Sam Worthington

Sam Worthington
Worthington at the Drift Movie Media Event at Event Cinemas, Bondi Junction 2013.
Born Samuel Henry John Worthington
(1976-08-02) 2 August 1976
Godalming, Surrey, England, UK
Residence Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Nationality Australian
Alma mater National Institute of Dramatic Art
Occupation Actor, writer
Years active 2000–present
Home town Rockingham, Western Australia
Spouse(s) Lara Bingle (m. 2014)
Children 2

Samuel Henry John Worthington[1] (born 2 August 1976) is an English born, Australian actor and writer. He portrayed Jake Sully in the 2009 film Avatar, Marcus Wright in Terminator Salvation, and Perseus in Clash of the Titans as well as its sequel Wrath of the Titans before transitioning to more dramatic roles in Everest (2015), Hacksaw Ridge (2016), The Shack, and Manhunt: Unabomber (both in 2017). He also played the main protagonist, Captain Alex Mason, in Call of Duty: Black Ops.

In 2004, Worthington received Australia's highest film award for his lead role in Somersault. He performed predominantly in leading roles in a variety of low-budget films before moving to major studio films, ranging from romantic drama and comedy-drama to science fiction and action.

Early life

Worthington was born to English parents in Godalming, Surrey, in South East England, and moved to Perth, Western Australia when he was six months old. He grew up in Warnbro, a suburb of Rockingham. His mother, Jeanne J. (née Martyn), a housewife, raised him and his sister, Lucinda.[2][3] His father, Ronald W. Worthington, was a power plant employee.[4]

He attended John Curtin College of the Arts, a school specialising in the dramatic arts, located in Fremantle, Western Australia, where he studied drama but did not graduate. When he left the college, his father gave him $400 and sent him on a one-way trip to Cairns, Queensland, telling him to "work his way home". He began working on construction and odd jobs, eventually settling in Sydney. At age 19, while working as a bricklayer, he auditioned for the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) and was accepted with a scholarship.[5]

Career

2000–2003

In 2000 Worthington played a small role along side Adam Garcia in Aussie dance film “Bootmen”. In 2003 he played a lead role in the low budget Aussie comedy “gettin’ square”.

2004–2008

Worthington had a major role in Somersault (2004) and played the lead in a modern Australian retelling of Macbeth (2006). He won the AFI Award for Best Lead Actor for his role in Somersault. He was well known in Australia for his role as Howard in the acclaimed Australian TV series Love My Way, in which he played the main love interest of the female lead.

Worthington's international film career began with a series of small roles in Hollywood production The Great Raid (2005), which was filmed in Australia. He auditioned for the role of James Bond in Casino Royale but lost the role to Daniel Craig.[6] He starred in the Australian creature-feature film Rogue (2007), as a man named Neil, which gained a 100 percent fresh rating from Rotten Tomatoes.[7]

2009–present

In Terminator Salvation, Worthington plays cyborg Marcus Wright who assists the humans despite their suspicions of him. Shot prior to the release of Terminator Salvation, the James Cameron-directed science-fiction film Avatar was Worthington's next project. In the film, he played Jake Sully, a paraplegic US Marine who, assigned to control an alien body called an avatar through a neural link, finds himself at the centre of a war between his own species and the indigenous Na'vi people of the moon Pandora. The film went on to become the highest-grossing film of all time, grossing more than $2.73 billion ($3.1 billion adjusted for inflation) in box-office receipts worldwide.[8] In November 2010, Worthington told GQ Australia[9] that he went to audition, but wasn't told what it was for and got annoyed. So he did his part, left, forgot about it – and was called back. "I was a bit pissed off, and I think that came across," he says. "I think Jim saw a spark and liked it because that's Sully's character – a guy who doesn't like to be bullied and a guy who just wants to set things right."[10]

He provided voice work for Captain Alex Mason, the protagonist character in the video game Call of Duty: Black Ops. Some gamers criticised Worthington's inability to mask his Australian accent, as in Avatar.[11] In November 2010, The Hollywood Reporter named Worthington as one of the young male actors who are "pushing – or being pushed" into taking over Hollywood as the new "A-List".[12]

He was selected as one of the entrants to the Who's Who in Australia 2011 edition.[13]

In 2012, Worthington starred in the sequel to Clash of the Titans, called Wrath of the Titans, alongside Liam Neeson. As in the first film, Worthington played the demigod and son of Zeus, Perseus. He also reprised his role as Alex Mason in Call of Duty: Black Ops II.[14] Also in 2012, Worthington starred as Nick Cassidy in Man on a Ledge, a suspense-thriller film directed by Asger Leth.

