Darren Coggan (born in Wagga Wagga) is an Australian country music singer-songwriter, and, more recently, an actor.

In 1995 he won the inaugural "Trans Tasman Entertainer Of The Year Award" and went on to win the prestigious "Toyota Star Maker Quest" the following year. Coggan wrote the title track for the “Dead Ringer Band’s” album “Home Fires” which won an ARIA award for “Best Australian Country Release Of The Year, 1996”.

In 1998, Coggan was named "Young Citizen of the Year" in his beloved hometown of Wagga Wagga.

1999 saw Coggan cast as "Richie Cunningham" in the World Premiere Arena Mega Musical “Happy Days” presented by Dainty Consolidated Entertainment, which toured Australia extensively.

In January 2001, Coggan was awarded his first Golden Guitar at the Toyota Country Music Awards of Australia. This same year Coggan hosted Foxtel’s top rating television show "Out & About - The Great Aussie Pub Tour" and made a guest appearance on the award winning Channel 7 drama "All Saints".

Coggan was cast to play the dual role of "Teen Angel" and "Vince Fontaine" in "Grease - The Mega Musical" presented by SEL & Gordon Frost Organisation, which toured Australia in the "Big Top" throughout 2001-2002.

Coggan followed this up with the national “Big Top” tour of "Shout - the musical of the Wild One", presented by Jacobsen Entertainment in which he played several roles including 'Col Joye'.

In recognition of his outstanding achievements, Coggan was awarded the ‘Centenary Medal’ – ‘For Services to Australian Society’ in 2003. This same year, he released his second album, "Balancing Act", for which he was awarded ‘Australian Independent Male Vocalist of the Year’.

He made another two guest appearances on the award winning Channel 7 drama, “All Saints” in 2004/05 and understudied John Farnham as Teen Angel in “Grease - The Arena Spectacular”, presented by SEL & GFO.

Coggan performed the lead role of Cat Stevens to critical acclaim in the highly successful production ‘Moonshadows’ of which he co-created together with Peter Cox.

Subsequently he played the lead role in the world premiere production of John Williamson's musical Quambatook.

He is the father of Olivia Coggan. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.