Rhys Muldoon was born on October 17, in Newcastle, Australia. Both of his parents were in the RAAF (airforce) and he lived in various locations, including Malaysia. He grew up in Scullin, Canberra, ACT. It was at Scullin Primary where he was first cast as Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser in The Monster That Ate Canberra. He later attended university at UNE, then at the Victorian College of the Arts. He has worked extensively in theatre, film, television and radio. Muldoon has also written for various publications, including The Monthly, The Spectator, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, Jewish News, and Inside Football. His essay "A Coup by Any Other Name" for The Monthly was named "an essay of the year".