The Tragic Truth About Hugh Jackman

Hugh Jackman is a rare specimen in Hollywood. Not only can he sing and dance — case in point "The Greatest Showman" — but he can also comfortably portray one of the world's most recognized superheroes, in the form of "X-Men" icon Wolverine. With a plethora of dramatic and comedic roles under his belt and an undeniable charisma, it's hardly surprising that Jackman remains a prominent star with a fan base spanning the globe.

Before pursuing a career in entertainment, Jackman asked his father, Christopher Jackman, for advice. The actor's dad suggested that Hugh was "thin-skinned," which might pose a problem. "He's right: I am thin-skinned," Hugh told The Guardian in January 2023. "But it's also a strength as an actor. Thin-skinned is sensitivity, which is something you need. And so I'm still learning to cope with it."

However, the Oscar-nominated actor has faced many challenges throughout his life, starting with his childhood in Australia, which was far from the picturesque existence one might expect. From devastating family losses to persistent rumors and health scares, Hugh Jackman has handled a slew of difficult and heartbreaking situations, even after becoming a recognizable public figure. 

After his mother moved back to England, Hugh Jackman and his siblings were raised by their father, Christopher Jackman. On September 6, 2021, the Oscar-nominee paid tribute to his dad, who died on Father's Day in Australia, in an Instagram post. "And whilst there is deep sadness, I am filled with such gratitude and love," the actor wrote. "My Dad was, in a word, extraordinary. He devoted his life to his family, his work, and his faith." 

The following year, Hugh opened up about the tragic loss in an interview with Variety, revealing that Christopher had lived with Alzheimer's for 12 years prior to his death. Having visited his father before he died, Hugh explained, "He was nearing the end." He continued, "So he was ostensibly gone, mentally. He would still smile a bit. I didn't know he was going to physically pass away, but I knew it was kind of a goodbye." After the emotional visit, Hugh started working on the 2022 movie "The Son," during which he learned that his father had died. During his Variety interview, Hugh also pointed to his father's incredible work ethic as the reason he carried on with filming after learning the devastating news. He explained, "I knew if he could talk to me, he'd be like, 'You got to go to work!'"

Deborra-Lee Furness and Hugh Jackman married on April 11, 1996, after meeting on the set of the Australian TV series "Correlli" the previous year. Despite having a 13-year age difference, there was immediate chemistry between the pair, with Jackman telling People, "Deb and I were already best friends, and I realized, I've got a crush on my leading lady." While Furness was already a big star in Australia, Jackman was at the start of his career, and "Correlli" was a big break for him. At the time of their wedding, Jackman was 27 years old, while Furness was 40, which led them to start trying to have a baby pretty quickly. 

Unfortunately, Furness and Jackman had a difficult fertility journey, with the "Prisoners" star telling People, "We struggled, a couple miscarriages, IVF — it's not easy, particularly on Deb." Ultimately, the pair decided to adopt their two children, son Oscar and daughter Ava. "Our motivation behind adopting was, 'Where is the need?'" Jackman told People. "The biggest need is in mixed-race kids. I want to tell my kids that ... it doesn't matter what sexual [orientation] you are ... it doesn't matter whether your hair is straight or curly, if you're tall or short, man or woman, what race you are. What defines you as a human being is underneath all that." 

During a 2023 interview with The Sun, Hugh Jackman revealed that he'd started therapy to address his childhood and family life. "It's helped me a lot," he told the publication. "You need a friend that you can unload with everything," he continued. The actor also revealed that living in the United States had changed his opinion about therapy, as attitudes in Australia had been very different when he was growing up. "Having someone really smart, who's actually a little bit removed from your world, can be really helpful," he explained.

Jackman also told The Sun that therapy had helped him realize how his childhood affected his parenting style and how he related to his family. Speaking with a therapist also helped stop him from repeating certain patterns of behavior. "[Therapy] is helping me to be more relational with the people I love in my life, really understanding and living in their shoes and being clear enough to be able to see them," he told The Sun.

One of Hugh Jackman's most memorable roles has been that of Wolverine in the "X-Men" franchise. While the role undoubtedly brought him huge recognition, it also had its downsides. During an appearance on BBC's "Front Row," Jackman revealed, "I've done some damage to my voice, through playing Wolverine." He continued, "My falsetto is not as strong as it used to be, and I put that down directly to some of the growling and yelling I did." He added, "My vocal teacher in drama school would've been horrified with some of the things I did [as Wolverine]."

After noticing some permanent damage to his voice, the actor has worked with a singing teacher to make sure that he properly trains for any new project, he explained on "Front Row." And in spite of the problematic growling, fans won't have to wait too long to see Jackman return to his iconic superhero role, as the actor is set to don Wolverine's classic yellow suit for the first time in "Deadpool 3."

In August 2022, Hugh Jackman shared the sad news that his beloved dog Dali had died. In an Instagram post paying tribute to the pup, Jackman wrote, "It's a very sad day for our family. Dali, our beloved Frenchie, passed away last night. He would've been 12 next month." Jackman reportedly adopted Dali in 2010, meaning that he was truly part of the family for a long time.

Sharing two sweet snaps taken with Dali, Jackman wrote of his dog, "He marched to the beat of his own drum, was beloved by the whole world, and boy did he have a good life." He continued, "We will miss him but know he's howling in heaven, ruling the roost and enjoying the all-you-can-eat buffet." Jackman regularly shared photos and videos of Dali and the family's other dog, Allegra, on social media, proving just how much he loved his dog.