He’s one of Australia’s most recognisable media personalities thanks to his role on Home and Away.
And it seemed Axle Whithead was following in the footsteps of stars Margot Robbie Chris Hemsworth when he left the soap in 2013 for the bright lights of Hollywood.
But despite initially finding success in TV, the acting jobs soon dried up and Axle ‘ran out of money’, forced to find work in a dive bar, The Daily Telegraph reported on Sunday.
‘I was back working for eight bucks an hour’: Axle Whitehead reveals he ‘ran out of money’ while pursuing acting career in Hollywood and was forced to work in a dive bar
Axle has returned to Australia and to host upcoming new Channel Seven game show The Wall.
The actor had initially found success in Hollywood, scoring a sought after role on Shameless.
But after scoring those lucrative parts other job offers didn’t materialise, forcing Axle to seek work in a Los Angeles dive bar just to ‘survive’.
Soap star: Axle previously starred on Home and Away from 2009 to 2013
Back in Oz: Axle has returned to Australia and to host upcoming new Channel Seven game show The Wall
‘I was back working for eight bucks an hour and tips. it had been a long time since I’d worked for eight bucks,’ Axle said.
‘If any actor thinks they are going to arrive in LA and just make it happen they will be sorely mistaken.’
He was later financially rescued by a role in Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D, and has returned to Australia temporarily for his forthcoming game show host gig.
Actor to game show host: He was later financially rescued by a role in Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D, and has returned to Australia for his forthcoming game show host gig
Axle said his time struggling in Hollywood has made him humble and was ‘character building’.
‘Now every time I get a job I think of those dark days when you’re counting pennies and thinking about how you can fill your car full of gas just so you can get to the next audition or afford to get a meal or a beer,’ he said.
Axle first rose to fame as a contestant on the 2003 season of Australian Idol, going on to host Video Hits and star on Home and Away from 2009 to 2013.
‘Now every time I get a job I think of those dark days’: Axle said his time struggling in Hollywood has made him humble and was ‘character building’