An acting icon best known for his supporting roles across a range of some of the most iconic films and TV shows ever produced in Australia has died aged 74.
Gary Waddell died earlier this week after a short battle with dementia. Waddell’s career on Australian film and TV spanned nearly 50 years and included parts in iconic shows like Blue Heelers, Home and Away, A Country Practice and Rake.
He also appeared in films including Charlie’s Country and Chopper.
“When you’re playing the role of a criminal or a psychopath, you have to make that person a human being,” Waddell told ABC Radio in 2011.
Tributes for the actor are lauding his ability to turn supporting roles into gripping, raw performances.
“Gone but not forgotten! Gary Waddell brought a genuine and very rare street level authenticity to the Australian screen,” French-Australian actor Christian Manon said.
Waddell was nominated for an AACTA Award for best supporting actor for his role in the 2012 feature The King Is Dead! – written and directed by Rolf de Heer. Waddell’s appearances in de Heer’s subsequent films were his final acting exploits.
“He had many unforgettable roles both on the big and small screen,” one person said on a popular Australian film forum.
“Please send condolences on behalf of us all who have worked with Gary and held him in such high regard,” said another well wisher.
“One of the finest actors anywhere, entirely self-taught,” said another.
Family, friends and former colleagues have sung the praises of the “hilarious, beautiful, charming” and “naughty” Victorian, who first appeared on Australian screens as the leading man of edgy 1975 drama Pure Sh*t, in which he played a heroin addict.
Singer-songwriter Lo Carmen said Waddell was a “one-of-a-kind, heart-of-f**king-gold dude”.
“He used to turn up at our place with little cars and books and old cool toys and gifts for our son Dutch, just because he was full of love,” Carmen said.
“We’d stand around talking about books and films and food and nothing and everything and laughing our heads off for the next two hours.
“You’d be in tears of laughter. I don’t know why on earth he wasn’t cast in everything.”
Waddell’s talent managers said he “passed away peacefully” after living with dementia “over the last few years”.
“Gary was one of a kind, a true artist in every sense of the word, and his body of Australian work was so utterly impressive,” they wrote on Facebook.
“The SJM team send their love to Gary’s family at this time. Thanks for everything Gary, you will be missed. We’ve hat a lot of fun over the years.”
Waddell most recently appeared in the 2022 film The Survival of Kindness.