{{short description|New Zealand actor (born 1987)}} {{use New Zealand English|date=March 2020}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}} {{Infobox person | name = Emmett Skilton | image = Emmett Skilton on RealTVfilms.jpg | alt = <!-- descriptive text for use by speech synthesis (text-to-speech) software --> | caption = Skilton in 2018 | birth_name = <!-- only use if different from name --> | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1987|09|23}} | birth_place = [[Wellington]], New Zealand | other_names = Emmett Couling Skilton | occupation = Actor | years_active = 2005–present | height = 6 ft 3 in | partner = [[Holly Shervey]] (2014–present)<ref name="Harvey 22 Nov 2018">{{cite news|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/tv-radio/tv-guide/108740836/shortland-street-actor-thankful-for-boring-life-after-dramatic-role|title=Shortland Street actor Holly Shervey thankful for 'boring life' after dramatic role|date=22 November 2018|publisher=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |first=Kerry|last=Harvey}}</ref> | children = 1 | website = {{URL|emmettskilton.com|www.emmettskilton.com}} }} '''Emmett Skilton''' (born 23 September 1987) is a New Zealand actor and director.
He played the lead character, [[Odin|Axl Johnson]], in the comedy-drama, [[The Almighty Johnsons]], and most recently had roles in [[Avatar: The Way of Water]] and American comedy series [[Young Rock]],<ref>{{cite news |title=Kiwi actors love being part of The Rock's younger years |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/spy-kiwi-actors-love-being-part-of-the-rocks-younger-years/YMQ52Q3KOXPJF52RI6HHAVWHAM/ |agency=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date=31 January 2021}}</ref> portraying Dwayne Johnson's real-life college football coach, [[Ed Orgeron]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Barrasso |first1=Justin |title='Young Rock' Dives Deep into Dwayne Johnson's Football Career at Miami |url=https://www.si.com/extra-mustard/2021/02/16/nbc-young-rock-dwayne-johnson-miami-hurricanes-football |website=Sports Illustrated |publisher=Sports Illustrated |access-date=16 February 2021}}</ref>
== Early life == Emmett was born in Wellington, New Zealand. He grew up in [[Titahi Bay]] and attended [[Mana College]],<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dallas |first1=Matthew |title=Playing god a hectic but rewarding job |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/local-papers/kapi-mana-news/entertainment/6601961/Playing-god-a-hectic-but-rewarding-job |agency=Dominion Post |publisher=Kapi Mana |date=20 March 2012 }}</ref> all in his home town of Titahi Bay. Emmett performed in the New Zealand Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival every year that he was at Mana College, and one year directed ''A Midsummer Night's Dream''.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Emmett Skilton (SGCNZ NSSP 2005) :: Shakespeare Globe Centre NZ |url=http://www.sgcnz.org.nz/2016/03/emmett-skilton |access-date=2022-10-20 |website=www.sgcnz.org.nz}}</ref> In 2005 he was selected to attend the New Zealand Schools Shakespeare Production.<ref name=":0" />
During high school, Emmett performed with improvisation troupe, Joe Improv, at Wellington's Capital E. New Zealand director [[Danny Mulheron]] saw Emmett perform and asked him to audition for the role of Willem in [[Seven Periods with Mr Gormsby]]. The following year he toured New Zealand and Sydney with the acting company The Ugly Shakespeare Company,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dekker |first1=Diana |title=Sky's the limit for Emmett |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/culture/television/7903250/Skys-the-limit-for-Emmett |agency=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |work=Dominion Post|date=4 November 2012}}</ref> before attending [[Toi Whakaari|Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Past Graduates 2009 |url=https://www.toiwhakaari.ac.nz/graduate |website=Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School |publisher=Toi Whakaari}}</ref> in 2007.
== Career ==
=== Film and television === While studying at Toi Whakaari, Emmett starred in the feature film [http://www.HomeByChristmas.com Home By Christmas], based on Gaylene Preston's family during WW2. He graduated at the end of 2009 with a Bachelor of Performing Arts in Acting<ref>{{Cite web|title=Graduate|url=https://www.toiwhakaari.ac.nz/graduate|access-date=2021-08-09|website=toiwhakaari.ac.nz}}</ref> and began starring as Axl Johnson in [[The Almighty Johnsons]] from 2010.
