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Home » News » Hugh Jackman Shows Off Ripped Six-Pack at 55 Years Old

Hugh Jackman Shows Off Ripped Six-Pack at 55 Years Old

Want to get lean like Wolverine but worry you might've missed the boat? Don't. We have good news.

Written by Jake Dickson, NASM-CPT, USAW-L2
Last updated on May 28th, 2025

Lean like Wolverine: At 55 years old, actor Hugh Jackman got back into fighting (and spandex) shape for Deadpool & Wolverine which hit theaters on Jul. 26, 2024 and has since grossed over a billion dollars worldwide.

  • “I am grateful,” said Jackman of the body that has allowed him to perform as one of the most iconic superheroes in comic history for over two decades.
View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Hugh Jackman (@thehughjackman)

[Related: Best Fat Burners for Getting Shredded]

Actor Josh Gad joked with Jackman, saying, “I can’t believe how alike our bodies are,” on social media. Jackman will turn 56 on Oct. 12 and certainly hasn’t lost a step.

Hugh Jackman: Getting Fit After 50

If you want to follow in Jackman’s footsteps but are worried you may have missed the boat, fret not. While high-profile actors are provided the time and resources they need to get into impeccable shape for blockbusters like Deadpool & Wolverine, there’s no such thing as “too late” when it comes to losing fat, building muscle, and improving your health as a whole:

  • In 2018, Fernandes et al. (1) observed no significant differences between men in their 20s and those aged 35-54 regarding the rate of perceived exertion, power output, and velocity loss between sets of squats. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8X3ewUj1gSY

[Related: Best Pre-Workout Supplements for Beginners]

In plain English, your body retains the capability to perform athletically and build muscle well into late middle age. But what about burning fat?

  • A massive2021 study, involving over 6,000 participants from 29 countries concluded that human metabolism does not meaningfully decrease between ages 20 and 60. (2)

The idea that metabolism slows after your 20s is a myth largely perpetuated by changes in physical activity level and eating habits that accompany adulthood. We spend more time at our desks and fewer hours per week performing vigorous exercise, true — but the deck is not stacked against you at a physiological level in most cases.

If you find Jackman’s consistency inspiring (we certainly do), you might want to check out some of these resources from BarBend to ensure you start your journey on the right foot:

  • How To Build Muscle After 40 + Tips From a Bodybuilding PhD
  • Types of Strength Training and How To Get Started
  • Powerlifting Over 40: How To Start, Benefits, and More

References

  1. Fernandes, J.F.T.; Lamb, K.L.; Twist, C. Internal Loads, but Not External Loads and Fatigue, Are Similar in Young and Middle-Aged Resistance-Trained Males during High Volume Squatting Exercise †. J. Funct. Morphol. Kinesiol. 2018, 3, 45.
  2. Pontzer H, Yamada Y, Sagayama H, Ainslie PN, Andersen LF, Anderson LJ, Arab L, Baddou I, Bedu-Addo K, Blaak EE, Blanc S, Bonomi AG, Bouten CVC, Bovet P, Buchowski MS, Butte NF, Camps SG, Close GL, Cooper JA, Cooper R, Das SK, Dugas LR, Ekelund U, Entringer S, Forrester T, Fudge BW, Goris AH, Gurven M, Hambly C, El Hamdouchi A, Hoos MB, Hu S, Joonas N, Joosen AM, Katzmarzyk P, Kempen KP, Kimura M, Kraus WE, Kushner RF, Lambert EV, Leonard WR, Lessan N, Martin C, Medin AC, Meijer EP, Morehen JC, Morton JP, Neuhouser ML, Nicklas TA, Ojiambo RM, Pietiläinen KH, Pitsiladis YP, Plange-Rhule J, Plasqui G, Prentice RL, Rabinovich RA, Racette SB, Raichlen DA, Ravussin E, Reynolds RM, Roberts SB, Schuit AJ, Sjödin AM, Stice E, Urlacher SS, Valenti G, Van Etten LM, Van Mil EA, Wells JCK, Wilson G, Wood BM, Yanovski J, Yoshida T, Zhang X, Murphy-Alford AJ, Loechl C, Luke AH, Rood J, Schoeller DA, Westerterp KR, Wong WW, Speakman JR; IAEA DLW Database Consortium. Daily energy expenditure through the human life course. Science. 2021 Aug 13;373(6556):808-812. doi: 10.1126/science.abe5017. PMID: 34385400; PMCID: PMC8370708.

Featured Image: @thehughjackman / Instagram

About Jake Dickson, NASM-CPT, USAW-L2

Jake is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Wilmington with a B.S. in Exercise Science. He began his career as a weightlifting coach before transitioning into sports media to pursue his interest in journalism.

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