Stephen Peacocke (born 30 October 1981) is an Australian actor, who appeared in theatre productions and portrayed minor roles in television dramas and films, including Suburban Mayhem and All Saints. Peacocke rose to prominence for his portrayal as Darryl Braxton on the television soap opera Home and Away, (2011–2016). For his role he won the Logie Award for Most Popular Actor on two occasions and is regarded as one of the show's most popular characters.

Steve Peacocke
Peacocke at the Hercules premiere in Sydney, June 2014
Born
Stephen Peacocke

(1981-10-30) 30 October 1981 (age 43)
OccupationActor
Years active2006–present
Spouse
Bridgette Sneddon
(m. 2014)

Following Peacocke departure from Home and Away, he went onto have minor roles in the box office films Hercules (2014), Whiskey Tango Foxtrot (2016), and Me Before You (2016). He has starred as Detective Josh Levine in the Australia drama series Wanted and of 2023, stars in the Network Ten drama series Five Bedrooms, Seven Network's RFDS: Royal Flying Doctor Service and the ABC drama series The Newsreader.

Early life

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Peacocke was born in Dubbo, New South Wales to Gareth Peacocke, a former accountant, and his wife Sylvia.[1] He has a brother, who encouraged him to pursue acting.[1] Peacocke attended schools in South Dubbo before finishing his secondary education at a Bathurst boarding school.[1] He went on to study communications at the University of Newcastle and took a drama class taught by Glenn Hazeldine, who also encouraged him to take up acting.[2] Peacocke worked numerous labouring jobs in his twenties while trying to start his acting career, including unloading freight trucks and working as a jackaroo for $3 an hour.[3] Peacocke played rugby for the Dubbo Kangaroos, but various injuries led him to theatre work instead.[1] In 2004, Peacocke won a City of Newcastle Drama Award for playing Ricko in a production of A Property of the Clan.[2] He moved to Sydney in order to pursue his acting career and he lived in a share house in Stanmore, where he struggled to make rent before he was cast in Home and Away.[2]

Career

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Peacocke appeared in the short play festival Brand Spanking New with actress Bel Deli��, in playwright/director Augusta Supple's work Interrupting Grace directed by Nick Curnow,[4] and also on Supple's later venture Stories from the 428. He also had a role in Kit Brookman's It Was Raining All Afternoon.[5]

Peacocke began his on-screen acting career in 2006 when he appeared in a small role in the Australian film Suburban Mayhem. He started appearing on television in 2007, when he played the role of Zeb Hall in the medical drama series All Saints. His other television credits include Packed to the Rafters, Rake and East West 101.[1] He also appeared in the television film Emerald Falls in 2008, which starred Georgie Parker. Peacocke played a role in a parody of Rihanna's "Umbrella" music video called "Drifting in my cappella" with 1BUCK80.[6] Peacocke appears in the 2011 feature film Burning Man, with Matthew Goode and Bojana Novakovic.[1]

In early 2011, Peacocke received the role of Darryl "Brax" Braxton, a local River Boy, on the Australian soap opera Home and Away.[7] Peacocke also revealed his plans to work in the United States in the future.[8] In 2012, Peacocke won the Logie Award for Most Popular New Male Talent.[9] The following year, he won the Most Popular Actor award.[10] He also received a nomination for the Gold Logie Award for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television.[11] Peacocke announced his departure from Home and Away in February 2015. He filmed his final scenes in late 2014 and he made his last on-screen appearance 10 June 2015.[12] Two months later, Peacocke returned to Home and Away to shoot scenes for a storyline which aired in late 2015.[13]

Peacocke appears as Nic in Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, an adaptation of Kim Barker's memoir The Taliban Shuffle.[14] He also appears in the adaptation of Me Before You as Nathan, opposite Emilia Clarke and Sam Claflin.[15] Peacocke then starred as Detective Josh Levine in the 2016 Australian television series Wanted.[16] He also appeared in the comedy film Cooped Up.[17]

2019 saw Peacocke star alongside Kat Stewart and Hugh Sheridan in Network Ten's drama series Five Bedrooms, which focuses on five people who buy a house together after meeting at a wedding.[18] The series was renewed for a second season, which began airing in August 2021, after a production delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[19] After starring in war film Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan,[20] Peacocke joined the cast of comedy drama Squinters for its second season,[21] and appeared in the drama Les Norton.[22]

