Iconic Aussie TV star shares album of adorable childhood photos – so do you know who it is?

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He’s a comedian known for his daring humor, and he became popular by creating and performing a number of shocking and memorable characters.

This writer and actor, originally from northern Sydney, became popular in the early 2000s with a series of successful TV shows presented as fake documentaries.

With his shows gaining popularity on streaming platforms, he became a focus of discussion during the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020.

His career suffered a setback when Netflix removed four of his shows after a year, because of his appearances in ‘blackface’ characters.

Earlier this year, when he hinted at reviving a popular character – a cheerful, music-loving teacher – the announcement quickly spread online.

Can you guess who it is?

It’s none other than the award-winning Chris Lilley, who turned 51 on Monday. 

I’ve been a huge fan of Chris Lilley for ages, ever since shows like Summer Heights High and Angry Boys first came out. It’s been a while now since he’s been on television, and I’ve really missed his work – he’s been staying out of the spotlight for a few years now.

The comedian, known for his youthful appearance, posted a collection of 20 childhood photos on Instagram to mark his birthday.

‘It’s the BIRTHDAY again!’ Lilley said in the caption.

The award-winning actor shared that they were looking through a birthday book their mother made for them last year and discovered some more special memories.

Lilley reminisced and kindly provided a guide for fans, offering interesting behind-the-scenes stories about each photo.

A cute photo shows a young Chris, likely a toddler, wearing striped pajamas and about to enjoy a tasty-looking dessert.

Another photo shows Lilley’s bedroom in his pre-teen years, snuggling under an ‘Aussie flag’ doona.

A large poster of the famed Muppet Kermit the Frog hangs over his bed.

Lilley also shared a photo of himself as a baby being spoon-fed by his mother.

A different picture features a young Lilley with the same recognizable smile, surrounded by a pile of childhood toys.

He shared that he was always into creative things like music, puppets, animals, and painting, and never had much interest in cars or Lego toys.

The actor, known for his role in We Can Be Heroes, playfully shared a childhood photo of himself using the bathroom outdoors.

He posted a photo flipping off the camera, writing, ‘Starting my rebellious phase. Goodbye to being cute!’

As a lifestyle expert, I noticed a bit of a shake-up on Netflix Australia and New Zealand back in 2021. They actually took down a few popular shows – specifically, Jonah from Tonga, Angry Boys, Summer Heights High, and We Can Be Heroes. It was a surprise to many fans!

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve been following the recent discussions around certain shows, and it’s sparked a really important conversation. Some of the portrayals, specifically the use of blackface and brownface, have understandably raised concerns about racial discrimination and the impact of those depictions. It’s a reminder of how sensitive these issues are and why we need to be mindful of representation in media.

In his show Angry Boys, he played the character of African-American rapper S.mouse and performed a song titled ‘Squashed N’.

For his role as Jonah Takalua, a struggling teenager, the actor used makeup to darken his skin and wore a curly wig to change his appearance.

In We Can Be Heroes, Lilley played Ricky Wong, a Chinese physics student.

In a 2019 interview with The Weekend Australian, comedian Lilley explained that he intentionally avoids following current comedic trends, preferring to stick to his own style.

Honestly, I get him. He’s right! When his characters first appear, you immediately categorize them – you think, ‘Oh, I know this person.’ But then BAM! He throws in this insane twist, something totally unexpected that completely flips everything on its head. It’s brilliant, and that’s why I’m obsessed!

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2025-11-10 03:06