Paul Mercurio
Encyclopedia
Paul Joseph Mercurio is an Australian actor, dancer and TV presenter. Mercurio is well-known for his lead role in Baz Luhrmann's Strictly Ballroom
(1992). His father was the character actor Gus Mercurio
.
in 1963 and began ballet
at nine. By the age of 19 in 1982, he was Principal Dancer with the Sydney Dance Company
– a position he held for 10 years. During this time, he was commissioned to choreograph six works performed by the company. Mercurio left the Sydney Dance Company to found the Australian Choreographic Ensemble
which danced from 1992 to 1998, where he was the Director, Principal Dancer and Principal Choreographer.
Mercurio made his film debut in Strictly Ballroom
, receiving an Australian Film Institute
Award nomination in 1993. His film credits have included: Exit to Eden
, Back of Beyond, Cosi
, Red Ribbon Blues
, Welcome to Woop Woop
, The Dark Planet, The First 9½ Weeks
, Kick
and Sydney: A Story of a City. He starred, wrote, choreographed, produced and directed the short film Spilt Milk. Mercurio made his TV debut in a documentary on his life called Life's Burning Desire in 1992. He starred in the lead role of Joseph in the Emmy award–winning US TV mini-series The Bible: Joseph
in 1995.
Mercurio has appeared in popular Australian shows such as, Blue Heelers, All Saints, Murder Call, Medivac, Heartbreak High, Water Rats and The Day of the Roses. Mercurio continues to dance and choreograph professionally. He was a movement consultant on the Will Smith movie I, Robot
, and has choreographed an American TV campaign for Coca Cola, the Harry M Miller production of Jesus Christ Superstar
and Annie Get Your Gun
. In January 2004, he appeared on stage in The Full Monty
. Mercurio teaches full time students at Dance World Studios in Melbourne, Australia.
Mercurio was a judge on both the Australian and New Zealand versions of Dancing with the Stars
until August 2008, when he was dropped from the judging panel of the Australian version. Dancing with the Stars Australia was broadcoast on Channel Seven
from 2004 to 2007. He has been a judge in the New Zealand version
since 2006. In 2008, he began hosting a series called Mercurio's Menu
where he travels Australia, cooking in different locations.
Strictly Ballroom
Strictly Ballroom is a 1992 Australian romantic comedy film directed and co-written by Baz Luhrmann and produced by M&A Productions. The film is the first installment in The Red Curtain Trilogy, Luhrmann's trilogy of theatre-motif-related films; the follow-ups were Romeo + Juliet and Moulin Rouge!...
(1992). His father was the character actor Gus Mercurio
Gus Mercurio
Augustino Eugenio "Gus" Mercurio was an American-born Australian character actor who appeared on both film and television.-Early life :...
.
Biography
Mercurio was born in Swan Hill, VictoriaSwan Hill, Victoria
Swan Hill is a city in the northwest of Victoria, Australia. It is located on the Murray Valley Highway, on the south bank of the Murray River, downstream from the junction of the Loddon River. At the 2006 census, Swan Hill had a population of 9,684.-History:...
in 1963 and began ballet
Ballet
Ballet is a type of performance dance, that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century, and which was further developed in France and Russia as a concert dance form. The early portions preceded the invention of the proscenium stage and were presented in large chambers with...
at nine. By the age of 19 in 1982, he was Principal Dancer with the Sydney Dance Company
Sydney Dance Company
The Sydney Dance Company is one of Australia's most successful and well-known contemporary dance companies. The company was founded in 1969 as the dance-in-education group Ballet in a Nutshell by Suzanne Musitz , later changing its name to Athletes and Dancers, and Dance Company ...
– a position he held for 10 years. During this time, he was commissioned to choreograph six works performed by the company. Mercurio left the Sydney Dance Company to found the Australian Choreographic Ensemble
Australian Choreographic Ensemble
The Australian Choreographic Ensemble was an Australian contemporary dance company based in Sydney formed by Paul Mercurio in 1992. The company's founding dancers were Mercurio, Jan Pinkerton, David Prudham, Benedict Leslie, Brett Daffy, Katherine Arnold-Lindley and Paulina Quinteros...
which danced from 1992 to 1998, where he was the Director, Principal Dancer and Principal Choreographer.
Mercurio made his film debut in Strictly Ballroom
Strictly Ballroom
Strictly Ballroom is a 1992 Australian romantic comedy film directed and co-written by Baz Luhrmann and produced by M&A Productions. The film is the first installment in The Red Curtain Trilogy, Luhrmann's trilogy of theatre-motif-related films; the follow-ups were Romeo + Juliet and Moulin Rouge!...
, receiving an Australian Film Institute
Australian Film Institute
The Australian Film Institute was founded in 1958 as a non-profit organisation devoted to developing an active film culture in Australia and fostering engagement between the general public and the Australian film industry...
Award nomination in 1993. His film credits have included: Exit to Eden
Exit To Eden (film)
Exit to Eden is a 1994 American comedy-thriller loosely based on the Anne Rice novel of the same name, directed by Garry Marshall and adapted to the screen by Deborah Amelon and Bob Brunner. The original music score was composed by Patrick Doyle....
