He’s become a household name for his roles on much-loved Aussie TV shows like Doctor Doctor, Underbelly and McLeod’s Daughters.
But when the cameras aren’t rolling, TV WEEK Gold Logie nominee Rodger Corser is best known simply as dad to his four children.
But Rodger Corser, 47, and his wife Renae Berry‘s road to starting a family was anything but simple.
Just a few months after the showbiz couple started dating, theatre actress Renae was diagnosed with cervical cancer. They were told not only that she would never be able to have children, but that she wasn’t likely to live longer than four years.
Despite doctors advising her to have a hysterectomy, Renae refused as she didn’t want to sacrifice her dream of having children.
“Renae had a doctor tell her he wanted to give her a hysterectomy straight away. And then he basically said her life expectancy might only be four to five years after that,” the TV WEEK Gold Logie nominee told Woman’s Day.
Renae added: “It was a really terrifying experience. Because of the severity of the cancer, the best way to eliminate it from my system was to have a hysterectomy. But there was no way I was just going to cop all of that.”
“For quite a while, it haunted me. I worried that (the cancer) might return. I was told I had four years to live and that did play on my mind,” Renae admitted.
Renae not only beat the cancer, but the couple went on to marry in 2007 and have three children: son Budd, 10, daughter Cilla, eight and son Dustin, five.
In fact, Dustin was a total surprise baby.
“Here I am at 40, not even thinking about it – another baby was completely off the radar – and we end up with this amazing little boy,” Renae revealed shortly after his birth.
However, it took them two years to first fall pregnant, which tragically ended in a miscarriage.
Rodger also has an 18-year-old daughter called Zipporah, whom he shares with his ex-partner, legendary singer Christine Anu.
Rodger and Christine started dating after starring together in the 1998 musical Rent.
Keep scrolling as we take a look inside Rodger Corser’s family album
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Meet the Corsers! Rodger is the proud father to four children – oldest daughter Zipporah (far right), from a previous relationship with Christine Anu, now 18, son Budd (top left), 10, daughter Cilla (centre), eight, and son Dustin, five (bottom left).
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Rodger’s wife, actress Renae Berry, pictured with a young Zipporah, shares an incredibly close bond with her stepdaughter and calls herself a “lucky step mummy” to have her in her life. “You light up the stage and our lives,” Renae has mused of Zipporah.
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And it looks like Zipporah, or Zippy as her family call her, is following after her famous parents’ footsteps.
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“Zipporah goes to a performing arts school and sings like her mum [Christine], so she’ll probably go into the business,” the Doctor Doctor actor told TV WEEK of his eldest child.
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Proud big sister Zipporah couldn’t be a more loving older sister.
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Despite their initial fertility struggles, the couple are now the proud parents to three children together.
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“You know, it’s funny. In our mid-30s we were considering IVF – now I only have to look at Renae and she gets pregnant,” Rodger told New Idea in 2015.
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The proud actor with his oldest son Budd. “You light up our hearts, we love you infinity,” Renae says of her oldest son.
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Shortly after she started dating Rodger, Renae was diagnosed with cervical cancer. They were told not only that she would never be able to have children, but that she wasn’t likely to live longer than four years.
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Miracle baby: The couple thought they were done with having kids, until Renae fell pregnant with her “surprise” third child Dustin.
Renae Berry has a living room dance party with the kids
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Rodger with his two boys.
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“Seriously our universe has been flooded by this kid’s love and effervescence for the last 5 years. Everyday is “the best day ever” in Dusty’s words and as he always says to us “you make me happy” 😁 Happy birthday to our darling baby, we love you infinity and beyond,” proud mum Renae penned this year on her youngest child’s fifth birthday.
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Rodger and Renae’s oldest son Budd.
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Although the spotlight is firmly on Rodger, the star is quick to credit his wife for his achievements. Renae is now a full-time mum to the kids. “I couldn’t do this without her support. When we film Doctor Doctor in Mudgee [in country NSW], I’m often not around to help with the kids at home,” the 47-year-old has admitted of his other half.
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Father-daughter duo: This year, Rodger and oldest child Zipporah teamed up to campaign for Indigenous recognition.
“My eldest daughter Zippy has Torres Strait Islander heritage, so this issue is particularly close to me. Over the years I’ve noticed that Australia has done a lot for multiculturalism – which is amazing – but I believe what’s been lacking is the acknowledgement of Indigenous people, and a melding of cultures,” the Underbelly star told Marie Claire.
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“i’m a singer and a dancer and that’s how I express my culture and connect with it. It’s how my culture has been passed down, and I’m proud of it. But one of the biggest issues we face as a people in racism.I’m a lighter -skinned Indigenous person, so I’ve experienced colourism and prejudice,” the 18-year-old added.
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13 years and four kids later, these two are the real deal.
