Hollywood star in Melbourne-only theatre coup

He’s known worldwide for blockbuster films and roles in TV hits Without A Trace and Frasier, now Aussie actor Anthony LaPaglia is heading to Melbourne to star in a famous play.

Anthony La Paglia will star in the classic Arthur Miller play Death Of A Salesman. Picture: Supplied

Hollywood star Anthony LaPaglia will perform in the classic play Death Of A Salesman at Her Majesty’s Theatre in September.

It will mark the Australian actor’s first time on stage, on home soil, in a major production. The famous Arthur Miller play, directed by Neil Armfield directing, will be staged in Melbourne only.

LaPaglia, an Emmy, Golden Globe and Tony Award winner, will play salesman Willy Loman in Miller’s work about the pursuit of success, crushed dreams, expectation, and delusion.

“I’m scared to death,” LaPaglia said with a laugh about coming home to play one of the most famous characters in theatre.

He said Loman’s flair and flaws resonate n the modern world.

“Willy finds it important to be well liked,” LaPaglia said.

“I have a 20-year-old daughter, and I’ve grown up watching her deal with social media. This whole concept of wanting to be well liked is alive and well, and it doesn’t matter what you’re well liked for. There doesn’t have to be any substance behind it.”

La Paglia in costume as the show's lead character, Willy Loman. Picture: Supplied

LaPaglia in the TV drama Without A Trace. Picture: Supplied

LaPaglia’s film credits include Dead Heat, Lantana, Balibo and Nitram.

But he is known worldwide for his roles on the long-running US TV drama Without A Trace and beloved sitcom Frasier.

LaPaglia famously left Australia to chase his Hollywood dream without formal training or showbiz credits.

“I didn’t know what the f--- I was doing,” he said.

“It took me eight years to start making a living out of it, and I didn’t think once during that period that I was having a bad time. Not once. I just thought, ‘OK this is the journey, just go — and I never stopped.”

Tickets for Death Of A Salesman are available through Ticketek from Thursday.