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Antony Starr

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Antony Starr
Starr at GalaxyCon in 2024
Born (1975-10-25) 25 October 1975 (age 49)
Wellington, New Zealand
EducationRangitoto College
University of Auckland
OccupationActor
Years active1995–present

Antony Starr (born 25 October 1975) is a New Zealand actor. He is best known for his television roles, such as the dual roles of Jethro and Van West in the series Outrageous Fortune (2005–10), Lucas Hood in the Cinemax series Banshee (2013–16), and Homelander in Amazon Prime Video's superhero streaming television series The Boys and its spin-offs (2019–present),[1] for which he gained wider acclaim.

For his performance in the 2012 Australian film Wish You Were Here, Starr won the AACTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role, among other accolades. He was nominated for the New Zealand Film Award for Best Actor for his performance in After the Waterfall (2010).

Early life

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Starr was born in Wellington, New Zealand.[2] Growing up, he was passionate about surfing[3] and trained in karate.[4] Initially, he aspired to become a police officer. Starr is multilingual and can speak English, Indonesian, Norwegian, and Spanish.[5]

He attended Rangitoto College, graduating in 1993. Although he was a good student, he was frequently absent. He took drama classes in school and worked as an extra in various productions, eventually pursuing acting full-time. During this period, he also worked at a petrol station.[6]

Career

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1995–2017: Early work and breakthrough

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Starr began his professional acting career early in the 1990s with a small part in Shortland Street and had guest roles in Xena: Warrior Princess.

In 2001, Starr was cast in Mercy Peak as Todd Van der Velter, a guest role that he had throughout the show's three seasons. He also received a role as the brother of long running character Waverley Wilson in the soap opera Shortland Street. He appeared for several weeks as part of the write out of the Minnie Crozier character. Starr stated he did not like the fast pace of the show and thought his performances suffered because of it.[7]

Since then, Starr's television credits have included a core cast role in kids' series Hard Out and guest roles in P.E.T. Detectives and Street Legal as well as a brief stint in Serial Killers, the comedy series that was penned by Outrageous Fortune co-creator James Griffin.

Starr at the premiere of Wish You Were Here in 2012

Playing twins Van and Jethro West won Starr the 2007 Air New Zealand Screen Award for Performance by an Actor, the award for Best Actor at the Qantas Television Awards and Best Actor at the Asian TV Awards in the same year. Readers of the TV Guide also voted Starr Best Actor in the 2007 TV Guide Best on the Box People's Choice Awards. In 2005, he was named Best Actor at the inaugural Qantas Television Awards for his role in Outrageous Fortune.

During the production of the first series of Outrageous Fortune, Starr also juggled filming for Toa Fraser's debut feature, No. 2 which was released in New Zealand in early 2006. Starr's other film credits include Roger Donaldson's The World's Fastest Indian, the US comedy feature Without a Paddle and Brad McGann's feature film In My Father's Den. Between series two and three of Outrageous Fortune, Starr worked on a collaborative short film with some friends.

Starr appeared on stage in the second edition of Sex with Strangers (2005). In 2004, Starr performed in two theatre productions: Closer at Auckland's Silo Theatre[8] and Sex with Strangers directed by Colin Mitchell at the Herald Theatre.[9]

Between filming Outrageous Fortune seasons five and six, Starr starred in feature film After the Waterfall and the telefeature Spies and Lies.

In 2011, Starr joined the cast of the Australian police drama Rush, playing Senior Sergeant Charlie Lewis.[10] He also had a role in the second series of Lowdown.

From 2013 to 2016, Starr starred in the television series, Banshee, his first role on U.S. television. Playing John Smith, an ex-con who, after 15 years in prison, assumes the identity of Lucas Hood, becoming the new Sheriff of Banshee. Trying to reconnect with his former lover, Anastasia, both learn that he "has become a distant (violent) version of the man he once was".[11] The show's fourth and final season began in April 2016. Also in 2016, Starr portrayed main character Garrett Hawthorne on the CBS crime/mystery series American Gothic.

