David Gulpilil

David Gulpilil was an Indigenous Australian actor and dancer who was known for his roles in films that showcased the Aboriginal culture and history. He was born in Marwuyu, a remote area of Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory, where he lived a traditional lifestyle as a hunter, tracker, and ceremonial dancer. He was a member of the Mandhalpuyngu clan of the Yolngu people and his totemic animal was the kingfisher. He was discovered by British filmmaker Nicolas Roeg, who cast him as a lead character in his film Walkabout (1971), which was about two white children who get lost in the Australian outback and are helped by an Aboriginal boy. This was the first time that an Aboriginal actor played a major role in a film and also the first time that an Aboriginal character was portrayed as sexually attractive. The film was a critical success and launched Gulpilil's international career.¹² He went on to star in many other films that featured Indigenous Australian themes, such as Storm Boy (1976), The Last Wave (1977), Crocodile Dundee (1986), The Tracker (2002), Rabbit-Proof Fence (2002), The Proposition (2005), Ten Canoes (2006), Australia (2008), and Charlie's Country (2014). He also appeared in some mainstream Hollywood films, such as Dark Age (1987) and Until the End of the World (1991). He won several awards for his acting, including the AFI Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for Charlie's Country in 2014.¹² Besides acting, Gulpilil was also a skilled dancer, musician, painter, storyteller, and cultural ambassador. He performed traditional dances at various festivals and events around the world. He also taught Aboriginal culture and language to children and adults. He published two books: Gulpilil: Stories of the Dreamtime (1997) and Walkabout to Hollywood: The Amazing Life Story of David Gulpilil (2016). He also created artworks that reflected his connection to his land and culture.¹² Gulpilil had a turbulent personal life that involved struggles with alcoholism, drug addiction, domestic violence, imprisonment, and illness. He was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2017 and underwent treatment. He died of a heart attack on 29 November 2021 at his home in Murray Bridge, South Australia. He was 68 years old. His death saddened the film industry and his fans around the world. He was remembered as a visionary, a legend, and an icon of Australian cinema.¹²