His role on Home and Away as bad boy Liam Murphy made him one of Australia’s most recognisable media personalities.
And when he left the Channel Seven soap in 2013, Axle Whitehead looked set to follow in the footsteps of Margot Robbie and Chris Hemsworth when he jetted off to Hollywood to seek fame and fortune.
At first, he seemed on course to replicate his Australian success in the USA.
He got off to a good start by scoring a sought-after role on Shameless – but Whitehead soon experienced the harsher side of the industry.
Acting roles became scarce and financial pressures mounted, leading him to take up work in a dive bar for a meagre wage.
‘I was back working for eight bucks an hour and tips. It had been a long time since I’d worked for eight bucks,’ he previously said.
After a period of hardship, Whitehead’s career was looking up when he landed a role in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., which provided much-needed financial relief.
After less than a decade in Hollywood, Whitehead returned to Australia for a brief appearance on Neighbours in 2020.
He then starred on The Masked Singer Australia, placing third as Mullet in 2021.
Whitehead has since been keeping busy with music performances, voice-over work and hosting gigs.