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Michael Dorman
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Michael Dorman is a New Zealand-born Australian actor. He is best known for his starring roles as Tom Wilcox in Wonderland (2013–2015), John Tavner in Patriot (2015–2018), NASA astronaut Gordo Stevens in For All Mankind (2019–2021), and the title character in Joe Pickett (2021–2023).
Key Information
Early life and education
[edit]Michael Dorman was born in Auckland, New Zealand. His mother's side of the family is Māori (specifically, Ngāti Porou people from the east coast of the north island), and his father's ancestors are Pākehā.[a][1]
He moved to Australia with his family at the age of ten, and settled in Bundaberg, Queensland, where he attended Bundaberg State High School.[1] He subsequently studied for a degree in drama at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) in Brisbane.[2]
Career
[edit]Dorman's first role was as Christian on The Secret Life of Us. He was a fan of the show when it premiered in 2001 and he was in his final year of university. He landed the role in 2002 after having moved to Sydney.[2]
One of Dorman's breakthrough performances came in the Australian film Suburban Mayhem (2006).[citation needed] Other lead roles followed in the Australian films Prime Mover (2009) and Needle (2010), as well as supporting work on further Australian films such as West (2007), Acolytes (2008), Triangle (2009), Daybreakers (2009) and Killer Elite (2011).[citation needed] He also featured in a main role as Tom Wilcox in the Australian television comedy-drama Wonderland for the entirety of its run (2013–2015).[citation needed]
After befriending Russell Crowe while working on The Water Diviner (2014), Crowe paid for Dorman's flight to the United States to further his acting career there.[1] He picked up significant roles in TV series For All Mankind and Patriot, and a small role in blockbuster film Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017).[citation needed]
He returned to Australia and was living there as of 2018.[1]
Dorman went on to star as Tom Griffin in the horror film The Invisible Man and as Jesse in Hard Luck Love Song (both 2020).[citation needed]
In 2021, it was announced that he would star as the title character of the American TV series Joe Pickett, based on the books by C. J. Box. The show premiered for viewing on the Spectrum Network in December 2021 and Paramount+ streaming service in February 2022.[citation needed]
He was cast as Gol D. Roger in the 2023 Netflix series One Piece, US/UK/Japan co-production,[citation needed] and played Graham Lawson in the 2024 Netflix Australian series Territory.[3] On 20 November 2025, Dorman was announced for ABC television series Treasure & Dirt in the lead role.[4]
Music
[edit]Dorman is also a musician. He has performed live supporting musicians such as Alex Lloyd, The Beautiful Girls, and Abbe May, as well as at festivals, including Peats Ridge, Woodford, and Homebake Festivals.[5]
Recognition and awards
[edit]Dorman was nominated for a Silver Logie for Best Lead Actor in a Drama in the 2025 Logie Awards, for his performance in Territory.[3]
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Spudmonkey | Trent | |
| 2005 | 50 Ways of Saying Fabulous | Jamie | |
| 2006 | Suburban Mayhem | Rusty | |
| 2007 | West | Mick | |
| 2008 | Acolytes | Gary Parker | |
| 2009 | Prime Mover | Thomas | |
| Triangle | Greg | ||
| Daybreakers | Frankie Dalton | [6] | |
| 2010 | Needle | Ben Rutherford | |
| 2011 | Killer Elite | Jake | |
| Sleeping Beauty | Cook | [7] | |
| 2014 | The Water Diviner | Greeves | |
