Alex O'Loughlin: Aussie Star to 'Hawaii Five-0' Hunk

Television and film audiences have seen this strikingly handsome actor in numerous productions from the U.S. His non-regional American accent is flawless, yet he is not from any of the fifty states or from the North American continent. Recently he starred in the romantic comedy, "The Back Up Plan" opposite Jennifer Lopez. He's also appeared in film and television productions in Australia. Now he is the star of the new hit TV series "Hawaii Five-0" that is a reboot of the iconic series from 1968 to 1980. Who is Alex O'Loughlin? What makes him tick? Read on to find out more.

Life in Australia

Alex O'Loughlin was born and raised in Australia. There have been numerous inaccuracies regarding the year he was born. However, his birthdate is August 24, 1976. He is one day older than his castmate, Scott Caan, who co-stars with him on his current TV series. They were both born the same year. Way Down Under in Canberra, Australia, the country's capital, is where O'Loughlin was born. His father is a physics and astronomy teacher in Sydney. When he was two years old his parents divorced.

Acting Career Down Under and the U.S.

In 2002 he graduated from the National Institute of Dramatic Arts (NIDA) in Sydney. This is a highly competitive dramatic school for those studying theatre, film and television. His first leading film role was in "Oyster Farmer" from 2004. O'Loughlin starred in the Australian miniseries "The Incredible Journey of Mary Bryant." He received his first nomination for Best Actor in Television from the Australian Film Institute Awards. This is the most prestigious award ceremony for Australian film and TV productions.

2005 proved to be a turning point for Alex O'Loughlin. He was strongly considered in becoming the next James Bond. Instead, that role went to Daniel Craig. In the U.S. he appeared on the hit TV series "The Shield." By 2009 he starred in the short-lived CBS medical drama "Three Rivers" about organ donors and transplant surgeries. O'Loughlin appeared opposite J.Lo in the romantic comedy "The Back-Up Plan" in 2010.

Hawaii Five-0's Steve McGarrett

Many attempts had been made in the past to remake and/or reboot "Hawaii Five-0" with little to no success. Finally in early 2010 Alex O'Loughlin was cast in the lead role as Steve McGarrett. In the original series McGarrett was a former Naval Intelligence Officer. Now his character is a former Navy SEAL. The show is one of the few hits from the fall line-up. It's been nominated for Best New Series at the People's Choice Award. Check out Alex O'Loughlin and his task force as they fight crime in and around the Hawaiian Islands Monday nights on CBS.

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