Ross Newton

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Ross Newton
Born (1967-02-20) 20 February 1967 (age 58)
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Occupation Actor

Ross Newton (born 20 February 1967) is an Australian actor, best known for playing Greg Marshall in the television series Home and Away .

Contents

Early life

Ross Newton was born and grew up in the Australian city of Melbourne. [1] He first showed an interest in acting at the age of five, after watching the film The Wizard of Oz . By his teens, Newton knew he wanted a career in acting. [2] In 1987, he began studying acting at the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) in Sydney, New South Wales. [2] His parents, however, believed that acting would only be a mere hobby for their son.

Career

By age fifteen, Newton began appearing in Melbourne-based theatre, film, TV productions and student graduate films.

In 1990, Newton joined the cast of the Nine Network soap opera Family and Friends , playing the role of construction worker Bartholomew Thomas Purvis (Thommo). [1] Thommo was his first regular and prominent television role. [1] In 1991, Newton played the role of John Harding in the Australian erotic thriller film Fatal Bond . [3] [4] He later played the role of Edward Adam Stuart Young (Easy) in the acclaimed Australian ABC television series, G.P. .

The same year, he also joined the cast of the Seven Network soap opera Home and Away , playing the regular role of Greg Marshall. Newton originally signed a two-year contract with the series. [5] During his time on the show, Newton created an iconic character and storyline together with Nicolle Dickson who played Bobby Simpson. [6] After one year in the series, Newton believed his character was boring, so he convinced producers to give Greg a more exciting role by having him committing adultery. [2] Newton decided to leave the role in 1993. [7]

In 1994 and again in 1995, Newton joined other Australian actors in the British pantomime season. [8]

In 2002, Newton appeared in the Australian-American science fiction television series, Farscape , playing the role of Sloggard. [9] Newton was seen by casting directors for the role of Samwise Gamgee in The Lord of the Rings film franchise. He "worked hard" on the audition but ultimately lost out to Sean Astin. [10]

Personal life

[11] Newton has been in a relationship with dressage rider and trainer, Lucas Hurps for more than twenty-five years. [12] In 2019, he revealed that he had concealed his sexuality on the advice of a Home and Away producer who suggested that being honest could affect his acting career. Newton recalled that it was "really challenging" and had a "huge effect" on his personal life. [11] He similarly told a reporter from The Daily Telegraph that he believed his sexuality had affected which acting roles he won. [10]

Away from acting, Newton works as a fundraiser and development manager for Western Sydney University, where he still works as of 2025. [13] [12] [10]

Filmography

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1985 The Fast Lane Robby WilliamsGuest role
1986 Prime Time Danny EilwoodGuest role
The Flying Doctors HarryGuest role
My Brother Tom Les ConnorGuest role
The Great Bookie Robbery Police officerGuest role
1990 Rafferty's Rules JamesGuest role
Skirts DippGuest role
Family and Friends Bartholomew Purvis (Thommo)Regular role
1990–1991 G.P. EasyGuest role
1991–1993, 2000 Home and Away Greg Marshall Regular role
1996–1997 Pacific Drive Roger WestRecurring role
1999 All Saints Dean BledsoeGuest role
2002 Farscape SloggardGuest role
Crash Palace CharlieRegular role
2004 The Crop CopGuest role
2003; 2006 Comedy Inc VariousGuest role
2010 Cops LAC Lionel TibbsGuest role
2012 The Politically Incorrect Parenting Show Office managerGuest role

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1988 Witchcraft William
1991 Fatal Bond John Harding
2023Winter Swim – Late for LoveThe manShort film
2025Face the MusicJason DuncanShort film
Sources: [1] [3] [6] [9]

Theatre

YearTitleRoleNotes
1993; 1994 Beauty and the Beast Philippe the Beast

King Georges Hall Blackburn [8]

YearTitleRoleNotes
1992 A Manual Of Trench Warfare Private Jack Marriott

Crossroads Theatre [8]

YearTitleRoleNotes
1994; 1995 Cinderella Buttons

Cambridge Corn Exchange [8]

YearTitleRoleNotes
1999 The Information Albie McRanald

Belvoir Street Theatre [8]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Shelley, Garry (14 April 1990). "Take it off, Thommo!". TV Week . Southdown Press. p. 55.
  2. 1 2 3 Walker, Natalie (24 December 1994). "The cutest Buttons of them all?" . Ely Town Crier . Retrieved 2 December 2022– via British Newspaper Archive.
  3. 1 2 "Fatal Bond". TV Guide . Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  4. ↑ "Ross Newton on ASO - Australia's audio and visual heritage online". National Film and Sound Archive . Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  5. ↑ Brown, David; Williams, Glen (12 October 1991). "Look who Sam's brought together!". TV Week . Southdown Press: 9.
  6. 1 2 Alexander, Susannah (22 September 2019). "Former Home and Away actor was told to keep quiet about sexuality". Digital Spy . Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  7. ↑ Austin, Craig (3 September 1993). "Megamix" . Dumfries & Galloway Standard . Retrieved 2 December 2022– via British Newspaper Archive.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 "Pantomime". Cambridge Evening News. 28 December 1994. p. 23. Retrieved 2 December 2022– via Newspapers.com. Lock-green.svg
  9. 1 2 Andrews, Scott K. (11 September 2013). "Farscape Rewatch: "Lava's A Many Splendored Thing"". Tor.com . Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  10. 1 2 3 "Where are they now? Ross Newton ..." The Daily Telegraph . 30 August 2019. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  11. 1 2 "Home and Away's Ross Newton reflects on being a gay actor in the 90s". 7NEWS . 19 September 2019. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  12. 1 2 "My Summer Bay secret!". Woman's Day . No. 37. 3 September 2018. p. 35.
  13. ↑ "Profiles". Western Sydney University . Retrieved 2 December 2022.
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