| 2016 | Goldstone | Patch | |
| 2017 | Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales | First Officer Wade | |
| 2020 | The Invisible Man | Tom Griffin | |
| Hard Luck Love Song | Jesse |
Television
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002–2005 | The Secret Life of Us | Christian Hayden | Main cast |
| 2005 | Small Claims: White Wedding | Sean | Television film |
| 2006 | The Silence | Eddison | Television film |
| 2011 | Sea Patrol | Travis | Episode: "The Hunted" |
| Rescue: Special Ops | Will Pike | Episode: "True Romance" | |
| Wild Boys | Dan Sinclair | 10 episodes | |
| Blood Brothers | Jeff Gillham | Television film | |
| 2012 | Underbelly: Badness | Paul Leaske | Episode: "Strike Force Tuno" |
| 2013 | The Time of Our Lives | Joel | 3 episodes |
| Reef Doctors | Scottie | Episode #1.11 | |
| Serangoon Road | Conrad Harrison | Miniseries, 10 episodes | |
| 2013–2015 | Wonderland | Tom Wilcox | 44 episodes |
| 2015–2018 | Patriot | John Tavner | 18 episodes |
| 2016 | Black Comedy | Guest Cast | Episode #2.6 |
| 2019–2021 | For All Mankind | Gordo Stevens | 20 episodes[8] |
| 2020 | The Secrets She Keeps | Jack O'Shaughnessy | 6 episodes |
| 2021–2023 | Joe Pickett | Joe Pickett | 20 episodes |
| 2023 | One Piece | Gol D. Roger | Episode: "Romance Dawn" |
| 2024 | Territory | Graham Lawson | 6 episodes |
| 2026 | Treasure & Dirt | Ivan Lucic | TV series |
Theatre
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean | Joe | QUT |
| 2001 | The Taming of the Shrew | Lucentio | QUT |
| The Art of Success | Frank | QUT | |
| 48 Shades of Brown | Dan | La Boite Theatre Company |
Footnotes
[edit]- ^ The Māori term for non-Māori, but most commonly applied to New Zealanders of European descent.
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d "An episode with Michael Dorman". The New Zealand Herald. 10 January 2024. Archived from the original on 1 August 2021. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
- ^ a b "Australian Television: The Secret Life of Us: profiles". Australian Television. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
- ^ a b Rawling, Caitling; Winter, Velvet; Story, Hannah (3 August 2025). "Logies 2025: Lynne McGranger wins Gold Logie, Fisk sweeps up comedy awards — as it happened". ABC News. SILVER LOGIE — Best Lead Actor in a Drama. Archived from the original on 4 August 2025. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
- ^ Knox, David (20 November 2025). "Treasure & Dirt now filming for ABC Drama | TV Tonight". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 20 November 2025.
- ^ "Michael Dorman (Actor / Musician)". International Music Concepts. 28 November 2013. Retrieved 5 September 2025.
- ^ Catsoulis, Jeanette (7 January 2010). "'Daybreakers': Futuristic World Where Vampires Rule [NYT Critics' Pick Directed by Michael Spierig, Peter Spierig Action, Horror, Sci-Fi, Thriller R 1h 38m]" (movie review). The New York Times. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
- ^ Davis, Cindy (17 April 2011). "Date Rape for Pay: Sleeping Beauty Trailer". Pajiba. Archived from the original (movie review) on 19 May 2018. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
Sleeping Beauty also stars Michael Dorman (Daybreakers), Mirrah Foulkes (Animal Kingdom)…
- ^ "'For All Mankind' to launch alternate space race on Apple TV+". collectSPACE. 28 October 2019. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
- ^ "SHANAHAN: MICHAEL DORMAN - Actor" (PDF). shanahan.com.au. 16 March 2020. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 March 2019. Retrieved 10 August 2025.
