Uncle Jack Charles was a beloved Aboriginal Australian actor who starred on stage and in films.
- Died: Tuesday, September 13, 2022. (Who else died on September 13?)
- Details of death: Died after a stroke in Melbourne, Australia at the age of 79.
- We invite you to share condolences for Uncle Jack Charles in our Guest Book.
Inspirational Aboriginal actor
Uncle Jack Charles was one of the Stolen Generations, a cruel policy in Australia where Aboriginal infants were taken from their parents and forced to assimilate into white families. He spent many years in state care where he suffered abuse. He was a drug addict and was in prison at various times which he attributed to his childhood trauma. In 1970, he started his acting career on stage and a year later he was the co-founder of the first Aboriginal theater group in Melbourne. He appeared in the well-known Australian films “The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith” and “Bedevil.” In 2021, he had a role on the comedy series “Preppers.” He was an advocate for Aboriginal people in prison and was an inspiration to many.
Notable Quote
“I’ve been an actor since I was 19, but I lost a lot of work because of white powders and jail time.” “I dearly would’ve loved an Aboriginal elder like me to come and tweak my conscience. “I’ve had the breaks in my life – now I want to make sure other young Indigenous kids get theirs.” – He said in 2019 according to the BBC
Tributes to Uncle Jack Charles
Full Obituary: BBC