Peacocke starred in the Nine Network miniseries Informer 3838 as Detective Paul Dale, who heads up the Victorian Police drug squad, until he is wrongfully arrested and imprisoned.[23][24] Peacocke plays flight nurse Pete Emerson in the 2021 drama series RFDS: Royal Flying Doctor Service. He carried out his own research to prepare for the role, including talking with people who worked with the Flying Doctor Service and training with a nurse.[25] Peacocke also stars in the ABC drama series The Newsreader, which is set in a 1986 television newsroom.[26] For his performance as sports reporter Rob Rickards, Peacocke earned an AACTA Award nomination for Best Guest or Supporting Actor in a Television Drama.[27]

In February 2023, it was announced that Peacocke had joined the cast of Nine's crime drama Human Error, alongside Leeanna Walsman and Rahel Romahn. Production on the six-part series began that same month in Melbourne. Peacocke plays Detective Dylan Mackenzie.[28]

Personal life

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Peacocke is a private man and has been dating Bridgette Sneddon since 2005.[29][30] The couple met at the University of Western Sydney and announced their engagement on 7 March 2014 and married the same year in a private ceremony.[31] In 2023, it was revealed that the couple have a daughter.[32]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2006 Suburban Mayhem Store Attendant Feature film
2008 Cue Howard Sir William Delamere Short film
Emerald Falls Bushwalker Television film
2010 The Black Dog Steven Short film[33]
The Robbery Interrogator Short film
2011 Burning Man Paramedic Feature film
2014 Hercules Stephanos Feature film
2016 Whiskey Tango Foxtrot Nic Feature film
Me Before You Nathan Feature film
Cooped Up Mike
2019 Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan Lieutenant Adrian Roberts Feature film
2024 Before Dawn Cpl Beale

Television

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Year Title Role Notes Ref
2007 All Saints Zeb Hall Episode: "Balancing Act"
2009 Packed to the Rafters Waiter Episode: "Belonging"
2010 Rake Michael Warner Episode: "R v Mark"
2011 Telethon Himself Episode: 15 October 2011
2011–2016 Home and Away Darryl "Brax" Braxton Main cast
2016–2017 Wanted Detective Josh Levine Main cast
2019–2023 Five Bedrooms Ben Chigwell Main cast [34]
2019 Squinters Brett TV series: 6 episodes [35]
Les Norton Murray "Muzza" Norton TV series: 3 episodes
2020 Informer 3838 Paul Dale Miniseries: 2 episodes
2021–present RFDS Pete Emerson Main cast
2021–present The Newsreader Rob Rickards Main cast [36]
2024 Human Error Dylan Mackenzie TV series: 6 episodes [37]

