Man Goes Viral for Spot-on Hugh Jackman Impressions on TikTok (Exclusive)

The first impression Joey Morof ever nailed wasn’t of a celebrity — it was of his Jewish grandmother.

“Here, have some orange juice! And don’t forget your table manners,” he says, slipping seamlessly into her thick accent.

What started as a family joke soon grew into a lifelong passion, one that would take the Birmingham, MI, native from mimicking his grandma to mastering everyone from SpongeBob and Squidward and countless other voices he picked up along the way.

“I used to impersonate my teachers all the time: elementary school, middle school, high school, even college,” Morof tells PEOPLE exclusively with a laugh. “It was such a fun way to connect with classmates and capture those little phrases that stick in your head.”

Those early impersonations weren’t just fun; they sparked a love for performing that eventually led him to New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, where he could hone his talent on a bigger stage. It was there, in his early college years, that he first began experimenting with celebrity impressions — including one he’d admired for years: Hugh Jackman.

Morof first saw Jackman in 2012 in the film Les Misérables, followed later by The Greatest Showman. Though he admired the Tony winner, 57, he didn’t attempt his impression until college.

“I’d be in the hallway singing Bring Him Home or One Day More just for fun with friends,” he recalls. “It started as a joke, but it stuck with me.”

Though it began as casual fun, Morof’s Jackman impression steadily improved, and it wasn’t long before a real-world stage would reveal its potential. That moment came during a trip to London this past summer. While out to dinner with his boyfriend in June, the two started talking about Les Misérables.

“I just blurted out, ‘One day more!’” Morof recalls, laughing. “My boyfriend was like, ‘Wait — that’s actually really good. Do it again!’ That’s when I realized, maybe I should post this online.”

The next day, fate — and a little humor — stepped in. While walking through the city, Morof spotted a bakery with “Jackman” on the sign, which is perfectly fitting as stealing a loaf of bread is a central part of Jackman’s character’s story in Les Misérables.

“I called it Hugh Jackman’s bakery, so obviously it was meant to be,” he jokes. On a whim, he recorded a quick video doing his impression in front of it.

He later posted it to TikTok, and the video went viral, quickly racking up more than a million views. Soon, he was sharing more clips of his Hugh Jackman impressions, which began pulling in tens of millions more. One video, in particular, has since amassed over 27 million views and 13,000 comments.

“The hardest part… honestly, it’s the Australian accent,” he admits with a laugh. “I feel like I need to work on it so much more. My Australian accent isn’t as polished as his singing voice, but if I can master that and really hone it, I’ll be golden. That’s definitely my weak spot with the Hugh impression.”

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But the unexpected viral success didn’t just bring views; it put Morof on the radar of creators and industry professionals, opening doors he hadn’t imagined. He’s since built a following of nearly 900,000 on TikTok and 124,000 on Instagram, while exploring opportunities in voiceover and comedy.

Morof says people often tell him he has “the gift of a content creator.”

“Honestly, I kind of agree,” he admits with a laugh. “I’m really in it for the love of the game— or, if you will, the love of the bread. I’m not in the creator fund where you get paid per view, because that’s not why I do this. I just love making people laugh. Sure, brand deals are fun and amazing when they happen, but my main goal is to bring joy.”

Even offstage, impressions are never far from Morof’s mind. “I call it the Austin Butler effect,” he says. “Even in the shower, Hugh pops out at least 15% of my day. And sometimes other characters sneak in, but I can always separate it when I need to.”

His repertoire continues to expand, spanning comedy, animation and musical theater. Still, Jackman remains his most popular impression.

When asked if he’s ever heard from the star himself, Morof laughs: “I wish. I was even invited to a pre-screening of his new movie and had all these questions lined up, but scheduling just didn’t work out. I feel like it’ll happen eventually. I’d love to do something with him someday.”

Morof has also built meaningful connections through his work. YouTuber Brittany Broski has mentioned him on her podcast, and other creators he admires have recognized his talent. “Getting validation from people you look up to is incredible,” he says. “It’s surreal to see how far my work has reached, and it motivates me to keep going.”

Today, he’s planning a live solo show in New York, blending comedy with his love for theater, film and television. Broadway and Off-Broadway producers have already expressed interest, and he hopes to make it a recurring dream.

Looking ahead, Morof aims to expand into voice acting and stage and screen work. “I want to do it all — Broadway, feature films, indie projects, comedy, drama,” he says. “Acting has always been my true love, and now I have a platform to share it with the world.”

Through it all, he credits his support system. “My boyfriend, friends, and family are amazing,” he says. “Being able to bring fandoms together and help people bond over my impressions, that’s everything I could ever dream of.”

For now, he’s having fun, experimenting with voices and spreading laughter wherever he can.

“Even in the darkest times,” Morof says, “if I can make someone laugh, even for a moment, that’s everything. That’s why I do it.”