Martin Colin Sacks (born 16 October 1959) is an Australian actor, perhaps best known for his 12-year role on Blue Heelers as P. J. Hasham from 1993 to 2005.

Life and career Sacks was born in Sydney. He got into acting after a bit part in an episode of The Love Boat when it was filming in the Pacific. His first role came about in the series The Restless Years in 1977, which started him on the television circuit in Australia. He emigrated to Hollywood in the 1980s, guest starring in series such as thirtysomething, but preferred Australia, and so he returned there after a few years. Also had guest appearances in: Love in Limbo, Encounters, Irresistible Force, Fields of Fire III, All the Way, Touch the Sun: Princess Kate, Slate, Wyn & Me, Sentiments, Emoh Ruo, Stock Squad and The City's Edge. Also Jake and the Fatman.

Sacks took the role of Detective P.J. Hasham in the 1993 series Blue Heelers. The show rocketed him to fame, most notably his 7-year "will-they-or-won't-they" relationship with Constable Maggie Doyle (Lisa McCune) which ended with her death in the programme's seventh season.

During the time he starred on the show, Sacks married Kate and had two children, Jack and Ned and had leading roles in two major Australian miniseries: Do or Die and My Husband, My Killer (both 2001).

After playing P.J. for twelve years, and being one of only three original cast still on the show in the twelfth season, Sacks left Blue Heelers in August 2005. Sacks asked the producers not to kill his character, so that he could return for a guest spot in the future. He did not get the chance, however: the show was cancelled in early 2006.

Sacks is also a director, having directed episodes of Blue Heelers, All Saints and a short film called Crushed.

Sacks also starred in the 2008 Australian TV hit, Underbelly, portraying underworld loanshark Mario Condello. In 2010, Sacks guest starred in three different shows – City Homicide, Rescue: Special Ops and Sea Patrol. In 2013 he appeared in Wentworth.

In 2025, Sacks was named in the cast for the upcoming Netflix series The Survivors. On 20 November 2025, Sacks was named in the cast for ABC series Dustfall.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role NotesRef 1983 The City's Edge Youth at Party Feature film1985Stock Squad Ric Santana TV movie Emoh RuoDes. Tunkley Feature film 1987Slate, Wyn & MeSlate Jackson Feature film 1988Touch the Sun: Princess KateGreg Mathieson TV movie1993Irresistible ForceBomb Squad Officer Feature film Love in LimboMax Wiseman Feature filmEncountersMartin Carr Feature film 2001My Husband, My KillerAndrew Kalajzich TV movie2011The CupNeil Pinner Feature film This Dog’s Life Father Short film2012Bait 3DTodd Feature film Jack Irish: Black Tide Steve Levesque TV movie Island Chris Short film Rise of the Underdog Bridges Short film Blackbuster Graham Short film2013 Absolute Deception Hank Feature film Cliffy SydTV movie2014 Breath Father Short filmRiseJimmy Cove Feature film 2015 Truth Robert Strong Feature film2016 Hitch The Man Short film Land to Vale Narrator Short film2017 The Kindness of Strangers Man Short filmDon't TellTony Feature film 2018 The Second The Brother Feature film 2019 Ride Like a Girl Owner #2 Feature film2020Sweet RiverJohn Drake Feature film 2021 Buckley's Chance Cooper Feature film 2022 Bosch & Rockit Derek Feature film2025With or Without YouStevo

Television Year Title Role NotesRef1977The Restless YearsAdam LeeTV series1982 Cop Shop Abel (Laurie Myers) TV series. 2 episodes 1982–84A Country PracticeCraig Thompson/PhilbyTV series. 6 episodes1987SentimentsJeff TV series 1988All the WayAlan Scott Miniseries, 3 episodes 1989Fields of Fire IIIRinaldo Miniseries, 3 episodes 1990thirtysomethingAssistant Director TV series, Season 3, episode 22Jake and the FatmanHalsey Reed TV series, Season 4, episode 51993Police RescueLloyd CooperTV series, Season 3, episode 41993–2005Blue HeelersSenior Detective Patrick Joseph "P.J." HashamTV series, 484 episodes 1997 Oz Encounter: UFOs in Australia Host Documentary 1999 Carols in the Domain Host TV special 2001 Do or Die (aka The Rubicon)Jimmy Grattan Miniseries2008UnderbellyMario CondelloTV series, 11 episodesThe StripKeith BoswellTV series, Season 1, episode 52009East of EverythingToby FerraniTV series, Season 2, episode 72010LowdownTony MarinoTV series, Season 1, episode 7City HomicideDaniel WorthingtonTV series, Season 3, episode 22Sea PatrolDerek CavanaughTV series, Season 4, episode 16Rescue Special OpsCharles HowardTV series, Season 2, episode 12OffspringColin SorielTV series, 2 episodes2012The StraitsHoward ReemanMiniseries, 2 episodes2013Reef Doctors David Miniseries, Episode: "Episode #1.9" Air Rescue Narrator TV series, 6 episodes 2014-15Wonderland Callan Beaumont14 episodes2012, 2014RakeRoger Cross TV series, 7 episodes2013–18WentworthDerek Channing TV series, 17 episodes2013–14, 2017A Place to Call Home Itzaak GoldbergTV series, 5 episodes2014The Gods of Wheat StreetBobby BlackmanMiniseries, 3 episodes 2015 The Doctor Blake Mysteries Martin O’Brien TV series, 1 episode 2016Brock Geoff BrockMiniseries, 2 episodes 2017 The Laps Tasmania Narrator Documentary 2018 Sisters Online miniseries 2022Irreverent VictorMiniseries, 3 episodes2024Darby and JoanDoug MalcolmTV series: guest 2025The SurvivorsJulian GilroyTV series2026DustfallTBATV series

Director Year Title Notes2005-2006Blue Heelers4 episodes2006-2008All Saints6 episodes Crushed Short film

Awards Year Award Category Film Result1996Logie AwardMost Popular ActorBlue Heelers19971998199920002001

References

External links