Soul.{{cite news|url=https://www.pressreader.com/sri-lanka/sunday-times-sri-lanka/20200223/283055531439900|title=Australian mystery thriller movie in town|date=23 February 2020|work=Sunday Times|access-date=29 January 2024|via=PressReader}}

Huggett re-joined the cast of Neighbours in 2021. He told Fiona Byrne of the Herald Sun that it felt like he was coming home and he was looking forward to "the twists and turns ahead" for Glen. Glen's storylines included reuniting with his half-brother and his daughter, as well as a relationship with Terese Willis (Rebekah Elmaloglou). Huggett remained with the serial until its cancellation in 2022.{{cite web|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/neighbours/a40738828/neighbours-spoilers-richard-huggett-glen-donnelly-finale-interview/|title=Neighbours star Richard Huggett on Glen Donnelly ending and show finale|last=Daniel|first=Kilkelly|date=28 July 2022|publisher=Digital Spy|access-date=29 January 2024}} Huggett confirmed that he had been attending auditions for new roles and planning his move back to Brisbane. In 2023, Huggett made a guest appearance in NCIS: Sydney.{{cite web|url=https://www.tvmaze.com/episodes/2698943/ncis-sydney-1x06-extraction|title=Extraction|publisher=TVmaze|access-date=29 January 2024}}

Filmography

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" \|+ Film performances
scope="col" \| Year ! scope="col" \| Title ! scope="col" \| Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable" \| Notes
scope="row" \| 1989 \| Slipstream \| Emery \|
scope="row" \| 1997 \| Mr. Nice Guy \| Giancarlo's Man \|
scope="row" \| 1998 \| Babe: Pig in the City \| Cop \|
scope="row" \| 2003 \| Spoon Man \| Stranger in Bar \| Short film
scope="row" \| 2007 \| Gabriel \| Max \|
scope="row" \| 2008 \| Bella \| Sandman \| Short film
scope="row" \| 2015 \| Infini \| Montoli \|
scope="row" \| 2020 \| Aiyai: Wrathful Soul \| Albert Fisher \|

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"

|+ Film performances

scope="col" | Year

! scope="col" | Title

! scope="col" | Role

! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes

scope="row" | 1989

| Slipstream

| Emery

scope="row" | 1997

| Mr. Nice Guy

| Giancarlo's Man

scope="row" | 1998

| Babe: Pig in the City

| Cop

scope="row" | 2003

| Spoon Man

| Stranger in Bar

| Short film

scope="row" | 2007

| Gabriel

| Max

scope="row" | 2008

| Bella

| Sandman

| Short film

scope="row" | 2015

| Infini

| Montoli

scope="row" | 2020

| Aiyai: Wrathful Soul

| Albert Fisher

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" \|+ Television performances
scope="col" \| Year ! scope="col" \| Title ! scope="col" \| Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable" \| Notes
scope="row" \| 1989 \| Home and Away \| Chas \| Guest role
scope="row" \| 1989–1991 \| E Street \| Sonny Bennett \| Main cast
scope="row" \| 1990–1992, 2021–2022 \| Neighbours \| Glen Donnelly \| Main cast
scope="row" \| 1991 \| Col'n Carpenter \| Fantasy Man \| Episode: "The Sacred Blurr"
scope="row" \| 1993 \| Paradise Beach \| Sam Dexter \| Main cast
scope="row" \| 1994 \| Blue Heelers \| Sean Neale \| Recurring role
scope="row" \| 1995 \| The Ferals \| Scott Scotman \| Episode: "Feral TV"
scope="row" \| 1998 \| Murder Call \| Peter Delaney \| Episode: "Fatal Charm"
scope="row" \| 2002 \| All Saints \| Murray McAllister \| Episode: "Swept Away"
scope="row" \| 2005 \| All Saints \| Greg Cato \| Episode: "Life's Lottery"
scope="row" \| 2008 \| Out of the Blue \| Jeremy Piper \| Episode: "Blood Alley"
scope="row" \| 2009 \| Rescue: Special Ops \| Steve \| Episode: "Building Site"
scope="row" \| 2010 \| The Pacific \| Major Coyle \| Episode: "Peleliu Airfield"
scope="row" \| 2012 \| Home and Away \| Gary Reed \| Recurring role
scope="row" \| 2017 \| House of Bond \| Maitre'd \| Miniseries
scope="row"\| 2023 \| NCIS: Sydney \| Asessor \| Guest role

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"

|+ Television performances

scope="col" | Year

! scope="col" | Title

! scope="col" | Role

! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes

scope="row" | 1989

| Home and Away

| Chas

| Guest role

scope="row" | 1989–1991

| E Street