Emmett played real-life figures [[Sam Giancana]] in US series [[The Making of the Mob: Chicago]] in 2016 and Victor Lownes in [[American Playboy: The Hugh Hefner Story]] in 2017. He had a role, currently undefined, in James Cameron's [[Avatar: The Way of Water]], [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10505762/reference The Sounds], New Zealand and Canadian co-production, [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13055752/reference Together Forever Tea], Amazon Prime's [[American Playboy: The Hugh Hefner Story]],.<ref>{{cite web |title=TV Shows Starring Emmett Skilton |url=https://next-episode.net/person/emmett-skilton |website=Next Episode |date=18 April 2018}}</ref>
Emmett recently starred in [[NBC]]'s new single-camera comedy series, Young Rock, based on the life of [[Dwayne Johnson]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Elber |first1=Lynn |title=Dwayne Johnson's 'surreal' look back in TV's "Young Rock" |url=https://apnews.com/article/dwayne-johnson-b5f7d43ba574706ac641cf6e68b50dcb |agency=Associated Press |access-date=13 February 2021}}</ref> Emmett portrays Johnson's former position coach at the [[University of Miami]], former [[LSU]] head coach, [[Ed Orgeron]].
=== Directing === From 2015 to 2017, Emmett produced and directed the comedy web series [http://auckwardloveseries.com Auckward Love]<ref>{{cite news |title=Twelve Questions With Emmett Skilton |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/twelve-questions-with-emmett-skilton/HWXJ7YVOYK6DQ2C2ZR5STJCSOU/ |agency=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date=18 October 2016}}</ref> which centres around a young heartbroken girl in Auckland, New Zealand, in her quest to find love again from her not-so-useful best friends. He also directed the award-winning<ref>{{cite web |title=Millennial Jenny awards |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9894170/awards |publisher=IMDb}}</ref> comedy series, [https://www.instagram.com/millennialjenny/ Millennial Jenny],<ref>{{cite news |title=Emmett Skilton and Holly Shervey's creative bubble |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/emmett-skilton-and-holly-sherveys-creative-bubble/QXAKXM6L436PFB7KZ6ZKQ4V23E/ |agency=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date=12 April 2020}}</ref> exclusively for Instagram TV in 2019 to present. Emmett co-directed Stan Harrington's Australian series, [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7566726/reference Legends], released in 2019.
He is a screen tutor<ref>{{cite web |title=The Program |url=https://www.theactorsprogram.co.nz/the-program-1 |website=theactorsprogram.co.nz |publisher=The Actors Program}}</ref> at leading drama school The Actors Program and directed their 2017 and 2018 graduation films, Ripple and 13 Suspects, the latter written by [[The Almighty Johnsons]] co-creator [[Rachel Lang]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Alumni Films |url=https://www.theactorsprogram.co.nz/student-films |website=theactorsprogram |publisher=The Actors' Program}}</ref>
Most recently, Emmett has directed over 100 episodes of [[Shortland Street]] for TVNZ.
Emmett also directed the 2026 comedy television series [[Crackhead (TV series)|''Crackhead'']], which was created and written by his wife [[Holly Shervey]], who also played the protagonist Frankie Jones. The series was distributed by [[Three (TV channel)|Three]] in mid-March 2026.<ref name="Ward 13 Mar 2026">{{cite web |first=Tara|last=Ward |url=https://thespinoff.co.nz/pop-culture/13-03-2026/review-crackhead-might-just-be-the-best-new-zealand-tv-show-this-year|title=Review: Crackhead might just be the best New Zealand TV show this year|date=13 March 2026|accessdate=13 March 2026|website=[[The Spinoff]]|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20260313001638/https://thespinoff.co.nz/pop-culture/13-03-2026/review-crackhead-might-just-be-the-best-new-zealand-tv-show-this-year |archive-date=13 March 2026|url-status=live}}</ref>
== Filmography == === Film === * ''[[A Mistake (film)|A Mistake]]'' (2024) Alexander Colton * [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13055752/reference Together Forever Tea] (2021) Steve Slater * [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10241378/reference Ablaze] (2020) David Cody * [[Shortland Street]] (2020) Ross Douglas * [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7467436/reference James Patterson's Murder Is Forever] (2018) Det. Derek Mois * [[Wonder (film)|Into The Rainbow]] (2017) Tom Williams * Every Little Thing (2016) Henry Thorougood * Bella (2016) Connor Gregor * The Last Train (2015) Louis * [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2363444/ We Feel Fine] (2012) Roger * Packed (2011) Darth Vader * Shopping for One (2010) Dave * [http://www.HomeByChristmas.com Home By Christmas] (2009) Tiny
