List of Australian Americans

This is a list of notable Australian Americans, including both original immigrants who obtained American citizenship and their American descendants.

Business

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Name Born – died Notable for Connection with Australia Connection with the United States
Elisabeth Murdoch 1968– Businesswoman born in Australia with a dual citizenship father is Australian-born Rupert Murdoch
Ken Ham 1951– Founder of the Young Earth Creationist organization Answers in Genesis born in Australia resides in the U.S.
Rupert Murdoch 1931– CEO of News Corporation born in Australia became naturalized U.S. citizen in 1985
Jacques Nasser 1947– former CEO of Ford Motors born in Lebanon but raised in Australia resides in the U.S.
Matthew Pritzker 1982– investor and businessman Australian mother born in the U.S.; American father

Public service

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Name Born – died Notable for Connection with Australia Connection with the United States
Richard W. Fisher 1949– Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas President Australian-American father U.S. citizen at birth
John Henderson 1925–2010 blind activist born in Australia emigrated to the U.S. with parents as a child
Martin Indyk 1951– former U.S. Ambassador to Israel British born, Australian raised U.S. diplomat
James Wolfensohn 1933–2020 former President of the World Bank born in Australia naturalized as U.S. citizen in 1980

Politics

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Name Born – died Notable for Connection with Australia Connection with America
Mick Bates 1970– Member of the West Virginia House of Delegates born in Australia naturalized U.S. citizen
Harry Bridges 1901–1990 International Longshore and Warehouse Union leader born in Australia became naturalized U.S. citizen in 1945
Jeff Merkley 1956– Senator from Oregon Australian paternal grandmother born in the U.S.
Jon Ossoff 1987– Senator from Georgia Australian mother born in the U.S.
Gavin Buckley 1963– Mayor of Annapolis, Maryland born in Australia became naturalized U.S. citizen in 2009

Authors

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Name Born – died Notable for Connection with Australia Connection with America
Geraldine Brooks 1955– author born in Australia father was American; became naturalized U.S. citizen in 2002
Prudence Farrow 1948– author Australian father U.S. born; Irish-American mother
Jill Ker Conway 1934–2018 author & academic born in Australia worked in the U.S.
Sumner Locke Elliott 1917–1991 author of Careful, He Might Hear You born in Australia moved to the U.S. in 1948 and became naturalized U.S. citizen in 1955

Scientists

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Name Born – died Notable for Connection with Australia Connection with America
Bruce Bolt 1930–2015 seismologist born and raised in Australia naturalized American citizen
Philip K. Chapman 1935–2021 astronaut born in Australia emigrated to the U.S.
Terence James Elkins 1936– physicist, 1st ascent of Mount Elkins, 1979 Harold Brown Award recipient born in Australia emigrated to the U.S. in 1963; naturalized U.S. citizen in 1971
Paul D. Scully-Power 1944– oceanographer and astronaut born in Australia naturalized U.S. citizen in 1982
Andy Thomas 1951– astronaut born in Australia naturalized U.S. citizen in 1986
Elizabeth Blackburn 1948– winner of the 2009 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine born in Australia naturalized U.S. citizen

Artists

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Name Born – died Notable for Connection with Australia Connection with America
Pat Oliphant 1935– New York Times cartoonist born in Australia emigrated to U.S. in 1964

Sport

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Name Born – died Notable for Connection with Australia Connection with America
Carsten Ball 1987– retired tennis player Australian father American-born and resides in the U.S.
Darren Bennett 1965– Australian rules football and American football born in Australia, played AFL played NFL
Jonah Bolden 1996– basketball born in Melbourne father is American
Taj Burrow 1978– surfing born in Australia parents are U.S. citizens
James Cruikshanks 1971– professional wrestling born in Australia moved to U.S. as a child
Taylor Dent 1981– tennis father is Australian Phil Dent mother is American Betty Ann Grubb Stuart and born in the U.S.
Leigh Diffey 1971– auto racing commentator born in Australia became an American citizen in 2011
Colin Edwards 1974– motorcycle racing Australian father born in the U.S.
Dante Exum 1995– basketball born in Melbourne American parents
Luke Hume 1988– rugby born in Australia Dual citizen to the U.S. and Australia
Kyrie Irving 1992– basketball born in Melbourne American parents and Dual Citizen to the U.S. and Australia
Nia Jax 1984– professional wrestler born in Sydney grew up in Hawaii
Jay Johnstone 1945–2020 baseball Australian mother born in the U.S.
Robert Machado 1973– surfing born in Sydney grew up in and lives in California
David Niu 1966– rugby born in Australia naturalized U.S. citizen
Ben Simmons 1996– basketball born in Melbourne, mother is Australian father is American Dave Simmons[1]
James Spithill 1979– sailing born in Sydney married to an American and skippered Oracle Team USA yacht to two victories

