Hugh Jackman Receives Walk of Fame Star

Hugh Jackman received the 2,487th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Thursday, honoring a career that has seen him turn from a television and stage star in his native Australia into an international film star best known for his portrayal of Wolverine in four "X-Men" films.

Talk show host Jay Leno joined Jackman in speaking at the ceremony, which began at 11:30 a.m. in front of Madame Tussauds Hollywood wax museum on Hollywood Boulevard.

The ceremony comes 12 days before the release of "Les Miserables," in which Jackman's portrayal of Jean Valjean has brought him nominations for Screen Actors Guild and Golden Globe awards.

Jackman's films also include "Van Helsing," "Australia," "Real Steel," "Kate & Leopold," "Someone Like You," "Swordfish," "The Prestige," "The Fountain," "Scoop" and "Deception."

Jackman has also found success on Broadway, winning a Tony Award for best actor in a musical in 2004 for his portrayal of 1970s singer-songwriter Peter Allen in "The Boy From Oz," and co-starring with Daniel Craig in the drama "A Steady Rain."

Born on Oct. 12, 1968 in Sydney, Australia, Jackman began his career in 1995 by starring in the Australian television prison drama "Correlli." He then turned to the stage, playing Gaston in an Australian production of the Disney stage "Beauty and the Beast" and Joe Gillis in "Sunset Boulevard."

Jackman became known outside of Australia in 1998, for his starring role as Curly in the Royal National Theatre's production of "Oklahoma!" in London's West End. The performance brought him an Olivier Award nomination.

Jackman began his film career in 1999 with the Australian independent films "Erskineville Kings," for which he won a Film Critics Circle of Australia Award for best actor, and "Paperback Hero."

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