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Shane Jacobson

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Shane Jacobson
Jacobson in 2013
Born (1970-03-18) 18 March 1970 (age 56)
Essendon, Victoria, Australia
Occupations
  • Actor
  • entertainer
  • director
  • writer
  • producer
  • chief scout of Victoria
Years active1999–present
Height185 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Spouse
Felicity Hunter
​
(m. 2018)​
Children4[1]
RelativesClayton Jacobson (brother)
Websitewww.shanejacobson.com.au

Shane Jacobson is an Australian actor, entertainer, director, writer, and producer, best known as the "Dunny Man" for his performances as the eponymous character Kenny Smyth, a plumber working for a portable toilet rental company, in the 2006 film Kenny and the spin-off TV series, Kenny's World. In 2006, he won the Australian Film Institute's Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for that performance.[2] In 2017 and 2018 he presented Little Big Shots, on the Seven Network, based on the American series of the same title. In 2019, Jacobson became a judge on Australia's Got Talent.

Career

[edit]

Jacobson began his career on the stage at the age of 10 with amateur theatre and the Melbourne Gang Show. At 18, he began his comedy career with regular theatre restaurant, musical theatre, stand-up and MC gigs. He was also hired to play to corporate functions, impersonating business icons and luminaries.

In 1999, Jacobson received a regular segment on Melbourne's Gold FM radio station, called The 60 Minute Challenge. He also created the character voice of Sergio the Hairdresser, who featured regularly on Gold FM's Breakfast Show. Jacobson's focus eventually moved towards the camera and he began acting in music videos, short films and television commercials whilst continuing to perform audience warm-ups for major TV networks. Around this time, he had a bit part in the indie sci-fi film Narcosys alongside future National Workers Alliance founder Matt Trihey.

In 2006, Jacobson starred in the Australian mockumentary film Kenny as Kenny Smyth, a Melbourne plumber who works for plumbing company Splashdown. The film was a critical and financial success, and is considered to be Jacobson's break-out role. In 2008, he reprised the role for Channel Ten's short-lived TV series Kenny's World.[3]

In 2007, Jacobson filmed two Australian feature films Cactus, directed by Jasmine Yuen-Carrucan and released in cinemas in May, and Newcastle, directed by Dan Castle and released later in 2008.

In April 2008, he began his role of Nicely-Nicely Johnson in the major stage production Guys and Dolls. For this role, he won a 2008 Helpmann Award for "Best Supporting Actor in a Musical".

On 24 April 2009, Jacobson guest co-hosted Australian television program The Morning Show with Kylie Gillies, while the program's regular male co-host Larry Emdur was on holidays.

In 2009, Jacobson co-starred with Paul Hogan in Charlie & Boots, an Australian film in which Boots (Jacobson) takes his father, Charlie (Hogan) on a road trip to fish on the northernmost tip of Australia because of something his father told him they would do one day, when he was a kid. It had the best opening weekend for any Australian film in 2009 when it was released on Father's Day. The film was shot on location and features many small towns in country Australia.

Jacobson was co-host of the short lived car show Top Gear Australia with Steve Pizzati and Ewen Page which ran for two seasons from 28 September 2010 on Nine Network to 13 September 2011.[4]

In June 2011, the Herald Sun revealed that Jacobson would be starring in the TV mini series Beaconsfield, the story of the Beaconsfield Mine collapse, playing the role of Brant Webb.[5] It aired on Sunday 22 April 2012.

In 2013, Jacobson co-hosted the first season of The Great Australian Bake Off an Australian reality television baking competition.[6] Jacobson also starred as Luce Tivolli in the 2013 ABC drama The Time of Our Lives, which ran for two seasons (2013-2014).[citation needed]

In 2018, Jacobson joined the voice cast of Thomas & Friends, voicing an Australian steam engine called Shane.[citation needed] In mid-2018, Jacobson hosted Little Big Shots Australia for Channel 7.[citation needed]

In 2019, Jacobson became a judge on Australia's Got Talent alongside Lucy Durack, Nicole Scherzinger and Manu Feildel. In June 2022, Jacobson was announced to be returning as a judge on Australia's Got Talent, alongside new judges Kate Ritchie, Alesha Dixon and David Walliams.[7][8]

In 2020, Jacobson starred in the Australian comedy-drama film Never Too Late which had been filmed in Adelaide, South Australia the previous year.[9]

In 2021, Jacobson was the narrator for the SBS documentary Inside Central Station.[10] In 2022, he produced and performed in a celebrity tribute to Australian comedian and actor Paul Hogan, Roast of Paul Hogan, which was broadcast on Australia’s Seven Network.

In 2025, Jacobson became a co-owner of a regional Victorian hotel in Dederang, which was reported to be the subject of a planned reality television series documenting the purchase and refurbishment of the venue.[11] The series, titled Oops! I Bought A Pub, premiered on the Seven Network on 2 May 2026.[12] Jacobson was announced as a contestant on series 6 of Taskmaster Australia in July 2026.[13]

Scouting

[edit]
Shane Jacobson, Chief Scout of Victoria, with street art depicting himself and Scout Association founder Lord Baden-Powell

During his youth, Jacobson was a Scout[14] with 1st Keilor, 15th Essendon and Snowy Morcom Rover Crew. Jacobson credits Scouting shows, including Melbourne Gang Show and Bayside Showtime as first piquing his interest in the performing arts.