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Work Result Ref(s)
2012 Inside Soap Awards Best Daytime Star Home and Away Nominated [38]
Logie Awards Most Popular New Male Talent Won
2013 Inside Soap Awards Best Daytime Star Won [39]
Logie Awards Most Popular Personality on Australian Television Nominated
Most Popular Actor Won
2014 Logie Awards Most Popular Personality on Australian Television Nominated
Most Popular Actor Nominated
2015 Logie Awards Most Popular Personality on Australian Television Nominated
Most Popular Actor Won
2016 Logie Awards Most Popular Actor Nominated [40]
2021 AACTA Awards Best Guest or Supporting Actor in a Television Drama The Newsreader Nominated [27]
2022 Logie Awards Most Popular Actor RFDS Nominated [41]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Bartley, Kim (4 February 2011). "Home and Away for Steve each day". Daily Liberal. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
  2. ^ a b c Edwards, Amy (10 February 2011). "Newcastle actor in Bra Boys inspired role". Newcastle Herald. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
  3. ^ Vickery, Colin (14 February 2012). "River boy fight starts to hit home". The Advertiser. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
  4. ^ "Nick Curnow". Retrieved 10 February 2014.
  5. ^ "Hop On The Bus – Gus!". jameswaites.ilatech.org. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
  6. ^ "Drifting in my Capella 1BUCK80 *OFFICIAL* Youtube Clip". YouTube. 4 August 2013.
  7. ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (15 March 2011). "Steve Peacocke (Brax, 'Home and Away')". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi UK. Retrieved 31 October 2011.
  8. ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (12 September 2011) "'Home and Away' Steve Peacocke: 'US film work is my goal'". Digital Spy. 12 September 2011. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
  9. ^ Burgess, Matthew (15 April 2012) "2012 Logie Awards: all the action". Sydney Morning Herald. 15 April 2012. Retrieved 15 April 2012.
  10. ^ Bodey, Michael (8 April 2013). "Third time lucky for Asher Keddie busts Nine's Logie run". The Australian. News Limited. Retrieved 14 April 2013.
  11. ^ "Nominees revealed for the 2013 TV Week Logie Awards!". TV Week. ninemsn. 11 March 2013. Archived from the original on 21 April 2013. Retrieved 14 April 2013.
  12. ^ Moran, Jonathon (1 February 2015). "Actor Steve Peacocke leaving Home and Away for Hollywood". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  13. ^ Moran, Jonathon (22 August 2015). "Home and Away star Steve Peacocke brings Brax back for one-off". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
  14. ^ "Former Home and Away star Steve Peacocke's next big gig opposite Tina Fey and Margot Robbie". The Daily Telegraph. 10 February 2015. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
  15. ^ Dainty, Sophie (25 March 2015). "Home and Away's Steve Peacocke lands role in new Emilia Clarke film". Digital Spy. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
  16. ^ Papain, Jessie (28 September 2015). "Peacocke at home in Wanted role". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 30 October 2015. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
  17. ^ Maddox, Garry (13 November 2016). "Nervous moments as Kane Guglielmi opens the film he sold his home to make". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  18. ^ Knox, David (21 January 2019). "Cameras roll on Five Bedrooms drama". TV Tonight. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
  19. ^ "How Stephen Peacocke became Australia's Mr In-Demand!". Who. 5 August 2021. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  20. ^ Cullen, Tamara (6 May 2019). "Stephen Peacocke Exclusive: 'My next big move!'". TV Week. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
  21. ^ Mercado, Andrew (5 July 2019). "Mercado on TV: Stephen Peacocke, Squinters, Wayne Blair & Robbie Hood". Mediaweek. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  22. ^ Downie, Stephen (8 July 2019). "Home and Away icon Steve Peacocke's heartwarming announcement". New Idea. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  23. ^ Burke, Tina (16 October 2019). "Nine reveals all-star line-up for new drama series Informer 3838". TV Week. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  24. ^ "Who's who in Nicola's world?". TV Soap. No. 11. 25 May 2020. p. 23.
  25. ^ Downie, Stephen; Vnuk, Helen (2 August 2021). "Exclusive: Stephen Peacocke reveals just how far he's come since his days as Brax on Home And Away". TV Week. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  26. ^ "ABC announces new drama The Newsreader to premiere in August". Mediaweek. 12 July 2021. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  27. ^ a b Burke, Kelly (31 October 2021). "AACTA awards 2021: The Newsreader, Nitram and High Ground scoop nominations". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  28. ^ Knox, David (2 February 2023). "Production begins on Human Error for Nine". TV Tonight. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  29. ^ Devlyn, Darren (2 March 2011)"Peacocke struts his stuff". Herald Sun. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
  30. ^ "Soap heart-throb turns up the heat". The West Australian. Seven West Media. 16 November 2012. Archived from the original on 16 April 2013. Retrieved 14 April 2013.
  31. ^ "Steve Peacocke and Bridgette Sneddon are married!". New Idea. 13 January 2015. Archived from the original on 17 January 2015. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
  32. ^ "Meet RFDS' Stephen Peacocke's daughter". New Idea. 15 August 2023. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  33. ^ "Black Dog a review". screentrek.com. 23 June 2010. Archived from the original on 6 March 2012. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
  34. ^ Knox, David (21 January 2019). "Cameras roll on Five Bedrooms drama | TV Tonight".
  35. ^ Knox, David (21 November 2018). "New cast join Squinters | TV Tonight". tvtonight.com.au.
  36. ^ "Filming underway on the Newsreader | TV Tonight". 26 November 2020.
  37. ^ "Production begins on Human Error for Nine | TV Tonight". 2 February 2023.
  38. ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (9 July 2012). "Inside Soap Awards 2012 - longlist nominees in full". Digital Spy. Retrieved 22 July 2012.
  39. ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (21 October 2013). "Inside Soap Awards 2013 – winners list in full". Digital Spy. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
  40. ^ Knox, David (8 May 2016). "2016 Logie Awards: Winners". TV Tonight. Retrieved 10 May 2016.
  41. ^ Fowler, Bella (20 June 2022). "All the winners from the 2022 Logie Awards". news.com.au. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
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