Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster pose at the opening night of “The Music Man” on Broadway at The Winter Garden Theater on February 10, 2022 in New York City. Photo:
Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic
Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster knew each other even before they were cast as partners in The Music Man on Broadway — and before they grew closer in recent years.
The Wolverine actor and Younger actress both gained fame from previous projects prior to their first collaboration in 2020. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, production on The Music Man shut down and was pushed until late 2021, when rehearsals picked back up.
The show opened in February 2022, when Jackman and Foster started on a press run together. The pair also performed at the 2022 Tony Awards, where both were nominated for their leading roles in the hit show.
“The best thing that’s happened out of this whole thing is that I’ve made a new friend, which you never anticipate,” Foster told PEOPLE in May 2022. “We always joke that after 40, you don’t really make new friends! He’s a dream and so kind and talented and is even more generous. He’s pretty fantastic. We’re having a really remarkable time — the whole company.”
Both Foster and Jackman have gone through divorces in recent years. Jackman and his wife of 27 years, Deborra-lee Furness, announced their separation in September 2023, while Foster filed for divorce from her husband, Ted Griffin, in October 2024.
On Jan. 6, Jackman and Foster were photographed enjoying a dinner date, two days after the actor attended one of Foster’s final performances of Once Upon a Mattress.
From their early behind-the-scenes shots to their latest appearances since The Music Man, here are the sweetest photos of Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster’s friendship through the years.
Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster in the dressing room at “Thoroughly Modern Millie” on Broadway in 2003. Jeremy Daniel
The supportive friendship between Jackman and Foster planted its seeds when the Logan actor came to visit Foster backstage at her show, Thoroughly Modern Millie, a role for which she won a Tony in 2002.
In July 2021, Foster posted this throwback photo of the two, nodding to their early days before they took on their new roles as Harold and Marian in The Music Man.
John Tartaglia, Sutton Foster, Hugh Jackman and Christopher Sieber pose backstage at “Shrek” on Broadway at The Broadway Theatre on December 20, 2008 in New York City. Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic
A few years later, Jackman and Foster were photographed backstage yet again. This time, for the Broadway production of Shrek in 2008.
Sutton Foster and Hugh Jackman during the 68th Annual Tony Awards. Heather Wines/CBS/Getty
Jackman and Foster crossed paths again at the 68th Tony Awards in 2014 where Jackman was hosting and Foster was nominated for best lead actress.
The Les Misérables actor opened the ceremony with a performance that had him hopping through the theater. When announcing the nominees for best leading actress in a play, Jackman went up to each women and danced with them — including Foster.
Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster in March 2020. Hugh Jackman Instagram
In March 2019, it was announced that Foster would be joining Jackman in the revival of The Music Man — and she couldn’t wait.
“Talk about charisma. I’m just so excited to be in the room with him and learn from him and work with him and to be able to do this classic musical,” she said during an episode of PEOPLE Now. “I mean I’m so excited and I’m such a fan of his but he’s also the most normal, down-to-earth guy.”
However, the production, which was set to open in October 2020, was indefinitely delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Over a year later, rehearsals resumed for the show. In December 2021, Jackman reflected on when he and Foster had just started practicing before it got shut down.
“On March 10, 2020 @suttonlenore and I took these photos,” he wrote in an Instagram caption, alongside photos of him and Foster smiling for selfies during rehearsal. “We were just starting our first workshop for @musicmanbway. Little did we know what was lurking around the corner … I’m beyond excited to share these photos as we pack up from the rehearsal space and make our way uptown to the great white way at our new home at the #wintergarten.”
Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster. Hugh Jackman Instagram
While the Broadway stars were in the throes of rehearsing for The Music Man, they posted some behind-the-scenes content — including some of their indulgences during breaks.
The pair snapped some cute selfies together and printed out the images to put on cupcakes which they then enjoyed big bites of, Foster showed in an Instagram video.
“How It Started / How It’s Going,” she wrote in the caption. “Mugging on cupcakes. For the whole Music Man fam. ‘Cause, you know, why not?”
Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster perform onstage during the opening night curtain call for “The Music Man” at Winter Garden Theatre on February 10, 2022 in New York City. Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic
The costars were thrilled to finally get their show on the road when it opened in February 2022 — even though they were both intimidated to work with each other at first.
Foster admitted that when she was originally called to do the role, she was told early on that she’d be playing opposite Jackman and was nervous about how she’d compare, she shared on Late Night with Seth Meyers in May 2022.
“Our names were really big on a giant billboard and I was like ‘Oh god, that’s going to cost a lot of money when they have to replace me,’ ” she joked. “I’m like ‘That’s real big, a lot of paint.’ But I was pretty convinced I was going to be fired for several weeks.”
Jackman said he felt similarly anxious about working with Foster, who is a 6-time Tony nominee.
“I saw her do Thoroughly Modern Millie when you were like 4 years old,” he said, turning to Foster. “I’ve watched everything she’s done and it’s amazing. And I’m the guy who in my first show, Beauty and the Beast, it was in my contract that I had to have singing lessons once a week.”
Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster pose as they prepare to mark a milestone food delivery at the celebration of God’s Love We Deliver’s 30 Millionth Meal on April 20, 2022 in New York City. Bruce Glikas/Getty
While the show was running, Jackman and Foster stepped out for a day of charity in New York City when they prepared food for a milestone delivery at the celebration of God’s Love We Deliver’s 30 Millionth Meal.
Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster. Hugh Jackman Instagram
Jackman posted a picture in May 2022 of himself and Foster outside the show, writing, “Marion and Harold 2.0,” in the caption.
The two had a ball being on stage together and in his birthday tribute to Foster two months earlier, Jackman wrote that she was the “best” person to work with.
“Happy birthday to a great friend and the best onstage partner in the world,” he wrote under a picture of them hugging while in character. “@suttonlenore you make the world a better place.”
Sutton Foster and Hugh Jackman at the 75th Annual Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall on June 12, 2022. Jenny Anderson/Getty
The pair reunited on stage again at the 75th Tony Awards in June 2022 where they performed one of their numbers from The Music Man. In a backstage shot, Jackman gave Foster a sweet hug.
“The show is so joyful and I’m having the time of my life playing opposite this guy,” Foster said of Jackman months prior during their Late Night appearance.
ugh Jackman and Sutton Foster pose at 2022 Broadway Barks at Shubert Alley on July 09, 2022 in New York City. Bruce Glikas/WireImage
A month after the Tony Awards, Jackman and Foster came together for a good cause again at the 2022 Broadway Barks at Shubert Alley where they snuggled with some dogs.
In October 2022, Jackman penned a tribute to Foster in Variety’s New Power of New York issue. He wrote about how she embodies the word “power” in everything she does, from her work to philanthropy.
“Power is expressed in the way she takes her rightful place on the stage in whatever role she’s playing, whether it’s herself, in her concerts, Marian Paroo in The Music Man or any of the countless roles she has brought to life, both on stage and on screen,” he wrote.
He continued, “Every night, I witness her ground the show with such heart and truth, but simultaneously allow it to soar — not just because of her talent, but because of the spirit and joy that emanate from her and opens the hearts of everyone in the theater.”
Sutton Foster and Hugh Jackman during the final curtain call for the hit revival of “The Music Man” on Broadway at The Winter Garden Theater on January 15, 2023 in New York City. Bruce Glikas/Getty
Jackman and Foster wrapped up their run of The Music Man with a final performance on Jan. 15, 2023.
“These are the things I will miss the most,” Foster wrote alongside an Instagram Reels video compilation of highlights from the show. “The high fives, the fist bumps, secret handshakes and hugs. All of the little backstage moments. For over 400 shows.”
Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster are spotted out together for the first time as they head to dinner in Los Angeles on Jan. 6 2025. TheImageDirect.com
Two years after wrapping their show — and two days after attending one of Foster’s performances — Foster and Jackman walked hand-in-hand to dinner in Santa Monica, Calif. on Jan. 6.