After two decades, Jacobson returned to Scouting in 2015, in a ceremonial position, as Scouts Victoria's Chief Scout.[15] The position of Chief Scout of Victoria had been held previously by Governors of Victoria. The position was offered to Jacobson as a high-profile former Scout with the star power to promote Scouting to Victorian and wider audiences.

Filmography

[edit]

Film

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
2006KennyKenny SmythFeature film

Australian Film Institute Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role

2008CactusThommoFeature film
NewcastleReggie
2009Charlie & BootsBoots
2010Santa's ApprenticeSanta Claus (voice)Animated film
2011Surviving GeorgiaJohnnie
2012The Bourne LegacyFactory managerFeature film
BeaconsfieldBrant WebbTV film
The Mystery of a Hansom CabDetective Samuel Gorby
Jack Irish: Bad DebtsBarry Tregear
Jack Irish: Black Tide
2014Jack Irish: Dead Point
The ApprenticeBobShort film (deleted Movie 43 segment)
2015OddballSwampyFeature film
The DressmakerAlvin Pratt
2018The BBQDazza
Guardians of the TombGary
Brothers' NestTerry
That's Not My Dog!Himself
Ladies in BlackMr Miles
2020Never Too LateBruce Wendell
2021 Inside Central Station Narrator

Television

[edit]
YearProgramRoleNotes
2008Kenny's WorldKenny SmythTV series
2010–11Top Gear AustraliaHimselfTV series, co-host
2013–14The Time of Our LivesLuce TivolliTV series, 21 episodes
2013It's a DateHugoTV series, episode: "Should You Date on the Rebound?"
2014Fat Tony & Co.Detective Inspector Jim 'Big Kahuna' O'BrienTV miniseries, 9 episodes
ManSpaceCo-hostTV series
2015Open SlatherVarious roles
2016–21Jack IrishBarry Tregear
2016Who Do You Think You Are?Himself (featured)
2017–18Little Big ShotsHost
2018–20Thomas & FriendsShane (UK/US voice)
2019–presentAustralia's Got TalentJudge
2026Oops! I Bought A PubHimselfTV series, 6 episodes

Theatre

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
2008Guys and DollsNicely-Nicely Johnson
2014Mother and SonRobert BeareAdaptation of the TV show
2018The Rocky Horror ShowNarrator
2022HairsprayEdna Turnblad
2024The Odd CoupleOscar Madison

Bibliography

[edit]
  • Jacobson, Shane (1 August 2013). The Long Road to Overnight Success. ABC Books. ISBN 9780730499985.
  • Jacobson, Shane (24 July 2017). Rev Head. ABC Books. ISBN 9780733338168.

Awards

[edit]

Jacobson has won several awards:

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ "Actor and presenter Shane Jacobson says marriage was worth the wait". Herald Sun. 11 March 2018. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  2. ↑ Hilton, Samuel (12 December 2006). "2006 Australian Film Institute Awards". Ion Cinema. Archived from the original on 25 February 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2009.
  3. ↑ Vagg, Stephen (18 August 2019). "Australian Movie Stars". Filmink. Archived from the original on 18 August 2019. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
  4. ↑ "The Top Gear Motoring Ashes « Transmission – BBC Top Gear Australia". Archived from the original on 25 September 2010. Retrieved 27 September 2010.
  5. ↑ Devlyn, Darren (24 June 2011). "Stars prepare to be buried alive in the mini-series Beaconsfield". Herald Sun. News Limited. Retrieved 17 February 2012.
  6. ↑ "The Great Australian Bake off". Archived from the original on 30 January 2013. Retrieved 9 December 2012.
  7. ↑ Knox, David (13 June 2021). "Neil Patrick Harris to judge Australia's Got Talent". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 13 June 2021. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  8. ↑ Mastroianni, Bianca (13 June 2021). "Neil Patrick Harris announced as an Australia's Got Talent judge alongside Kate Richie, Shane Jacobson and Alesha Dixon". News.com.au. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  9. ↑ Maddox, Garry (16 April 2019) Life is still busy over 70 for stars of new 'triumph over ageing' film Archived 19 October 2021 at the Wayback Machine, The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  10. ↑ "Journey 'Inside Central Station: Australia's Busiest Railway'". Guide. 16 August 2021. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  11. ↑ Te Koha, Nui (18 July 2025). "Shane Jacobson in reality TV show about buying regional Victorian pub". Herald Sun. Retrieved 27 January 2026.
  12. ↑ Knox, David (24 April 2026). "Airdate: Ooops! I Bought a Pub". Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  13. ↑ "Taskmaster Australia: Season 6 cast includes Shane Jacobson, Charlie Pickering | ScreenHub: Film, TV, Streaming and Games". 10 July 2026. Retrieved 17 July 2026.
  14. ↑ "Famous Scouts:Shane Jacobson". Scouts Australia. Archived from the original on 6 July 2017. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  15. ↑ Doyle, Robert. "Tweet by Lord Mayor of Melbourne".
[edit]
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