Uncle Jack Charles, actor and revered Victorian Aboriginal elder, dies aged 79
September 13, 2022 12:56 PM Subscribe
He has an amazing face and presence.
posted by GenjiandProust at 1:01 PM on September 13, 2022
posted by GenjiandProust at 1:01 PM on September 13, 2022
"May he be greeted by his Ancestors on his return home."
QFT
posted by chavenet at 1:18 PM on September 13, 2022
QFT
posted by chavenet at 1:18 PM on September 13, 2022
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I am so glad that he discovered where and who he came from. What an extraordinary resilient life. I will miss his regal voice.
posted by Thella at 1:21 PM on September 13, 2022
I am so glad that he discovered where and who he came from. What an extraordinary resilient life. I will miss his regal voice.
posted by Thella at 1:21 PM on September 13, 2022
Note: The family have given permission for his name and image to be used.
posted by zamboni at 1:26 PM on September 13, 2022 [9 favorites]
posted by zamboni at 1:26 PM on September 13, 2022 [9 favorites]
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posted by schyler523 at 1:45 PM on September 13, 2022
posted by schyler523 at 1:45 PM on September 13, 2022
"Before he passed away, his family were able to send him off on Country during a smoking ceremony at the Royal Melbourne Hospital," the statement said.
There is much further to go, but it gives me comfort that we have come this far.
posted by Thella at 1:59 PM on September 13, 2022 [5 favorites]
There is much further to go, but it gives me comfort that we have come this far.
posted by Thella at 1:59 PM on September 13, 2022 [5 favorites]
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posted by Silvery Fish at 2:04 PM on September 13, 2022
posted by Silvery Fish at 2:04 PM on September 13, 2022
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posted by JoeXIII007 at 2:43 PM on September 13, 2022
posted by JoeXIII007 at 2:43 PM on September 13, 2022
Uncle Jack, David Gulpilil, and Archie Roach all within the last year. The elders have gone to dreamtime together.
posted by 3.2.3 at 3:49 PM on September 13, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by 3.2.3 at 3:49 PM on September 13, 2022 [2 favorites]
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This one hit hard. He was a treasure. Not a national treasure -- we don't get to claim that, not after the way this nation treated him. But he was a treasure.
posted by davidwitteveen at 4:23 PM on September 13, 2022 [3 favorites]
This one hit hard. He was a treasure. Not a national treasure -- we don't get to claim that, not after the way this nation treated him. But he was a treasure.
posted by davidwitteveen at 4:23 PM on September 13, 2022 [3 favorites]
I wasn't aware of him, any movie recommendations to get to know his work?
posted by Tom-B at 4:54 PM on September 13, 2022
posted by Tom-B at 4:54 PM on September 13, 2022
Tom-B, he did a lot more theatre than he did filmed work.
I saw him in Sydney in Coranderrk, a play based on reenacting an inquiry (and based directly on 19thC primary source material). He was amazing, as was the material.
posted by Fiasco da Gama at 6:18 PM on September 13, 2022 [2 favorites]
I saw him in Sydney in Coranderrk, a play based on reenacting an inquiry (and based directly on 19thC primary source material). He was amazing, as was the material.
posted by Fiasco da Gama at 6:18 PM on September 13, 2022 [2 favorites]
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posted by sourcequench at 6:56 PM on September 13, 2022
posted by sourcequench at 6:56 PM on September 13, 2022
Uncle Jack Charles: not true blue, true blak - Uncle Jack in conversation with Richard Fidler, August 2019 (ABC Radio podcast, 1hr)
posted by flabdablet at 9:35 PM on September 13, 2022
posted by flabdablet at 9:35 PM on September 13, 2022
Such a loss.
I hope we put his face on our money, a true Australian king.
posted by honey-barbara at 2:51 AM on September 14, 2022 [3 favorites]
I hope we put his face on our money, a true Australian king.
posted by honey-barbara at 2:51 AM on September 14, 2022 [3 favorites]
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posted by harriet vane at 3:33 AM on September 14, 2022
posted by harriet vane at 3:33 AM on September 14, 2022
Given that I work in theatre in Melbourne, I'm actually surprised that I only met Uncle Jack once. I was on my way to teach a class in a room down the corridor from the one Ilbijerri were rehearsing Black Tie, and Jack was sitting like the king he was in a ratty old armchair that someone had clearly dug out of the scenic shop. "G'day, young fella," he says, "you look like you're in a hurry!" (I was, I had 15 minutes before the students arrived and I had to set up).
"My name's Jack, what's yours?"
I told him.
"And what do you do?"
"I teach sound here, Uncle."
"Oh, I reckon the crew are pretty bloody important, there, fella - look at me, got me armchair, nice cuppa tea, one of the girls is getting me a biscuit, and then I'll get to work , eh? It's a good mob in there, I'll tell ya ... "
And over the next half hour or so, I was absolutely spellbound as an actual legend span yarn after yarn about blak theatre, war stories from touring, prison, drink, mission schools, being a street kid in Richmond, all over a nice cuppa tea. I was late for my own class, but I didn't care. Aside from his natural brilliance as a storyteller, there was something beyond charisma - a solidity and realness that was almost like the pull of gravity. I've never met anyone quite like him - and certainly no other actor!
Rest in power, Jack. Every minute you gave me that day was an honour.
posted by prismatic7 at 4:28 AM on September 14, 2022 [19 favorites]
"My name's Jack, what's yours?"
I told him.
"And what do you do?"
"I teach sound here, Uncle."
"Oh, I reckon the crew are pretty bloody important, there, fella - look at me, got me armchair, nice cuppa tea, one of the girls is getting me a biscuit, and then I'll get to work , eh? It's a good mob in there, I'll tell ya ... "
And over the next half hour or so, I was absolutely spellbound as an actual legend span yarn after yarn about blak theatre, war stories from touring, prison, drink, mission schools, being a street kid in Richmond, all over a nice cuppa tea. I was late for my own class, but I didn't care. Aside from his natural brilliance as a storyteller, there was something beyond charisma - a solidity and realness that was almost like the pull of gravity. I've never met anyone quite like him - and certainly no other actor!
Rest in power, Jack. Every minute you gave me that day was an honour.
posted by prismatic7 at 4:28 AM on September 14, 2022 [19 favorites]
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posted by jim in austin at 10:09 AM on September 14, 2022
posted by jim in austin at 10:09 AM on September 14, 2022
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posted by milkcrateman at 1:57 PM on September 14, 2022
posted by milkcrateman at 1:57 PM on September 14, 2022
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posted by lazaruslong at 12:58 PM on September 13, 2022