Worthington also portrays Jim Fitzgerald in the Discovery Channel television series, Manhunt: Unabomber.[15]

Personal life

Lara Bingle and Worthington on the 2014 AACTA Awards red carpet

Worthington has said that when he was about 30, he sold most of his possessions and ended up with around $2,000 to his name. He says he bought a car with the proceeds and was living in it before he successfully auditioned for his role in the film Avatar.[16] He then found a place to live.[17]

On 18 October 2013, Worthington had confirmed rumours of a relationship with fellow Australian, model Lara Bingle.[18][19] They married on 28 December 2014 and had a son, Rocket Zot, in 2015.[20] In October 2016, Bingle and Worthington had their second child, another son, Racer.[21]

Worthington is a Christian.[22]

Arrest

On 23 February 2014, Worthington was arrested in New York City for assault, after punching a paparazzo, Sheng Li, who allegedly kicked Bingle in the shin. Video footage of the incident depicts Worthington referring to Bingle as his "wife", furthering speculation about the pair's marital status.[23] Worthington was initially released on a desk appearance ticket, while Li was arrested on charges of reckless endangerment, assault and harassment.[24]

On 26 February 2014, Worthington appeared in Manhattan Criminal Court, where he was ordered to stay away from Sheng Li for six months. The case was adjourned until 8 May 2014, with the actor to face charges of assault in the third degree, attempted assault, and harassment.[25]

On 1 April 2014, Li blamed Bingle for starting the fight and called for her to be arrested.[26] Later that month, Worthington secured a conditional discharge deal on a misdemeanour assault charge, therefore avoiding any jail time, while the charges against Li were dismissed "in the interest of justice".[27] Li then filed a $3.7 million civil lawsuit against Worthington, which was settled out of court before going to trial in September 2015.[28]

Filmography

Worthington at the Tropfest 2013 in Sydney, 17 February 2013

Films

YearTitleRoleNotes
2000BootmenMitchell Okden
2001A Matter of LifeOur HeroShort film
2002Hart's WarCpl. B.J. "Depot" Guidry
Dirty DeedsDarcy Ryan
2003Gettin' SquareBarry "Wattsy" Wirth
2004SomersaultJoe
ThunderstruckRonnie
2005The Great RaidPfc. Lucas
Fink!Able
2006MacbethLord Macbeth
2007RogueNeil KellyLimited release
2009Terminator SalvationMarcus Wright
AvatarJake Sully
2010Clash of the TitansPerseus
Last NightMichael Reed
Love & DistrustMilesSegment: "Blue Poles"
2011The DebtYoung David Peretz
Texas Killing FieldsDetective Mike Souder
2012Man on a LedgeNick Cassidy
Wrath of the TitansPerseus
2013DriftJBLimited release
2014SabotageJames "Monster" Murray
CakeRoy Collins
The Keeping RoomMosesLimited release
2015Paper PlanesJack WebberLimited release
Kidnapping Freddy HeinekenWillem HolleederLimited release
EverestGuy Cotter
2016Hacksaw RidgeCaptain Glover
2017The ShackMack Philips
The Hunter's PrayerStephen LucasDirect-to-VOD
2018The TitanRick JanssenTV movie
2020Avatar 2Jake SullyFilming
2021Avatar 3

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2000JAGDunsmoreEpisode: "Boomerang: Part 1"
2000Water RatsPhillip ChampionEpisode: "Able to Leap Tall Buildings"
2000Blue HeelersShane DonovanEpisode: "Bloodlines"
2004Love My WayHoward Light10 episodes
2005The SurgeonDr. Sam Dash8 episodes
2006Two TwistedGus RogersEpisode: "Delivery Man"
2015Deadline GallipoliPhillip Schuler4 episodes; miniseries
Executive Producer
2017Manhunt: UnabomberJim Fitzgerald

Video games

YearTitleRoleNotes
2010Call of Duty: Black OpsAlex Mason
2012Call of Duty: Black Ops IIAlex Mason
2018Call of Duty: Black Ops 4Alex MasonBlackout Character