2018–present: Worldwide recognition for The Boys

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Starr at the 2020 Santa Barbara International Film Festival

In January 2018, it was announced that Starr was cast as The Homelander in The Boys, Amazon Studios's adaptation of the Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson comic book of the same name.[12] In the series, he plays opposite Karl Urban, who is also from New Zealand. "We've got an American show with a Kiwi playing an all-American hero psychopath and another Kiwi playing an Englishman. It's a pretty bizarre mix-up," said Starr.[13] Season one was released in July 2019 on Amazon Prime, on which it had strong viewership.[14] Season two of The Boys was released in September 2020. Season three was released in June 2022.[15] Both installments received consistent praise and success.[16][17]

Starr’s performance emerged as a stand-out element of the show and established him as an actor, although he was originally dismissive of the role.[18][19] In an interview with The New York Times, he confessed,

"There wasn't a hell of a lot for me to go on, other than 'Bad Superman.' So I did the audition almost out of anger. Threw it down, sent it in and went, there's your audition."[20]

Carrie Witmer of Uproxx praised Starr by writing, "he creates fear, excitement, and comedy with a nightmarish stare or a menacing smile."[21] Hannah Gearan of Screen Rant called Starr "The Best Part of The Boys", stating that he provides a "chilling performance with a measured dialogue delivery that still makes Homelander seem grounded."[22] Michael Ordoña of Los Angeles Times referred to Homelander as "TV's most intriguing villain."[23] Amhara Chamberlayne of Hollywood Insider ranked Starr's Homelander among all-time great villains, and compared his role to characters like King Joffrey, Stringer Bell, and Gustavo Fring.[18] Since the release of the first season, audiences and critics alike have campaigned for Starr to receive an Emmy Award.[24][25][26][27]

Subsequently, Starr portrayed Homelander in The Boys spin-off series, including the animated The Boys Presents: Diabolical (2022) in a voice role, and had a cameo in Gen V (2023). The same character appeared as a DLC in the video game Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II (2022) which was voiced by and modeled after Starr.[28] The likeness of the character also made an appearance in 2024 video game Mortal Kombat 1.[29] On the film front, he worked in two feature films in 2023. The first being the action drama The Covenant starring Jake Gyllenhaal. Next, Starr played the major part of a controlling father in the horror Cobweb. Joshua Rivera of Polygon applauded Starr and expressed that, "Starr excels at portraying disturbed men who have learned to wear normalcy like a mask."[30]

The fourth season of The Boys premiered on Amazon Prime Video on June 13, 2024, and achieved the highest viewership of all the seasons.[31] Starr's performance received positive acclaim once again.[32][33] He is set to reprise his role in the fifth season of the show.[34] He will appear in the action thriller film G20.[35]

Personal life

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On 4 March 2022, it was reported that Starr was arrested in Alicante, Spain, after assaulting a 21-year-old man at a local pub. He was sentenced to a 12-month suspended prison sentence and paid $5,530 in restitution to avoid prison time.[36]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2004 In My Father's Den Gareth
Without a Paddle Billy Newwood
2005 The World's Fastest Indian Jeff
2006 No. 2 Shelly
2010 After the Waterfall John Drean
2012 Wish You Were Here Jeremy King
2019 American Sausage Standoff Mike Dankworth McCoid
2023 The Covenant Eddie Parker
Cobweb Mark
TBA G20 Post-production

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1995 Xena: Warrior Princess Mesas Episode: "Hooves and Harlots"
1996 David Episode: "The Giant Killer"
2000–2002 Shortland Street Stratford Wilson Guest role
2000 Street Legal Darren
2001–2003 Mercy Peak Todd Van der Velter Recurring role (21 episodes)
2003 Terror Peak Jason
Hard Out Stevo
Skin & Bone Seymour Collins Lead role, Television film
2004 Serial Killers Dean Crocker 1 episode
Not Only But Always LA Cab Driver Television film
2005–2010 Outrageous Fortune Jethro and Van West Main role
2008 The Jaquie Brown Diaries Himself Episode: "Brown Love"
2010 Spies and Lies Sydney Ross Television film
2011 Rush Charlie Lewis Main role (season 4)
Bliss Tom Mills Television film
2012 Tricky Business Matt Sloane Main role
Lowdown Stuart King 5 episodes
2013–2016 Banshee John "Lucas Hood" Smith Lead role, 38 episodes
2013–2014 Banshee Origins Two-part television film
2016 American Gothic Garrett Hawthorne Main role
2019–present The Boys John Gillman / Homelander Main role, 32 episodes
2020 Aunty Donna's Big Ol' House of Fun Stray Man Episode: "Housemates"
2022 The Boys Presents: Diabolical John Gillman / Homelander (voice) 2 episodes
2023 Gen V John Gillman / Homelander Episode: "Guardians of Godolkin"

Video games

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Year Title Role Notes
2022 Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II John Gillman / Homelander Playable DLC Character; Voice and likeness
2024 Mortal Kombat 1 Playable DLC Character; Likeness only[37]

Online

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Year Title Role Notes
2021 Vought News Network: Seven on 7 with Cameron Coleman John Gillman / Homelander Guest role; web series promoting The Boys