Music

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Name Born – died Notable for Connection with Australia Connection with America
Peter Allen 1944–1992 singer-songwriter, musician, and entertainer born in Tenterfield, New South Wales lived in the U.S.
Iggy Azalea 1990– rapper born in Sydney moved to the U.S. at age 16
Nellie Breen 1897–1986 dancer and comedian Australian mother born in U.S.; American father
Aaron Brown 1980– violinist and composer raised in Australia naturalized U.S. citizen
Brody Dalle 1979– singer-songwriter and guitarist born in Melbourne lives in the U.S since 1998
Sam Farrar 1978– member of the pop rock band Maroon 5 Australian parents born and raised in Los Angeles
Flea 1962– bassist for Red Hot Chili Peppers born in Melbourne lived in the U.S. since age 5
Gracie Folds 1999– singer-songwriter mother is Australian; born in Adelaide lives in the U.S.; father is American Ben Folds
Ashton Irwin 1994– drummer for 5 Seconds of Summer born in Sydney father is American; dual citizen to the U.S. and Australia
MC Lars 1982– rapper father is Australian born in the U.S.
Chloe Rose Lattanzi 1986– singer, actress mother was Australian Olivia Newton-John (born in England) born in the U.S.
Helen Reddy 1941–2020 actress, singer born in Australia naturalized U.S. citizen
Cody Simpson 1997– pop singer born in Gold Coast, Queensland moved to the U.S. in 2010
Rebecca St. James 1977– Christian pop rock singer-songwriter born in Sydney family moved to the U.S. at age 14; married Cubbie Fink in 2011
Rick Springfield 1949– singer and actor born in Sydney lives in the U.S.
Mark Stoermer 1977– bassist for The Killers father is Australian born in the U.S.
Irwin Thomas 1971– singer-songwriter and guitarist mother was an Australian-born folk singer and dancer; she returned to Australia in 1980, with her son.[2] born in 1971 in Manhattan, New York City.[3]
Joseph Twist 1982– composer in genres including ancient vocal music, opera, contemporary orchestral music, jazz, musical theatre and cabaret born in Brisbane; doctorate and master's degrees from University of Queensland, Australian Film, Television and Radio School, and New York University lives in the U.S.
Keith Urban 1967– country musician born in New Zealand naturalized U.S. citizen, married to American-born Australian actress Nicole Kidman, resident of Nashville, Tennessee[4]
Betty Who 1991- musician, singer-songwriter born in Australia naturalized U.S. citizen
Kate Ceberano 1966- singer-actress born in Australia father born in America Tino Ceberano
Deni Hines 1970- singer-actress born in Australia mother born in America Marcia Hines
John Butler 1975- musician, founder John Butler Trio father is Australian born in the U.S..; American mother

Actors/actresses

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Name Born – died Notable for Connection with Australia Connection with America
Simon Baker 1969– actor born in Launceston, Tasmania moved to the U.S. in the 1990s; has been a dual U.S. and Australian citizen since 2010
Jacinda Barrett 1972– actress born in Brisbane moved to the U.S. in the 1990s; married to U.S. citizen Gabriel Macht and became naturalized U.S. citizen in 2009
Billy Bevan 1887–1957 actor born in Orange
Cate Blanchett 1969– actress born in Melbourne American father; dual U.S. and Australian citizen
Charles Coleman 1885–1951 character actor born in Sydney
Bonar Colleano 1924–1958 actor Australian parents born and lived in the U.S. until he was 12
Aisha Dee 1993– actress, and singer born in Australia; Australian mother father is African American
Mia Farrow 1945– actress father was Australian born in the U.S. with dual citizenship
Errol Flynn 1909–1959 actor born in Hobart became naturalized U.S. citizen in 1942
Leila George 1992– actress born in Sydney; mother is Australian Greta Scacchi father is American Vincent D'Onofrio; dual U.S. and Australian citizen
Melissa George 1976– actress born in Australia moved to U.S. in the 1990s; became naturalized U.S. citizen in 2008[5]
Mel Gibson 1956– actor paternal grandmother was Australian Eva Mylott born in the U.S.
Daniel Goddard 1971– actor born in Sydney became naturalized U.S. citizen in 2020
Robert Greig 1879–1958 actor born in Melbourne
Nicholas Hammond 1950– actor and director moved to Australia in the mid-1980s born in the U.S.
Penne Hackforth-Jones 1949–2013 actress Australian maternal grandparents born in the U.S.
Tim Kazurinsky 1950– actor and screenwriter Australian mother born in the U.S.; American father
Nicole Kidman 1967– actress both parents are Australians; raised in Australia born in the U.S. with dual citizenship
Laurette Luez 1928–1999 actress Australian mother American father; born in the U.S.
Alanna Masterson 1988– actress father is Lebanese Australian Joe Reaiche born in the U.S.; American mother
Jordan Masterson 1986– actor father is Lebanese Australian Joe Reaiche born in the U.S.; American mother
Julian McMahon 1968– actor born in Australia naturalized U.S. citizen
Poppy Montgomery 1972– Without a Trace actor born in Australia lives and works in the U.S.; dual U.S. and Australian citizen
Meg Mundy 1915–2016 actress Australian mother naturalized U.S. citizen
Sean Murray 1977– actor born in America to an American father and Australian mother; spent some of his childhood in Australia U.S. citizen
Keir O'Donnell 1978– actor born in Sydney moved to the U.S. in the 1980s
Nathan Parsons 1988– actor born in Australia naturalized U.S. citizen
Liesel Pritzker Simmons 1984– actress Australian mother born in the U.S.; American father
Emilie de Ravin 1981– actress born in Australia became naturalized U.S. citizen in 2018
Ann Richards 1917–2006 actress born in Australia moved to the U.S. in 1942; father was a U.S. citizen
Margot Robbie 1990– actress, known for her role as playing Harley Quinn in the DC movie Suicide Squad born in Australia moved to and lives in the U.S
Tristan Rogers 1946– General Hospital actor born in Australia naturalized U.S. citizen
Portia de Rossi 1973– Ally McBeal actress and wife of Ellen DeGeneres born in Australia naturalized U.S. citizen
Jesse Spencer 1979– actor born in Melbourne, Australia naturalized U.S. citizen[6]
Tammin Sursok 1983– Home and Away, The Young and the Restless, and Pretty Little Liars actress born in South Africa, raised in Australia naturalized U.S. citizen
Kristen Stewart 1990– actress mother is Australian born in the U.S.
Sharni Vinson 1983– actress born in Australia lives and works in the U.S.; dual U.S. and Australian citizen
Angela White 1985– pornographic actress born in Sydney moved to the U.S. in the 2010s
Alex Winter 1965– actor, film director, and screenwriter Australian father American mother; dual U.S. and U.K. citizen
Breanna Yde 2003– actress Australian-born American Actress born in Sydney, New South Wales
Jane Badler 1953– actress singer moved to Australia in the mid-80's or 90's. born in the U.S.
Shannon Kenny 1968– actress born in Australia moved to the U.S. in the 1990s; married to U.S. citizen Néstor Carbonell
Claire Holt 1988– actress born in Brisbane naturalized U.S.citizen
Makenzie Vega 1994– actress moved to Australia in 2016 born in the U.S.
Brooke Harman 1985– actress Australian mother born in the U.S.; American father
Ben Lawson 1980– actor born in Brisbane became naturalized U.S. citizen in 2023

