‘Crocodile Dundee’ and ‘Walkabout’ actor was 68 – deadline
David Gulpilil, the revered Indigenous Australian actor and dancer, known for his performances in films such as Anti-rabbit fence, Dundee Crocodile, The tracker and Wandering, has died at the age of 68 from a battle with cancer.
Gulpilil’s death was confirmed on Monday in a statement from South Australian Prime Minister Steven Marshall. “It is with deep sadness that I share with the people of South Australia the passing of an iconic artist of a generation who shaped the history of Australian cinema and Aboriginal representation on screen – David Gulpilil Ridjimiraril Dalaithngu (AM), â€he posted on social media.
Gulpilil received mainstream recognition for his performances in the hit comedy Dundee Crocodile (1986) and the drama of Phillip Noyce Anti-rabbit fence (2002), which earned the actor his first Best Actor Award from the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards.
He was also well known for the 2002 feature film The tracker, in which he played the main character, and other collaborations with director Rolf de Heer on the 2006 film ten canoes (2006), filmed in the Indigenous language, and Charlie’s country (2013).
Gulpilil won the Un Certain Regard award for best actor at Cannes as well as a second AACTA award for Charlie’s country, which was kind of a comeback for the actor after spending time in jail for aggravated assault.
The pioneering actor also had memorable supporting roles in Proposal (2005), the romantic epic of Baz Luhrmann Australia (2008), and Australian hit Satellite boy (2012).
Born David Gulpilil Ridjimiraril Dalaithngu in 1953 as a member of the Yolnu people, Gulpilil grew up in a traditional way of life in northern Australia. He was known as a skilled tribal dancer and in 1969 British filmmaker Nicolas Roeg chose the sixteen-year-old stranger to play a key role in his 1971 film. Wandering, catapulting Gulpilil to glory.
He would go on to star in acclaimed films such as Storm boy (1976) and The last wave (1977).
Gulpilil recently reconnected with Another country director Molly Reynolds on a documentary about the actor’s life, My name is Gulpilil. The AACTA-nominated film premiered at the 2021 Adelaide Film Festival.