External links
[edit]Michael Dorman
View on GrokipediaEarly life and education
Ancestry and birth
Michael Dorman was born on April 26, 1981, in Auckland, New Zealand.[1] Dorman has mixed ethnic heritage, with Māori ancestry from his mother's side, specifically affiliated with the Ngāti Porou iwi from the east coast of the North Island, and Pākehā ancestry—referring to European New Zealanders—from his father's side.[14]Childhood and relocation
Michael Dorman spent the first ten years of his life in Auckland, New Zealand, where he was born on April 26, 1981.[15] Growing up in a family with mixed heritage, his mother's side traces to the Māori iwi Ngāti Porou from the east coast of the North Island, while his father is of Pākehā descent; this background introduced elements of Māori traditions into his early family life, though Dorman later noted he wished he had explored those ties more deeply during childhood.[14] In 1991, Dorman's family relocated to Bundaberg, a regional town in Queensland, Australia, marking a significant shift in his formative years.[2] Upon arriving, Dorman quickly adapted to his new environment, with any remnants of his New Zealand accent vanishing almost immediately as he immersed himself in Australian culture and social circles.[15]Formal education
Dorman completed his secondary education at Bundaberg State High School in Queensland, where supportive teachers and principal Dave Wilkinson played a key role in encouraging his early interests during his formative teenage years.[16] After high school, Dorman enrolled in the drama program at Queensland University of Technology (QUT) in Brisbane, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts (Drama) in 2001.[17][18] His studies at QUT provided foundational training in acting for stage and screen, including hands-on involvement in theatre productions that honed his performance skills.[19] This formal education at QUT ignited and deepened Dorman's initial interest in the performing arts, framing acting as a powerful medium to connect with audiences and convey personal insights into life.[19] The program's emphasis on practical experience directly paved the way for his transition into professional roles shortly after graduation.[19]Personal life
Family and relationships
Dorman married Tessa Richardson in 2011 in Maleny, Queensland.[20] The couple attended the February 2020 premiere of The Invisible Man in Hollywood together.[21] Dorman is a father to two children, including a daughter born in the 2010s and a son.[22] He has spoken fondly of sharing experiences like reading the One Piece manga series with his son, marking the child's first full book series.[23] Throughout his career, Dorman has prioritized family privacy, rarely discussing personal details in interviews and focusing instead on the joys of parenthood without revealing specifics about his children's lives.[24]Residences and citizenship
Michael Dorman was born on April 26, 1981, in Auckland, New Zealand, granting him citizenship by birth under the country's jus soli principle.[22][25] At the age of 10, Dorman's family relocated from Auckland to Bundaberg, Queensland, where he grew up and later pursued his early acting career, establishing long-term residency in Australia.[22][2] While specific details on his Australian legal status are not publicly detailed, his extended residence since childhood aligns with permanent residency pathways for New Zealand citizens under the Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement, allowing indefinite stay and work rights without formal citizenship acquisition. This move fostered his integration into Australian culture, though he has retained his New Zealand nationality.[2] In the mid-2010s, Dorman relocated to Los Angeles to pursue international opportunities, including roles in American productions, marking a shift toward U.S.-based professional commitments while maintaining his primary residences across the Pacific.[26] He has resided in Los Angeles since at least 2020, navigating work visa arrangements common for foreign actors in Hollywood.[26][27] More recently, Dorman returned to Australia for the 2024 filming of the Netflix series Territory, spending extended periods in the Northern Territory and South Australia, which highlighted his ongoing ties to the region amid his Los Angeles base.[12] These trans-Pacific residencies underscore Dorman's dual cultural connections to New Zealand and Australia, complemented by his professional life in the United States.[27]Career
Early roles in Australia
Michael Dorman's early professional career in Australia began shortly after graduating from the Queensland University of Technology (QUT), where his drama training provided the foundation for his initial forays into theatre. One of his first notable stage roles was as Dan in the La Boite Theatre Company's production of 48 Shades of Brown in 2001, an adaptation of Nick Earls' novel that explored teenage awkwardness and family dynamics in Brisbane. This performance, directed by Jean-Marc Russ, earned Dorman recognition in the local theatre scene and marked his transition from student productions to professional work.[28] His screen debut came in the independent comedy film Spudmonkey (2001), where he portrayed Trent, a member of a boy band navigating the music industry amid personal and professional mishaps. Directed by Stuart McBratney, the low-budget feature highlighted Dorman's comedic timing and musical abilities, as the role involved performing in a fictional pop group. This early film credit established him in Australia's indie cinema circuit, though it received limited distribution.