Writer

YearTitleNotes
2004Enzo

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Title Result
2000 AFI Award Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role Bootmen Nominated
2002 FCCA Award Best Supporting Actor – Male Dirty Deeds Won
2004 AFI Award Best Actor in a Leading Role Somersault Won
FCCA Award Best Actor – Male Somersault Won[29]
IF Award Best Actor Somersault Won
2009 Teen Choice Awards Choice Movie Fresh Face Male Terminator Salvation Nominated
Australians in Film Breakthrough Award Australians in Film[30] Avatar
2010 Saturn Award Best Actor Avatar Won
Australian Film Institute International Award for Best Actor Best Actor Avatar Won
Empire Award Best Actor Avatar Won
Giffoni Award Won
Kid's Choice Awards Cutest Couple (shared with Zoe Saldana) Avatar Nominated
MTV Movie Awards Best Fight (shared with Stephen Lang) Avatar Nominated
Best Kiss (shared with Zoe Saldana) Avatar Nominated
ShoWest Award Male Star of the Year Won
Teen Choice Awards Choice Movie: Fight (shared with Stephen Lang) Avatar Nominated
Choice Movie Actor: Sci-Fi Avatar Won
Choice Movie Actor: Fantasy Clash of the Titans Nominated

References

  1. ↑ "Incident 123082579" (PDF). Atlanta, Georgia, Police Department via E! Online. 3 November 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 January 2016. Retrieved 5 November 2012.
  2. ↑ Lipworth, Elaine (4 February 2012). "Sam Worthington on 'Man on a Ledge'". Telegraph. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  3. ↑ "Jeanne J. Worthington". MyHeritage. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  4. ↑ "Avatar first reviews, Sam Worthington next Hollywood star in the making". The Daily Telegraph. 11 December 2009. Retrieved 12 December 2009.
  5. ↑ "Sam Worthington Interview for Terminator". Screencrave.com. 21 May 2009. Archived from the original on 8 October 2009. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
  6. ↑ "Bard arse". The Sydney Morning Herald. 15 September 2006.
  7. ↑ "Rogue". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2 November 2011.
  8. ↑ "Worldwide Grosses". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 27 June 2010.
  9. ↑ "Sam Worthington". GQ. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014.
  10. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 31 October 2017. , GQ Australia November 2010, Sam Worthington
  11. ↑ "How an Australian Man Nearly Ruined Black Ops for Me".
  12. ↑ Blank, Emily; Schutte, Lauren. "Hollywood's A-List Redefined". (slide 9 of 10 in slideshow) The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
  13. ↑ "Who's Who pack now boasts Siddle, Hamish and Andy and the Masterchef judges". heraldsun.com.au. 9 December 2010.
  14. ↑ John Gaudiosi (13 November 2012). "'Call of Duty: Black Ops II': Treyarch's Dave Anthony on Directing Sam Worthington, Michael Keaton (Q&A)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
  15. ↑ McLennan, Cindy (March 28, 2017). "Manhunt: Unabomber: Scripted Discovery Series Debuts in August". TV Series Finale.
  16. ↑ "Watch The Jay Leno Show Online at Hulu". Hulu.
  17. ↑ "I was living in my car before 'Avatar': Sam Worthington".
  18. ↑ "Aussie actor 'smitten' with Bingle".
  19. ↑ "Sam Worthington says he is smitten with new squeeze Lara Bingle".
  20. ↑ Anya Leon (27 March 2015). "Sam Worthington and Lara Bingle Welcome Son Rocket Zot". People. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  21. ↑ Ellie McDonald (1 November 2016). "CONFIRMED! Lara and Sam Worthington have welcomed their second son". Woman's Day. Retrieved 23 December 2016.
  22. ↑ "Actor Sam Worthington Says 'The Shack' Helped Him Understand Relationship With God (Interview)". www.christianpost.com.
  23. ↑ "So are Sam Worthington and Lara Bingle really married?". News.com.au. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
  24. ↑ "'Avatar' actor Sam Worthington arrested in NYC". Yahoo. Retrieved 24 February 2014.
  25. ↑ "Sam Worthington ordered to stay away from photographer". Sydney Morning Herlad. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
  26. ↑ "Photographer blames 'Avatar' star's girlfriend for starting fight". Reuters. 1 April 2014. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  27. ↑ Peter Mitchell (9 May 2014). "Paparazzo walks free as Sam Worthington assault case dropped". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  28. ↑ Ebony Bowden (4 September 2015). "Sam Worthington settles $5 million lawsuit with photographer over scuffle". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  29. ↑ "Urban Cinefile FCCA AWARDS 2004 WINNERS". www.urbancinefile.com.au.
  30. ↑ "Australians in Film Breakthrough Awards". Australians in Film. Archived from the original on 3 July 2012.
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