Michael Dorman

Biography:

Michael Dorman (born April 26, 1981) is a New Zealand-born Australian actor, widely recognized for his leading roles as Tom Wilcox in Wonderland (2013–2015), John Tavner in Patriot (2015–2018), astronaut Gordo Stevens in For All Mankind (2019–2021; 2026), and the title character in Joe Pickett (2021–2023).

He was born in Auckland, New Zealand. His mother’s heritage is Māori, specifically from the Ngāti Porou tribe on the east coast of the North Island, while his father has Pākehā ancestry.

At the age of ten, Dorman moved with his family to Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia, where he attended Bundaberg State High School. He later studied drama at the Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane.

His acting career began with the role of Christian in The Secret Life of Us. A fan of the show since its debut in 2001, he secured the part in 2002 after relocating to Sydney.

One of his early standout performances came in the Australian film Suburban Mayhem (2006). He went on to take leading roles in films such as Prime Mover (2009) and Needle (2010), along with supporting roles in West (2007), Acolytes (2008), Triangle (2009), Daybreakers (2009), and Killer Elite (2011). He also starred as Tom Wilcox throughout the run of the TV series Wonderland.

While working on The Water Diviner (2014), he formed a connection with Russell Crowe, who later helped him pursue opportunities in the United States by covering his travel expenses. This led to major roles in series like Patriot and For All Mankind, as well as a minor role in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017).

By 2018, he had returned to Australia. He later starred in The Invisible Man and Hard Luck Love Song (both 2020).

In 2021, he was cast as the lead in Joe Pickett, an American TV series based on novels by C. J. Box, which premiered in late 2021 and early 2022. He also appeared as Gol D. Roger in Netflix’s live-action One Piece (2023) and played Graham Lawson in the Australian Netflix series Territory (2024). In November 2025, he was announced as the lead in the ABC series Treasure & Dirt.

Beyond acting, Dorman is also a musician and has performed live alongside artists such as Alex Lloyd, The Beautiful Girls, and Abbe May, as well as at festivals like Peats Ridge, Woodford, and Homebake.

He received a nomination for Best Lead Actor in a Drama at the 2025 Logie Awards for his role in Territory.