Rick Springfield Biography

His interest in music began whilst living in England in the early 1960s and, upon returning to Australia, he began playing in bands.

Joining the band Zoot, he gave them several self-written hits, as well as a hit cover of 'Eleanor Rigby'.

Going solo, he released a single 'Speak To The Sky', which reached number one in the Australian chart and, in 1972, his first solo album, 'Beginnings', was released. That same year, Springfield moved to the US, touted as a new teen sensation, and 'Speak To The Sky' made the US Top 20.

After a two-years break he released 'Comic Book Heroes', soon followed by the cartoon tie-in, 'Mission Magic'. In 1976, 'Wait for Night' and 'Take a Hand' were promising, but Universal dropped him.

Beginning a new career as a TV actor, Springfield appeared in 'The Rockford Files' and 'Wonder Woman', before landing the lead, as Dr. Noah Drake, in 'General Hospital'.

With this new fame, his 1980 album, 'Working Class Dog', became a smash hit in 1980. It spawned the number one hit 'Jessie's Girl', for which he won a Grammy Award. The follow-ups, 'I've Done Everything For You' and 'Don't Talk To Strangers' were also top 10 hits.

His 1982 album, 'Success Hasn't Spoiled Me Yet', continued his success, as did the hit single 'Love Somebody' from his film 'Hard to Hold', in which Springfield played a rock singer. He married Barbara Porter in 1984. She was the receptionist at the studio where he recorded his album 'Working Class Dog'. They now have two children.

His track 'Bruce', about being mistaken for Bruce Springsteen, was re-released the same year. However, he was injured in a serious ATV accident, and his world tour was cancelled.

In 1989, he starred in the film 'Nick Knight' about an 800-year-old vampire seeking a cure for his condition. He later reprised this role in the television series 'Forever Knight'. Springfield then appeared in the TV series' 'Human Target' (1992), 'Robin's Hoods' in 1995, 'High Tide' (1994 to 1997) and in episodes of 'Suddenly Susan' (1999) and 'Martial Law' (1999).

In addition to roles in films and TV shows, he appeared on Broadway in the musical 'Smokey Joe's Cafe' from 1995, which featured songs from rock n' roll songwriters Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller.

In 1999, Springfield returned with the album 'Karma', his first album of new music in over 10 years.

He was last seen starring in the Vegas show 'EFX Alive', replacing Tommy Tune in the lead role between February 2002 and December 2002. In December 2005, he was asked to reprise his role as Dr Noah Drake in 'General Hospital' after a 23-year absence. He appeared in the recurring role as a guest star until 2008.

Springfield next played a "twisted version of himself" in several episodes of 'Californication' in 2009 and last appeared in one episode of 'Hawaii Five-O' in 2011.