Other

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Name Born – died Notable for Connection with Australia Connection with America
Betsy Bloomingdale 1922–2016 socialite, philanthropist parents are Australian born in the U.S.
Valda Cooper 1915–2008 journalist, one of the first female reporters for the Associated Press born in Melbourne, Australia immigrated to the U.S. as an infant
Savannah Guthrie 1971– television journalist, co-anchor of The Today Show born in Melbourne, Australia immigrated to the U.S. as an infant
Bindi Irwin 1998– child television/film personality father was Australian Steve Irwin mother Terri Irwin is from Oregon, dual U.S. and Australian citizen
Robert Irwin 2003– child television/film personality father was Australian Steve Irwin mother Terri Irwin is from Oregon, dual U.S. and Australian citizen
Elizabeth Jagger 1984– model and actress, daughter of Mick Jagger paternal grandmother was Australian mother is Jerry Hall; born in the U.S.
Georgia May Jagger 1992– model and actress, daughter of Mick Jagger paternal grandmother was Australian mother is Jerry Hall; born in the U.S.
Laura James 1990– fashion model, America's Next Top Model winner mother is Australian father is Dynasty actor John James; born in the U.S.
Thelma Keane 1926–2008 negotiated copyrights for The Family Circus, inspiration for the comic's "Mommy" character born and raised in Queensland immigrated to the U.S. with her husband, Bil Keane
Brianna Keilar 1980– television journalist for CNN born in Australia grew up in Orange County, California
Soledad O'Brien 1966– television journalist father is Australian born in the U.S.
Anne Osborn Krueger 1934– economist Australian father born in the U.S.
Katie Patrick 1980– environmental spokesperson, entrepreneur born in Australia lives in the U.S.
Terry Tao 1975– mathematician, 2006 Fields medalist born in Australia won a Fulbright Scholarship in 1992; attained Ph.D. at Princeton in 1996; married an American
Felicia Taylor 1964–2023 television journalist father was Australian Rod Taylor born in the U.S.
Marsha Waggoner 1940– champion poker player born in Australia lived in the U.S. since 1977
Christopher Wilder 1945–1984 serial killer born in Australia emigrated to the U.S. in 1969; father is a U.S. citizen
Peta Murgatroyd 1986– professional dancer born in Australia naturalized U.S. citizen

References

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  1. ^ Silva De, Chris. "The uncomfortable truth about Australia's relationship with its most famous athlete". wwos.nine.com.au. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  2. ^ "Item details for: B44, V1980/48695, Title: Whittridge, Renalda". National Archives of Australia. 31 May 2000. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  3. ^ "Irwin Thomas aka Jack Jones | Australian Music Database". www.australianmusicdatabase.com. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  4. ^ "Nicole Kidman invites fans inside her lavish living room at Nashville home". 5 April 2020.
  5. ^ Idato, Michael (16 March 2009). "Entering a grey area". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 16 March 2009.
  6. ^ White, Jessica (25 April 2023). "Inside the Impressive Life and Career of Chicago Fire's Jesse Spencer". NBC. Retrieved 15 September 2023.