Rick Springfield was born the son of a Lt. Colonel in the British Army and spent his childhood on various army bases in Australia and Britain. As a teenager he fronted many music bands-such as the "Jordy Boys", "Wakedy Wak" and "Zoot". The latter was his most successful paving his way for his future success as a musician. However, that success was still a long time coming. While he waited for that big break he signed a contract with Universal television which cast him in bit parts in shows such as the "Six Million Dollar Man" and "Rockford Files". As well he also had a recurring role on the soap "The Young and the Restless". In the early 1980's his luck changed as he signed to RCA Records and was then cast as Dr. Noah Drake on the soap "General Hospital". His first album "Working Class Dog" gave him the #1 single "Jessie's Girl". From the music and TV exposure he became a teen idol. He ruled the airwaves for a couple of years, ended his stint on "General Hospital", and attempted a a motion picture career, which fizzled.
General Hospital (1963): $750/week

His wife Barbara Porter was the receptionist at the studio where he recorded "Working Class Dog." Sidelined for the late 1980's-early 1990's through a combination of severe depression, a bad accident in an ATV, and a decision to devote himself to his wife and two sons. He was added to the cast of the syndicated Aaron Spelling drama, Robin's Hoods, in a belated attempt to shore up ratings. He won a Grammy Award for the song "Jessie's Girl" in 1982. His first single released was "Speak to the Sky" in 1972. Throughout the 1970's he was mistaken for Bruce Springsteen because of their similar surnames and musical backgrounds. He was linked romantically with actress Linda Blair in the 1970s. There was quite an age difference at the time he was 25 and she was 15! Nevertheless, he still refers to her as the first love of his life. Had hit song "Speak to the Sky" years before Working Class Dog. Was in the Australian rock band "Zoot" with Beeb Birtles, who later co-founded one of Australia's most successful rock bands, "The Little River Band." Arrested in Malibu for spousal assault and spent the night in jail but was released after he posted $50,000 bail. [18 September 2000] Has 2 sons with Porter. Ranked #12 in TV Guide's list of "TV's 25 Greatest Teen Idols" (23 January 2005 issue). At an auction of memorabilia of items from the liner R.M.S. "Titanic", he purchased the nameplate that had come off one of the ship's lifeboats. He was in the early group version of wickety wak.wickety wak - later Australia's premier showband in the 1980s and 90s. [2006] Became a US citizen, while still maintaining his Australian citizenship.