Alex Papps
Papps in 2015
Born	(1969-02-11)11 February 1969 (age 57) Melbourne, Australia
Occupations	Actor television host writer singer
Years active	1985−present
Known for	Home and Away as Frank Morgan Presenter onPlay School The Flying Doctors The Henderson Kids
Awards	Logie Award for Most Popular New Talent (1988)

Alex Papps (born 11 February 1969) is an Australian actor, television host, writer and singer.

Papps was born inMelbourne in 1969, to Apollo Papps who, though identifying as Greek, was born inCairo, Egypt and a mother of English and Jewish descent. Both his parents were teachers and later amateur theatre directors.^[1] He attended Belgrave Kindergarten, Upwey South Primary School, Tecoma Primary, and Upwey High School. He performed in a number of theatre productions prior to leaving school.^{[citation needed]}

Papps went on to study drama and media atBox Hill College of TAFE in Melbourne.^[2] In 1995, he graduated as an actor from theWestern Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA).^[3] Later in his career, he graduated as a director from theVictorian College of the Arts (VCA) in 2007.^[4]

In 1987, Papps guested in TV serialNeighbours as arsonistGreg Davis.^[2] He went on to secure his first major television role in children's seriesThe Henderson Kids II, which aired onNetwork Ten. He attended an open audition for the show and after a couple of screen tests, he was cast as Vinnie Cerantino, the leader of the Brown Street Boys gang.^[2]

Papps became better known for his role inHome and Away asFrank Morgan.^[5] Frank was the first character to appear on the series, in its 1988 pilot, and the first foster kid taken in by Pippa and Tom.^[6] The following year, he won theLogie Award for Most Popular New Talent.^[3]

From 1987 to 1989, Papps was also co-host of music programThe Factory, alongsideAndrew Daddo,^[4] airing on the ABC on Saturday mornings. He next joined the cast of medical dramaThe Flying Doctors, as the local mechanic, Nick Cardaci, from 1989 to 1990.^[7]

After his agent made several attempts to secure him an audition forABC children's showPlay School,^[8] he began his tenure as a long-time presenter in 2005, alongside formerHome and Away co-starJustine Clarke (who had played his girlfriendRoo Stewart,^[9] and with whom he also later appeared in theABC drama seriesThe Time of Our Lives).

In 2014, Papps released an album of children's songs, calledLet's Put the Beat in Our Feet.^[4][10] which was nominated for anARIA Award.^[11]

In 2017, Papps had a guest role on ABC seriesSeven Types of Ambiguity, playing the role of Robert Henshaw.^[12] The same year, actively on the audition trail, and committed to kick-starting a new phase of his acting career,^[13] Papps made a guest appearance on drama seriesOffspring.^[14] He played the role of Simon, who had a fling with single motherBillie Proudman (Kat Stewart), towards the end of her marriage.

The following year, Papps returned toHome and Away, alongside co-starNicolle Dickson (who played his foster sister and later, wife) to celebrate theHome and Away 30th-anniversary commemoration.^[15]

Papps' other acting credits includeFisk,Ms Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries,Seven Types of Ambiguity andBlue Heelers,^[4]Preacher,Australia On Trial,City Homicide,MDA,Stingers,Prisoner,State Coroner andThe Saddle Club.^[10]

Papps' film credits include playing the role of Peter inAna Kokkinos’ 1998 LGBT romantic drama filmHead On (alongsideAlex Dimitriades) and Anthony inFive Moments of Infidelity^[10] in 2006.

On stage, Papps has performed for theMelbourne Theatre Company in theatre productions ofThis Old Man Comes Rolling Home,Mad Forest, and asRomeo inRomeo and Juliet.^[4] He also performed in several pantomimes in the UK^[10] in the early 1990s, includingSnow White andCinderella.^[16]

Papps is also a director and writer. His directing credits includeAladdin at Assembly Rooms, Royal Tunbridge Wells, UK),Broken for theMelbourne Fringe Festival (2002),Riders to the Sea (2007),The Mercy Seat forRed Stitch Actors Theatre (2008),Randy's Postcards from Purgatory (2009),Sober (2011),Randy's Anticrisis andThe Last Temptation of Randy once again for theMelbourne Fringe Festival (2013).^[10][17]

He has written forHome and Away andPlay School.^[10] He also worked as a dialogue coach on 2009 feature filmBlessed and 2019SBS miniseriesThe Hunting.^[10]

Papps has also taught at several acting institutions inMelbourne.^[10]

In 2013, an arts and craft segment on an episode ofPlay School went viral on social media, when Papps and co-hostRachael Coopes constructed a device that unintentionally resembled a homemadebong.^[18]

• Alex Papps atIMDb
• Interview with Alex Papps

• 1969 births
• Australian male television actors
• Australian people of Greek descent
• Australian people of English descent
• Australian people of Jewish descent
• Australian children's television presenters
• Living people
• Logie Award winners
• Male actors from Melbourne

• Articles with short description
• Short description matches Wikidata
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• Use Australian English from September 2016
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• Articles with unsourced statements from November 2024