CELEBRITY

Jonathan LaPaglia ditched his career as an ER doctor to follow brother Anthony into acting

The Survivor host has two brothers, Anthony and Michael LaPaglia.
Loading the player...

We all know Survivor host Jonathan LaPaglia, but chances are you’ve also seen one of his brothers on the big screen, too.

WATCH: Jonathan LaPaglia says Osher Gunsberg is ‘gunning for his job’

It seems that showbiz runs in the blood for the LaPaglia family, with Jonathan’s eldest brother Anthony LaPaglia being famous in his own right thanks to his stellar acting career that has spanned several decades.

anthony-lapaglia-doctor
Art imitates life: JLP as Dr Patrick McNaughton on the hit series, Love Child, back in 2014. (Credit: Ten)

In fact, prior to his role as the witty host of the Australian Survivor, Jonathan actually worked as an ER doctor in Adelaide before following in his big brother into acting. 

What has Anthony LaPaglia starred in?

Best known for his role as Jack Malone in the television drama Without a Trace, Anthony first made waves as the devilish cockney brother of Daphne Moon in the ’90s sitcom, Frasier, for which he nabbed a Primetime Emmy Award.

He’s also starred in films such as Betsy’s Wedding, Empire Records, Autumn in New York, Lantana, Balibo, Holding the Man, Annabelle: Creation, and Nitram.

lapaglia-brothers
Jonathan followed his brother Anthony into acting. (Credit: Getty)

Who is Anthony LaPaglia married to?

Anthony has tied the knot a total of three times, with his first wife being actor Cherie Michan.

He then tied the knot with Gia Carides, known best for her role in My Big Fat Greek Wedding, in 1998 after they met on the film Lucky Break back in 1994.

The pair welcomed daughter Bridget in January 2003 but in April 2015, the couple called it quits after 17 years of marriage.

Three years later, Anthony married Alexandra Henkel – who is 30 years the actor’s junior – in Haiku Mill on Maui’s north shore, with the blushing bride writing on Instagram: “28.4.2018. The day I married the love of my life.”

anthony-lapaglia-wife
Anthony LaPaglia and wife Alexandra Henke

Prior to the nuptials, Jonathan spoke to hit105 where he joked that he wasn’t aware Anthony was even engaged to Alexandra, adding that he had not seen his brother “in a while”.

“S**t is he getting married? Really?” he said at the time. “I should pay a little more attention to social media.”

When the host mentioned the couple’s 30-year age gap, Jonathan feigned surprise, saying, “Shut the front door? She’s 30 years younger? Bloody hell. I haven’t seen him in a while, he must be doing something right.

“Am I going to be a groomsman at his wedding? I didn’t even know he was getting married,” Jonathan added.

anthony-lapaglia-wife
Anthony married Alexandra Henkel in 2018. (Credit: Instagram)

Recently, JLP spoke to New Idea about which member of his family he would choose to partner with if he starred on Blood V Water, which sees relatives team up as they compete alongside one another and attempt to become the last one standing.

The host admitted that he wouldn’t pick his brother Anthony, but rather his 17-year-old daughter, Tilly.

“She and I have a very similar methodical approach to problem-solving,” he said. “You really need to be on the same page to make this work.”

Who is Michael LaPaglia?

While Anthony and Jonathan forged successful careers in showbusiness, middle LaPaglia brother Michael opted to stay out of the limelight, and currently works as a car wholesaler in Los Angeles.

Survivor: Blood V Water, starts Mon. Jan 31 7.30pm on Ten.

For more Survivor content check out the links below!

Here’s when Australian Survivor is returning in 2022

Take your first look at the Australian Survivor: Blood V Water cast

One wedding and a baby later! How Mark Wales and Sam Gash found true love on Survivor

Everything we know about Jonathan LaPaglia’s wife Ursula Brooks

Related stories