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Johnny Ruffo

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John Ruffo
Born (1988-03-08) 8 March 1988 (age 38)
Balcatta, Perth, Australia
Died10 November 2023(2023-11-10) (aged 35)
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter, instrumentalist, dancer, actor, TV host
Years active2011–2023
Known forThe X Factor Australia (season 3), Dancing with the Stars Australia (season 12), Home and Away (Chris Harrington)

John Patrick Ruffo (8 March 1988 – 10 November 2023) was a multifaceted Australian artist known for his work as a singer, songwriter, instrumentalist, dancer, actor, and TV host. He rose to national recognition after securing third place in the third season of The X Factor Australia. His initial single, "On Top" (2012), reached number fourteen on the ARIA Singles Chart and achieved platinum status. The follow-up single, "Take It Home" (2012), climbed to number thirty in Australia and was certified gold. Over his career, he released a total of seven singles.

In addition to his music career, Ruffo ventured into reality television, ultimately winning the twelfth season of Dancing with the Stars Australia. He made his acting debut in 2013 on the soap opera Home and Away, portraying Chris Harrington until 2016, a role that earned him a Logie nomination.

Early life

Born on 8 March 1988 in Balcatta, a suburb of Perth, John Patrick Ruffo was the son of Jill and Pascoe Ruffo. After his parents separated when he was three years old, he spent much of his childhood living with his mother in public housing. Motivated by Michael Jackson’s influence, he began developing musical skills at age 12 by teaching himself guitar and piano and composed his first song at 14. Ruffo attended Balcatta Senior High School and worked as a concreter prior to auditioning for The X Factor, drawing inspiration from his father’s trade background. He also performed locally with the electropop group Supanova.

2011: The X Factor Australia

In 2011, Ruffo auditioned for the third season of The X Factor Australia, singing Jay Sean's "Do You Remember." Under the mentorship of Guy Sebastian, he progressed through to the live performance rounds and ultimately finished as the last contestant eliminated before the finale, which was won by Reece Mastin.

Throughout the competition, Ruffo showcased a diverse range of musical styles including party tracks, rock anthems, Australian classics, and dance numbers. His song selections demonstrated versatility with performances of hits originally by Maroon 5, Justin Timberlake, Delta Goodrem, and Michael Jackson. Despite twice landing in the bottom two contestants, he retained strong viewer support up until his exit in the final stages.


2011–2014: Major label contract, Dancing with the Stars participation, and Home and Away role

Following his time on The X Factor, Ruffo revealed on 30 November 2011 that he had secured a recording contract with a prominent label, later identified as Sony Music Australia. He recorded multiple tracks in Perth, focusing on pop and R&B genres, which included a duet with his mentor Guy Sebastian. In December 2011, Ruffo co-hosted Nova FM's Nova's Fresh Hits and performed at the Optus Celebrity Carols charity event held at the Melbourne State Library.

In January 2012, Ruffo traveled to New York City to begin work on his debut album and also supported Reece Mastin during his national tour. By April, he was competing in the twelfth season of Dancing with the Stars, partnered with professional dancer Luda Kroitor, and subsequently supported One Direction on their Australian tour. Additionally, he was named runner-up in Cleo magazine’s 2012 Bachelor of the Year competition. In May, Ruffo opened for New Kids on the Block and Backstreet Boys during the Australian leg of the NKOTBSB Tour.

His debut single "On Top" was released on 15 June 2012; it reached number 14 on the ARIA Charts and earned platinum certification for shipping 70,000 units. On 17 June 2012, he won Dancing with the Stars, donating his prize money to Youth Off The Streets. In September, Ruffo hosted The X Stream, a live digital broadcast tied to season four of The X Factor. His follow-up single "Take It Home" was released in October, peaking at number 30 on the ARIA Singles Chart.

Ruffo made his acting debut in April 2013 on the Australian soap opera Home and Away, portraying Chris Harrington; what began as a 16-episode contract was later extended. His third single "Untouchable" came out in July 2013 and entered the ARIA Singles Chart at number 39.