=== Television === * [[Young Rock]] (2021) [[Ed Orgeron|Coach Orgeron]] * [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10505762/reference The Sounds] (2020) Brendan * [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11040424/reference Kino Ratten] (2019) Officer Armand * [[Power Rangers Beast Morphers]] (2019) Jax * [[Power Rangers Ninja Steel|Power Rangers Super Ninja Steel]] (2018) Dreadwolf and Stabberous * [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6566480/reference Dear Murderer] (2017) Bruce Peterson * [[American Playboy: The Hugh Hefner Story]] (2017) Victor Lownes * [[The Brokenwood Mysteries]] (2017) Dr. Byron Cotter * [[Power Rangers Dino Charge|Power Rangers Dino Super Charge]] (2016) Professor Strickler * [[The Making of the Mob: Chicago]] (2016) [[Sam Giancana]] * [[Jono and Ben at Ten]] (2013) Guy Williams * [[The Almighty Johnsons|The Almighty Johnsons – Series 3]] (2013) Axl Johnson * [http://www.tv3.co.nz/Episode-8-Apr-1/tabid/2603/articleID/76412/Default.aspx Would I Lie To You?] (2012) Himself * [[The Almighty Johnsons|The Almighty Johnsons – Series 2]] (2012) Axl Johnson * Aotearoa Film and Television Awards (2011) Himself * [[The Almighty Johnsons|The Almighty Johnsons – Series 1]] (2011) Axl Johnson * [[Time Trackers]] (2008) Ernest Rutherford * [http://tvnz.co.nz/the-investigator/ta-ent-investigator-index-group-2776946 The Investigator] (2006) Brendan Easton * [[Seven Periods with Mr Gormsby]] (2005) Willem van der Murren
=== Web === * [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt16162890/reference/ D & D Logic] (2022) Barbarian * [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9894170/reference Millennial Jenny] (2018-2023) Producer/Director * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTn4h8FezPo Auckward Love] (2015-2017) Producer/Director * {{YouTube|kHqFIZiPEy4|''Gods Among Us''}} (2013) Axl Johnson
=== Theatre === * [[Between Two Waves]] (2015) Daniel Wells * [[Stones in His Pockets]] (2014) Various * [http://www.theatrescenes.co.nz/review-tribes-silo/ Tribes] (2012) Daniel * [http://www.theatreview.org.nz/reviews/review.php?id=4130 Idiots 3D] (2011) Francis Fox * [http://www.theatreview.org.nz/reviews/review.php?id=5316 Paper Sky: A Love Story] (2011–12) Henry * [http://www.theatreview.org.nz/reviews/review.php?id=3550 Gagarin Way] (2010) Tom
== Awards == * Best Acting Ensemble – [https://nzwebfest.co.nz/nzwf20-winners/ NZ Webfest 2020] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114141626/https://nzwebfest.co.nz/nzwf20-winners/ |date=14 January 2021 }} * Alumni Award – [https://nzwebfest.co.nz/nzwf20-winners/ NZ Webfest 2020] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114141626/https://nzwebfest.co.nz/nzwf20-winners/ |date=14 January 2021 }} * Best Director of a series – [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2595237/awards?ref_=nm_awd Seal Beach Film Festival 2019] * Best Director of an International Web-series – [https://web.archive.org/web/20160621034303/http://www.melbournewebfest.com/2016-nominations/ Melbourne Webfest 2016] * Best Screenplay for an International Web-series – [https://web.archive.org/web/20160621034303/http://www.melbournewebfest.com/2016-nominations/ Melbourne Webfeet 2016] * Nomination for 'Rising Star' Award – [http://www.throng.co.nz/awards/one-week-left-to-vote-in-tv-guide-best-on-the-box-awards TV Guide Best of the Box 2012]{{Dead link|date=December 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}
==Personal life== In 2014, Skilton married actress and writer [[Holly Shervey]].<ref name="Harvey 22 Nov 2018" /> The two have a child who was born in 2026.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Puschmann |first1=Karl |title=Shorty star and new mum Holly Shervey on taking herself to rehab in her black comedy Crackhead |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/the-listener/entertainment/shorty-star-and-new-mum-holly-shervey-on-taking-herself-to-rehab-in-her-black-comedy-crackhead/premium/4KWMIDODHJBBVKI7ALPZ62HQIA/ |access-date=16 March 2026 |work=[[New Zealand Listener]] |date=27 February 2026|url-access=subscription}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * {{IMDb name|2595237}} * [http://johnsonlaird.com/assets/documents/1604/1604_actor_biography.pdf Emmett Skilton] at [http://www.johnsonlaird.com/ Johnson and Laird Management]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Skilton, Emmett}} [[Category:1987 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:New Zealand male film actors]] [[Category:New Zealand male television actors]] [[Category:New Zealand male stage actors]] [[Category:New Zealand male voice actors]] [[Category:People educated at Mana College]] [[Category:People from Porirua]] [[Category:Male actors from Wellington City]] [[Category:Toi Whakaari alumni]]