Triple M radio host Gus Worland opens up on some of the highlights of his five-decade friendship with Hugh Jackman, including a rowdy night at Michael Douglas’ dad’s 100th birthday in LA.
Gus Worland is the ultimate wingman. And the affable radio host’s Entourage-esque stories of “lapping it up” while trailing his best mate Hugh Jackman around the world make Hollywood sound every bit as magical as you’d imagine.
Worland and Jackman’s nearly five-decade friendship has seen countless adventures.
“One of the greatest nights was when he sang three songs from Les Misérables at Michael Douglas’ dad’s 100th birthday in LA,” Worland tells Stellar On Friday, adding that Douglas then offered them a ride to New York in his private plane.
“We go to an airfield like we’re in a movie, and are sitting drinking and a delivery from [exclusive Japanese restaurant] Nobu turns up to the plane,” he recalls.
“Jacko and I are having such a great time, all the beds are made-up – I’ve still got the face mask. We lay there giggling like we’re on school camp.”
After almost a decade on the breakfast show at Sydney’s Triple M, initially as part of The Grill Team and later on Moonman In The Morning, Worland moved to the station’s Saturday sports show Dead Set Legends last year. And Triple M has today announced that the show, with co-hosts Worland, Jude Bolton and Wendell Sailor, will move to the drive timeslot.
However, the 52-year-old’s real passion is men’s mental health and his role as founder and director of Gotcha4Life, a charity for suicide prevention.
His friendship with Jackman has helped to bring Worland’s mental-health messages to the masses, including through his 2016 ABC series Man Up about Australian masculinity.
The pair’s enduring bond has seen them share highs and lows, from celebrating their 40th birthdays in Japan and 50th in the US, to throwing up in John Travolta’s trailer after smoking Cuban cigars on the set of 2001 film Swordfish.
“At age five at Pymble Public School, the teacher goes, ‘OK, grab someone by the hand.’ I get Wolverine,” Worland says of first meeting Jackman in the ’70s.
“He’s generous, caring and loving; we’ve been best friends for almost 49 years and we’re real with each other. And our friendship has gone to a much deeper level since Man Up.”
If Worland hasn’t heard from his famous friend in a few days, he says he’ll send an audio message to check in. And a typical reply?
“Jacko always comes back with a reason like, ‘I’ve been busy preparing to host the Oscars.’”
For more Stellar exclusives, pick up a copy inside this weekend’s The Sunday Telegraph (NSW), Sunday Herald Sun (Victoria), The Sunday Mail (Queensland) and Sunday Mail (SA).
Originally published as How Worland and Jackman became best mates
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