2015–2016: Independent releases: "She Got That O" and "White Christmas"

In May 2015, Ruffo independently released his fourth single titled "She Got That O," which did not enter the charts. On 11 December 2015, he issued a cover version of "White Christmas." Channel 7 announced on 27 April 2016 that Ruffo would be leaving Home and Away to explore new ventures; his final appearance aired on 22 September 2016. On 10 May 2016, it was confirmed that he would feature in Channel Nine’s miniseries House of Bond, filmed across Perth and Sydney, which premiered on 24 and 25 April 2017.

2017–2023: Brain tumour diagnosis, "Broken Glass", and "Let's Get Lost"

On 10 August 2017, Ruffo disclosed undergoing surgery to remove a brain tumour, later confirmed as brain cancer necessitating intensive treatment. By May 2019, he announced he was "currently clear of cancer." In June that year, he released "Broken Glass," marking his first single in four years; he described it as an intimate and heartfelt track reflecting challenges beyond his cancer battle. In 2020, Ruffo took on a recurring role as prison guard Owen Campbell in the television series Neighbours.

In November 2020, Ruffo revealed that his brain cancer had recurred. By June 2021, he indicated the illness was "now stable" and released the single "Let's Get Lost," inspired by a wish to momentarily escape the difficulties associated with treatment. In August 2022, he published his autobiography titled No Finish Line.

Personal life, illness, and death

In 2017, Ruffo received an initial diagnosis of brain cancer, which entered remission following medical intervention. However, in 2020, he disclosed that the cancer had reemerged. By August 2022, he announced that the illness was terminal and shared his hope to survive until Christmas. Ruffo passed away on 10 November 2023 at the age of 35.

Influences

Ruffo acknowledged Michael Jackson, Usher, and Justin Timberlake as significant inspirations in his musical journey, shaping his distinctive combination of vocal performance and dance.

Tours

Supporting act

  • Reece Mastin's Australian Tour (2012)
  • One Direction's Australian segment of the Up All Night Tour (2012)
  • New Kids on the Block and Backstreet Boys' Australian portion of the NKOTBSB Tour (2012)

Singles

Selected singles with chart rankings and certifications
Title Year Highest chart position Certifications
AUS
"On Top" 2012 14
"Take It Home" 30
  • ARIA: Gold
"Untouchable" 2013 39
"She Got That O" 2015 —
"White Christmas" —
"Broken Glass" 2019 —[upper-alpha 1]
"Let's Get Lost" 2021 —[upper-alpha 2]

Album appearances

Album contributions list
Title Year Album
"Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" 2012 The Spirit of Christmas 2012

Music videos

Catalog of music videos
Title Year Director(s)
"On Top" 2012
"Take It Home"
"Untouchable" 2013
"She Got That O" 2015
"Broken Glass" 2019 Michael Tan

Filmography

Television appearances
Year Title Role Notes Ref
2011 The X Factor Himself; contestant Season 3
2012 Better Homes and Gardens Himself; guest appearance Single episode
The Price Is Right Himself; celebrity contestant Single episode
Dancing with the Stars Himself; celebrity competitor Season 12
The X Stream Himself; presenter
2013–2016 Home and Away Chris Harrington Recurring role during Seasons 26–29
2013 Slide Show Himself; celebrity contestant Single episode
2014 Beauty and the Geek Australia Himself; guest participant Season 6, episode 7
2015 Better Homes and Gardens Himself; guest appearance Single episode
2017 Studio 10 Himself; guest Single episode
2017 House of Bond Dave King Two episodes
2020 Neighbours Owen Campbell Six episodes

Awards and nominations

Year Category Award Title Outcome
2013 Poprepublic.tv Awards Favourite Male Artist from Australia Template:Nom
2014 Logie Awards Most Popular New Talent for Home and Away Template:Nom

External links


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