, Back of Beyond, Cosi
Così
Così is a play by Australian playwright Louis Nowra which was first performed in 1992. Set in a Melbourne mental hospital in 1971, Così is semi-autobiographical.- Plot summary:Lewis is always desperate for work as he states "I need the money"...
, Red Ribbon Blues
Red Ribbon Blues
Red Ribbon Blues is a 1996 comedy-drama with classic heist/caper elements. Written and directed by Charles Winkler, the film played the gay and lesbian film festival circuit in 1996.-Synopsis:...
, Welcome to Woop Woop
Welcome to Woop Woop
Welcome to Woop Woop is a 1997 Australian-British comedy film, directed by Stephan Elliott starring Johnathon Schaech and Rod Taylor. The film was based on the novel The Dead Heart by Douglas Kennedy...
, The Dark Planet, The First 9½ Weeks
The First 9½ Weeks
The First 9½ Weeks is a 1998 drama film written and directed by Alex Wright and starring Paul Mercurio, Clara Bellar and Malcolm McDowell. It is a prequel to the films 9½ Weeks and Another 9½ Weeks.-Plot:...
, Kick
Kick
In combat sports and hand-to-hand combat, a kick is a physical strike using the foot, leg, or knee . This type of attack is used frequently, especially in stand-up fighting...
and Sydney: A Story of a City. He starred, wrote, choreographed, produced and directed the short film Spilt Milk. Mercurio made his TV debut in a documentary on his life called Life's Burning Desire in 1992. He starred in the lead role of Joseph in the Emmy award–winning US TV mini-series The Bible: Joseph
Joseph (film)
The Bible: Joseph is a German/Italian/American television movie from 1995, which tells the story of Joseph from the Old Testament.- Plot :Joseph, a Canaanite Hebrew, is an Egyptian slave to Potiphar, chief of Pharoah's palace guard. When Joseph is placed under the charge of Ednan, Potiphar's...
in 1995.
Mercurio has appeared in popular Australian shows such as, Blue Heelers, All Saints, Murder Call, Medivac, Heartbreak High, Water Rats and The Day of the Roses. Mercurio continues to dance and choreograph professionally. He was a movement consultant on the Will Smith movie I, Robot
I, Robot (film)
I, Robot is a 2004 science-fiction action film directed by Alex Proyas. The screenplay was written by Jeff Vintar, Akiva Goldsman and Hillary Seitz, and is very loosely based on Isaac Asimov's short-story collection of the same name. Will Smith stars in the lead role of the film as Detective Del...
, and has choreographed an American TV campaign for Coca Cola, the Harry M Miller production of Jesus Christ Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar is a rock opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber, with lyrics by Tim Rice. The musical started off as a rock opera concept recording before its first staging on Broadway in 1971...
and Annie Get Your Gun
Annie Get Your Gun (musical)
Annie Get Your Gun is a musical with lyrics and music written by Irving Berlin and a book by Herbert Fields and his sister Dorothy Fields. The story is a fictionalized version of the life of Annie Oakley , who was a sharpshooter from Ohio, and her husband, Frank Butler.The 1946 Broadway production...
. In January 2004, he appeared on stage in The Full Monty
The Full Monty
The Full Monty is a 1997 British comedy film directed by Peter Cattaneo, starring Robert Carlyle, Mark Addy, William Snape, Steve Huison, Tom Wilkinson, Paul Barber, and Hugo Speer. The screenplay was written by Simon Beaufoy...
. Mercurio teaches full time students at Dance World Studios in Melbourne, Australia.
Mercurio was a judge on both the Australian and New Zealand versions of Dancing with the Stars
Dancing with the Stars (New Zealand TV series)
Dancing with the Stars is a New Zealand television series based on the British series Strictly Come Dancing. The show introduces eight local celebrities paired with professional ballroom danceers who each week compete against each other in a competition to impress a panel of judges and the viewing...
until August 2008, when he was dropped from the judging panel of the Australian version. Dancing with the Stars Australia was broadcoast on Channel Seven
Seven Network
The Seven Network is an Australian television network owned by Seven West Media Limited. It dates back to 4 November 1956, when the first stations on the VHF7 frequency were established in Melbourne and Sydney.It is currently the second largest network in the country in terms of population reach...
from 2004 to 2007. He has been a judge in the New Zealand version
Dancing with the Stars (New Zealand TV series)
Dancing with the Stars is a New Zealand television series based on the British series Strictly Come Dancing. The show introduces eight local celebrities paired with professional ballroom danceers who each week compete against each other in a competition to impress a panel of judges and the viewing...
since 2006. In 2008, he began hosting a series called Mercurio's Menu
Mercurio's Menu
Mercurio's Menu is an Australian television cooking show hosted by Paul Mercurio. The series follows Paul as he travels to different regions of Australia and highlights the region's local cuisines, as well as talk to local chefs. It is produced by WTFN and airs on Channel Seven and a number of...
where he travels Australia, cooking in different locations.
External links
- Paul Mercurio biography at AustraliaDancing
- Mercurio's Menu Mercurio's Menu