[29][2] Dorman's television breakthrough arrived with his recurring role as Christian Hayden on the popular Australian drama series The Secret Life of Us (2002–2005), appearing in 47 episodes across seasons 2 through 4. As the charming yet unreliable musician Christian, a flatmate in the show's ensemble of young Melbourne residents, Dorman brought a mix of humor and vulnerability to the character, contributing to the series' exploration of urban relationships and personal growth. The role, which he landed after moving to Sydney, significantly raised his profile domestically and showcased his versatility in long-form storytelling.[30][2][1] Building on this momentum, Dorman secured a key supporting role as Rusty in the dark comedy-thriller Suburban Mayhem (2006), directed by Paul Goldman. Playing the hapless boyfriend to the film's anti-heroine Katrina Skinner (Emily Barclay), Dorman's portrayal of the dim-witted yet sympathetic Rusty added depth to the story of suburban dysfunction and crime in Western Sydney. The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and received critical acclaim for its raw depiction of Australian underclass life, with Dorman's performance noted for its authenticity and emotional range, solidifying his reputation as an emerging talent in Australian cinema.[31][32]International breakthrough
Dorman's international breakthrough began with his leading role as Tom Wilcox in the Australian drama series Wonderland, which aired from 2013 to 2015 and consisted of 44 episodes.[33] In the series, he portrayed a lawyer navigating complex relationships within a group of friends living in a Sydney apartment complex, earning acclaim for his nuanced performance that highlighted his versatility in dramatic roles.[2] This exposure on a high-profile domestic production built his profile, paving the way for opportunities beyond Australia.[4] In late 2015, Dorman achieved his US debut by landing the starring role of John Tavner, a CIA operative and folk singer entangled in espionage, in the Amazon Prime Video series Patriot (2015–2018).[4] The dark comedy-drama, created by Steven Conrad, spanned two seasons and 20 episodes, showcasing Dorman's ability to blend humor, tension, and musical elements, which critics praised as a standout feature of the show.[34] This lead role marked a significant transition to American television, establishing him in the international market after years of building credibility in Australian projects. Dorman's rising global presence extended to film in 2017, when he appeared as First Officer Wade, a British Royal Navy officer, in the fifth installment of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, Dead Men Tell No Tales. The blockbuster, directed by Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg, featured Dorman alongside stars like Johnny Depp and Javier Bardem, providing high-visibility exposure in Hollywood cinema. Following these successes, Dorman relocated to Los Angeles to pursue further opportunities in the US, shifting his primary representation from Australian agency Shanahan Management to American outlets, which facilitated his integration into the Hollywood ecosystem.[26][35]Recent television and film work
In the Apple TV+ alternate-history series For All Mankind, Dorman portrayed NASA astronaut Gordo Stevens across the first two seasons, from 2019 to 2021, depicting the character's evolution amid escalating space race tensions.[36][37] Dorman appeared as Tom Griffin, the brother of the titular antagonist, in Leigh Whannell's 2020 psychological horror film The Invisible Man, where his character serves as a key figure in the protagonist's escalating paranoia.[38] In 2021, he starred as a down-on-his-luck singer-songwriter opposite Sophia Bush in the romantic drama Hard Luck Love Song.[10] From 2021 to 2023, Dorman led the Paramount+ Western drama Joe Pickett as the titular Wyoming game warden, appearing in all 20 episodes across two seasons adapted from C.J. Box's novels.[6][39] In Netflix's 2023 live-action adaptation of One Piece, Dorman portrayed the legendary pirate Gol D. Roger in flashback sequences central to the series' lore.[40] Dorman starred as Graham Lawson, the troubled heir to a vast Australian cattle empire, in the 2024 Netflix limited series Territory, earning praise for his depiction of familial and territorial conflicts in the outback.[41][12] In August 2024, Dorman signed with the talent agency Verve for representation, alongside his ongoing management with Entertainment 360.[42] In 2025, Dorman joined the cast of Peacock's legal drama The Good Daughter as a series regular.[43]Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Spudmonkey | Trent[44] |
| 2005 | 50 Ways of Saying Fabulous | Jamie |
| 2006 | Suburban Mayhem | Rusty |
| 2007 | West | Mick[45] |
| 2008 | Acolytes | Gary Parker |
| 2009 | Daybreakers | Frankie Dalton[46] |
| 2009 | Prime Mover | Thomas |
| 2009 | Triangle | Greg[47] |
| 2010 | Needle | Ben Rutherford |
| 2011 | Killer Elite | Jake[48] |
| 2011 | Sleeping Beauty | Cook |
| 2014 | The Water Diviner | Greeves |
| 2016 | Goldstone | Patch[49] |
| 2017 | Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales | First Officer Wade |
| 2020 | The Invisible Man | Tom Griffin[8] |
| 2021 | Hard Luck Love Song | Jesse[50] |