Film and television
Sweet's first role was in 1980 low-budget horror film Nightmares (also known as Stage Fright). In the early 1980s, he became recognisable through the ongoing role of Leslie 'Magpie' Maddern in the TV series The Sullivans, for which he won a Logie Award.
In 1984, Sweet had his first starring role as Donald Bradman in the miniseries Bodyline, the story of the 1932–33 Test cricket series between England and Australia, alongside Hugo Weaving.
Early films included a lead role in the 1985 film An Indecent Obsession, based on the novel of the same name by Colleen McCullough, as well as a role in 1987 war film The Lighthorsemen. He also starred in award-winning 1987 miniseries The Great Bookie Robbery, playing the role of Chico White.
From 1990 to 1996, Sweet starred in a leading role in the TV drama series Police Rescue as Sgt. Steve 'Mickey' McClintock. This role led him to win several major television awards, including an AFI Award for Best Lead Actor in a TV Drama (in 1991 and 1992), the Variety Club Heart Award for TV Actor of the Year (1993), and a TV Week Silver Logie Award for Most Popular Actor and Most Outstanding Actor (1994). During this period, Sweet also appeared in 1994 miniseries The Battlers, opposite Jaqueline McKenzie.
Sweet starred in Big Sky, and Dog's Head Bay. He took a continuing role in the police drama series Stingers until the show's conclusion in 2004. Other prominent television roles have included The Circuit, Rain Shadow (both 2007) and police drama Cops L.A.C.. In 2008, he narrated the documentary series Sudden Impact.
From 2012 until 2017, Sweet had a leading role in the drama/comedy House Husbands as Lewis Crabb. Nine Network had considered a potential spin-off centred around Sweet's character, but decided not to go ahead with it.
Sweet's notable film roles have included The Tracker (2002), Alexandra's Project (2003) and Gettin' Square (2003. He also appeared in the acclaimed independent drama film 2:37 (2006), with his son, as well as in a modern-day imagining of Macbeth (2006), alongside Sam Worthington.
Internationally, Sweet appeared in 2010 American studio film The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader as Lord Drinian. He also featured in 2010 war miniseries The Pacific.
Sweet was a contestant on Season 5 of competition series Dancing with the Stars and made it to the final seven. His partner was dancer Eliza Campagna.
On 29 October 2024, Sweet was named as part of the cast in the feature film Scoby. In June 2025, Sweet wrapped a six-week guest stint in Neighbours, which went to air later in the year, before the serial ended. He branded it "a bucket list moment".
In January 2026, Sweet participated as a contestant on the twelfth season of reality competition series I’m a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!, hosted by Robert Irwin and Julia Morris.
