Paul Paddick
Paul Paddick as Captain Feathersword of The Wiggles, 2007
Paul Paddick as Captain Feathersword of The Wiggles, 2007
Background information
Birth namePaul Andrew Paddick
Also known asPaddy
Born (1967-02-16) 16 February 1967 (age 56)
Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
GenresChildren's music
Occupation(s)Singer, actor, dancer
Instrument(s)Vocals, bass
Years active1992–present
Spouse(s)
Charmaine Martin
​
(m. 2004)​

Paul Andrew Paddick (born 16 February 1967) is an Australian singer and actor. He is best known for his portrayal of Captain Feathersword, "the friendly pirate", a character associated with the children's band the Wiggles, where he eventually came to be known as "the fifth Wiggle".

Early life and education

Paddick earned a Bachelor of Music from Adelaide University, studying classical opera for three years.[1]

He also studied drama at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA), at the same time as Hugh Jackman.[1][2][3] He has stated that even during his training as a performer, he "much preferred to be the comic second than the actual lead because it was much more fun and a lot less pressure. You got to get all the laughs and subtly steal part of the show".[4]

Paddick joined the Victoria State Opera's touring group of West Side Story where he played Diesel from 1992–94.[5][6] He also played the Robber King in Don Quixote.[7]

The Wiggles

Paddick met Anthony Field, a founding member of the Wiggles, in 1993. By that time, Paddick had appeared in over fifteen major productions, including Victorian State Opera's Don Quixote and a two-year tour of West Side Story. Field needed a hernia operation, so he asked Paddick to temporarily take over for him; for that tour, he not only stepped in for Field as the Blue Wiggle, Wags the Dog, and Captain Feathersword, he also played Dorothy the Dinosaur, who was performed by Murray Cook, the Red Wiggle. A job that was supposed to end in five weeks resulted in Paddick touring and appearing with the Wiggles full-time since late 1995. He also appears in all of their Australian-produced television programs.[1][4] Paddick has become so closely associated with the band that he is sometimes referred to as the "Fifth Wiggle," a name also given to Phillip Wilcher.[2][8] He also voices Henry the Octopus in tandem with Jeff Fatt, the original purple Wiggle.

Paddick serves as "the adult relief" in The Wiggles' concerts; his vocal impersonations of singers such as Mick Jagger, Cher, Plácido Domingo, and James Hetfield, have been called "the high point of The Wiggles stage show."[1] Field states that Paddick is "as funny offstage as on".[9]

Personal life

Paddick married dancer Charmaine Martin in 2004. Martin was a part of the Wiggles touring company; she played Pirate Charlie, Henry the Octopus, Wags the Dog, and Dorothy the Dinosaur.[1] They have two children.[1][10] Paddick's nickname is "Paddy."[4]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Meacham, Steve (3 December 2005). "The master of sword play". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 10 August 2007.
  2. ^ a b Yeap, Sue (17 August 2006). "The fifth Wiggle sails on". The Age. Retrieved 10 August 2007.
  3. ^ Anthony Field, in his 2012 book How I Got My Wiggle Back (pp. 151), described how an encounter with Jackman, at the height of The Wiggles' success and Paddick's doubt about his role with The Wiggles, encouraged Paddick to remain with the group.
  4. ^ a b c Baughman, Tony (12 November 2007). "Captain Feathersword may steal The Wiggles' show". The Aiken Standard. Archived from the original on 28 January 2012. Retrieved 16 November 2007.
  5. ^ "AusStage".
  6. ^ "AusStage".
  7. ^ "PAUL PADDICK | Kick Dance".
  8. ^ Sams, Christine (1 August 2005). "The Fifth Wiggle speaks out". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 10 August 2007.
  9. ^ Scott McNulty (25 August 2009). The Wiggles: An interview. Retrieved 9 September 2009 – via YouTube.
  10. ^ King, Eloise. "Dad in profile: Paul Paddick". body+soul. Australia.
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