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2005 Qantas Television Awards Best Actor in TV Drama Outrageous Fortune Won [38]
2006 Air New Zealand Screen Awards Best Performance by an Actor Nominated [39]
2007 Air New Zealand Screen Awards Won
2008 Qantas Film and Television Awards Performance by an Actor in General Television Won [40]
2009 Qantas Film and Television Awards Nominated [41]
2011 Aotearoa Film & Television Awards Best Performance by an Actor Spies and Lies Nominated [42]
Best Lead Actor in a Feature Film After the Waterfall Nominated
2012 Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards Best Supporting Actor Wish You Were Here Won
2013 Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards Best Actor in a Supporting Role Won
2021 Critics' Choice Super Awards Best Actor in a Superhero Series The Boys Won [43]
Best Villain in a Series Won
2022 Saturn Awards Best Actor in a Streaming Television Series Nominated [44]
2023 Critics' Choice Awards Best Actor in a Drama Series Nominated [45]
Critics' Choice Super Awards Best Actor in a Superhero Series Won [46]
Best Villain in a Series Won

References

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  1. ^ Allen, Ben (4 September 2020). "Antony Starr on becoming the worst superhero ever in The Boys". British GQ. Archived from the original on 21 June 2024. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  2. ^ Mettler, Mike (6 May 2016). "Banshee Star Antony Starr Reflects on Cult Series". Digital Trends. Archived from the original on 8 October 2023. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
  3. ^ "Antony Starr Talks Superhero Training for 'The Boys'". 15 September 2020. Archived from the original on 28 June 2024. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
  4. ^ Haring, Bruce (12 July 2024). "Antony Starr, AKA Homelander On 'The Boys', Reveals His Weakness For One Character". Deadline. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  5. ^ "9 Intriguing Facts About Antony Starr". 7 October 2023. Archived from the original on 28 June 2024. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
  6. ^ Vickers, Lucy (2 July 2009). "TV's Starr at school". www.stuff.co.nz. Archived from the original on 20 July 2023. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
  7. ^ Coleman, James (November 2010). "The rise and rise of Antony Starr". NZonscreen. NZ on Air. Archived from the original on 30 November 2010. Retrieved 7 November 2011.
  8. ^ Huse, Shannon (27 June 2004). "Closer at SiLo theatre to July 10". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 19 September 2016. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
  9. ^ Christian, Dionne (6 December 2005). "Enjoying more sex with strangers". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 19 September 2016. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
  10. ^ Antony Starr Archived 9 May 2013 at the Wayback Machine Channel Ten
  11. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (12 March 2012). "Cinemax's Alan Ball-Produced New Series 'Banshee' Casts Antony Starr As Its Lead". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 15 March 2017. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  12. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (17 January 2018). "'The Boys': Antony Starr, Chace Crawford, Dominique McElligott & Jessie Usher Cast In Amazon's Superhero Drama Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 18 January 2018. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  13. ^ Adams, Josie (6 September 2020). "New Zealand's Antony Starr on playing an all-American monster in The Boys". The Spinoff. Archived from the original on 6 March 2021. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  14. ^ Hayes, Dade (21 October 2019). "Amazon Prime Viewing Added to Nielsen, Which Reveals 'The Boys' Numbers". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 9 October 2020. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  15. ^ Turchiano, Danielle (23 July 2020). "'The Boys' Renewed for Season 3 at Amazon, Adds After-Show". Variety. Archived from the original on 8 October 2023. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  16. ^ "The Boys: Full Season 3 Review". IGN. 11 July 2022. Archived from the original on 21 June 2024. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  17. ^ Northrup, Ryan (20 June 2024). "The Boys Season 4 Breaks Series Viewership Record Despite Review Bomb". ScreenRant. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  18. ^ a b "Homelander from 'The Boys' is One of the Best Villains Ever". The Hollywood Insider. 21 October 2020. Archived from the original on 21 June 2024. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  19. ^ "'I'm happy to be on the bench': Antony Starr Was Relieved to Be Let Go of Stunt Work in 'Brutal' Demanding Show That Pushed Him to His Limits". fandomwire.com. 18 December 2023. Archived from the original on 21 June 2024. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  20. ^ Itzkoff, Dave (3 June 2022). "Antony Starr Contends With Accountability, Onscreen and Off". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  21. ^ "Antony Starr's Performance On 'The Boys' Is The Best On Television". UPROXX. 23 June 2022. Archived from the original on 21 June 2024. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  22. ^ Gearan, Hannah (20 June 2024). "Antony Starr's Homelander Performance In The Boys Season 4, Episode 4 Has Fans Losing Their Minds". ScreenRant. Archived from the original on 21 June 2024. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  23. ^ "Antony Starr puts himself into TV's most intriguing villain. Along with Trump and Obama". Los Angeles Times. 15 June 2023. Archived from the original on 21 June 2024. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  24. ^ Tassi, Paul. "Antony Starr's Homelander Needs An Emmy For 'The Boys'". Forbes. Archived from the original on 20 June 2024. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  25. ^ "'Sorry Antony Starr, You Deserved Better': Internet Apologises To The Boys Star For Legendary Season 3 Performance After Emmys 2022 Rejects Series". fandomwire.com. 12 July 2022. Archived from the original on 21 June 2024. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  26. ^ "Will Antony Starr ('The Boys') parlay Critics Choice bid into Emmy nomination?". GoldDerby. 22 March 2023. Archived from the original on 21 June 2024. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  27. ^ Radish, Christina (20 June 2024). "'The Boys' Creator Says 'It's So Long Overdue, Just Give [Antony Starr] an Emmy Already'". Collider. Archived from the original on 21 June 2024. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  28. ^ "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II and Call of Duty: Warzone Season 04 Reloaded: What You Need to Know". callofduty.com. 10 July 2023. Archived from the original on 10 July 2023. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  29. ^ Watson, Philip (29 May 2024). "The Boys' Homelander Enters Mortal Kombat 1 In New Bloody Trailer". CGMagazine. Archived from the original on 11 June 2024. Retrieved 29 May 2024. Die-hard fans of The Boys will note that sadly Antony Starr (the voice of the live-action character) did not voice this rendition of the flying 'hero'.
  30. ^ Rivera, Joshua (21 July 2023). "The horror movie Cobweb is only worth it for Homelander fans". Polygon. Archived from the original on 22 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  31. ^ Manfredi, Lucas (25 July 2024). "'The Boys' Season 4 Exceeds 55 Million Viewers, a 20% Increase From Season 3". TheWrap. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
  32. ^ ""There was just crickets. Pure silence": The Best Antony Starr Performance as Homelander Was Tough to Film and Not Giving Him an Emmy for That Should be a Crime". fandomwire.com. 24 July 2024. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
  33. ^ Rivera, Joshua (22 June 2024). "No one should be as good as Antony Starr is at being Homelander". Polygon. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
  34. ^ "'The Boys' Is Coming Back For One Last Diabolical Season". Men's Health. 19 July 2024. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
  35. ^ Grobar, Matt (22 January 2024). "Anthony Anderson, Marsai Martin, Ramón Rodríguez, Antony Starr & More Join 'G20,' Viola Davis-Led Action Thriller From Amazon, MRC". Deadline. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
  36. ^ Sharf, Zack (4 March 2022). "'The Boys' Actor Antony Starr Arrested in Spain for Alleged Assault". Variety.com. Archived from the original on 22 September 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  37. ^ Watson, Philip (29 May 2024). "The Boys' Homelander Enters Mortal Kombat 1 In New Bloody Trailer". CGMagazine. Archived from the original on 11 June 2024. Retrieved 29 May 2024. Die-hard fans of The Boys will note that sadly Antony Starr (the voice of the live-action character) did not voice this rendition of the flying 'hero'.
  38. ^ "2005 Winners". Kiwi TV. Archived from the original on 7 February 2013. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  39. ^ "Air New Zealand Screen Awards 2006 – finalists and winners". OnFilm. Archived from the original on 18 September 2010. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  40. ^ "Qantas Film and Television Awards 2008 – Winners List" (PDF). Screen Directors Guild of NZ. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 November 2013. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  41. ^ "Qantas TV Awards finalists". The Big Idea. Archived from the original on 17 August 2009. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  42. ^ "AFTA 2011 winners announced". ON FILM. Archived from the original on 15 November 2011. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  43. ^ Millado, Nate (4 January 2021). "Lights, Camera, Action!". CBS Watch. Archived from the original on 27 March 2021. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  44. ^ Tinoco, Armando (29 June 2022). "Saturn Awards Nominations: 'The Batman', 'Nightmare Alley', 'Spider-Man', 'Better Call Saul' Top List". Deadline. Archived from the original on 12 August 2022. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  45. ^ Nordyke, Kimberly (15 January 2023). "Critics Choice Awards: Full List of Winners". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 16 January 2023. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  46. ^ Hipes, Patrick (22 February 2023). "'The Batman' Leads Nominations For The Critics Choice Super Awards". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 22 February 2023. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
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