It has been more than 30 years since Crocodile Dundee, one of the most iconic Australian movies, hit cinemas in 1986. Here we are taking a look at some of the film’s famous faces and what’s become of them since they were thrust into the limelight three decades ago.
Actor Paul Hogan played the lead role of Michael ‘Crocodile’ Dundee in all of the movies and became a worldwide success with his wonderful performance. The accumulating fame made him land some advertisements and get some roles in other movies and TV shows. But whatever happened to Paul Hogan? What is he doing now?
Firstly, do you know that the actor divorced his first wife and married his co-star Linda KoZlowski in 1990? Sadly, the pair divorced in 2013. Paul has also starred in a range of films, and has his own comedy show. Recently, he starred in That’s Not My Dog! It seems that there’s no stopping of this incredible Australian!
Playing the female lead with Pual Hogan in Crocodile Dundee, little did this actress know that she would have a romantic relationship with Pual Hogan and finally married him. Besides, this classic movie also gave the actress the big break that she needed. She was certainly one of the most iconic pin-ups of the 80s!
Unfortunately, Linda Kozlowski and Pual Hogan’s marriage didn’t stand the test of time. As we mentioned before, the pair split up in 2013. Linda Kozlowski’s career didn’t take off after Crocodile Dundee. In the following years, Linda landed several roles all in unknown movies. She finally gave up acting since she was unhappy with the roles she was offered.
Mark Blum played the three-dimensional bad guy Richard Mason, who was Sue’s boyfriend and her editor. He asked Sue to come back from writing the story about a guy named Crocodile Dundee, but she declined. Although we looked down on Richard, his character was totally necessary to the plot and it did wonders for his acting career.
Mark Blum, now 69-years-old, has had a steady acting career, starring in Coin Heist, Mozart in the Jungle and many Broadway plays like Gus and Al. He also has two films coming out soon. Away from acting, he has become a fitness advocate, advising people to be healthy and happy. He himself has stayed clear of alcohol, smoking, and unhealthy foods.
Partner Wally, the true outback type that John Meillon portrayed, was adored by everybody. Before Wally, John already had a lucrative acting career, starring in TV shows like My Name’s McGooley, What’s Yours? and Rita and Wally. He also had voice acted in multiple radio plays.
The Australian actor reprised his role of Wally in Crocodile Dundee II, which was his last film role, as he sadly died from cirrhosis in 1989. John will be remembered forever for his likable characters and the theatre work that earned him an OBE. He was posthumously awarded the Raymond Longford lifetime achievement award.
The Australian traditional dancer and actor had already found fame for numerous Aboriginal roles before playing Neville Bell in Crocodile Dundee. In 1978, he was even awarded the Member of the Order of Australia for his dedication to the arts and his portrayals of Aboriginal characters.
After Crocodile Dundee, David’s acting career took off and he landed roles in several films such as Charlie’s Country, Rabbit-Proof Fence, and The Tracker and Australia. Unfortunately, his personal life hasn’t gone so well. In 2006, he brandished a machete during a fight. In 2007 he assaulted his wife, breaking her arm, and ended up serving a year in prison.
Actress Maggie Blinco played the role of Ida in the first two Crocodile Dundee films. However, this role was not her big debut on the screen. Before playing Ida, Blinco had starred in such shows and movies as A Country Practice, 1915, and Return to Eden.
After Crocodile Dundee II, Blinco has continued a steady acting career until today. She took roles in movies and shows including Flirting, Doctor Doctor and Cheek to Cheek. In 2017, she starred as the title character in BABA. Blinco also returned to the theater and played the lead role in The Greening of Grace and the play Biddies.
Veteran actor Terry Gill appeared on the movie as the lead kangaroo shooter Duffy. Before this role, Gill was already an established actor in Australia and was mainly type-cast as a police officer. He had recurring characters on shows like Homicide, The Last Outlaw, and Prisoner: Cell Block H.
Gill had a fairly successful career after the Dundee movies and appeared in 71 films including The Flying Doctors and Neighbours. He played Santa in Australia’s annual Carols by Candlelight for 27 consecutive years. He with his wife also ran the Tivoli Theatre Restaurant for several years, hosting lots of well-known performers. Sadly, he passed away at 75 in 2015 after battling lung cancer.
Wrestling fans probably know this Australian actor and pro wrestler known as Crusher in the 80’s. He played Donk in Crocodile Dundee and is best remembered for kissing Paul Hogan’s character. He got the role interestingly because the casting agents phoned his manager to ask for the “ugliest, loud mouthed, mongrel looking wrestlers.”
Rackman reprised his role as Donk for both the movie’s sequels, but Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles was his final acting credit. Afterwards, he opened two gyms in Sydney with a partner, and he himself became a personal trainer in his own gym. Later in 2010, both he and his partner retired.
In Crocodile Dundee, Caitlin Clarke definitely made an impression in our hearts as dippy Simone, a call-girl with wild hair and an animal print dress. But she is most remembered as Valerian in Dragonslayer, which was her big acting debut, and was even nominated for two Oscars.
After Crocodile Dundee, Clarke only had a few more roles in films like Blown Away and The Big Picture. She also portrayed Charlotte Cardoza in the Broadway musical Titanic from 1998 to 1999. Unfortunately, Clarke was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2000 and finally passed away at the age of 52 in 2004. She was last credited for the film Never Again alongside Jeffrey Tambor.
Jere Burns played Arnan Rothman, the infamous villain in Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles that everyone hated. After finishing this role, Burns’ acting career skyrocketed and he starred in numerous hit movies and shows.
Burns has been an A-list actor in Hollywood since Arnan Rothman. He’s been great in a long list of roles from Wynn Duffy in Justified to Chet Atkins in Angie Tribeca. You might recognize him as Kirk Morris in Dear John or Anson Fullerton, the DIA psychiatrist in Burn Notice. Burns also starred on Broadway in Hairspray and After the Night.
Before Crocodile Dundee, Reginald was very much an unknown commodity and had only played unnamed characters in five productions. Luckily, he met his breakthrough role as Gus, who helps get Mick around an unfamiliar city, and saves Mick when he’s assaulted by a gang.
Nowadays, Reginald was most known for his role as the often-annoyed father on the hit TV sitcom Family Matters, which ran for ten years and was a huge success. His more recent roles are on the TV series Ray Donovan and Girl Meets World.
Aida Turturro entered the Crocodile Dundee series in 2001, playing the role of Jean Ferraro in Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles. Though this role wasn’t exactly a big one, it really was a precursor to bigger things, as the film was shot right about when Turturro began her run on The Sopranos.
Aida Turturro played Tony Soprano’s often-annoying, always-neurotic sister, who was a key part of the show. After the show concluded, she has landed roles on series such as Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders.
Gerry Skilton played Nugget O.Cass, one of the few roles that persisted from all three films, even the 2001 sequel. Gerry also reprised the role in a pilot for the show Nugget Gets A Life. Besides, he landed roles in films like Outback and Rough Diamonds.
Unfortunately, after the Crocodile Dundee series, Gerry’s luck seemed to run out, and he hasn’t been able to land another acting role. “I don’t know whether it’s a great or a bad thing, but since completing Dundee I’ve never been able to drop the handle Nugget because people just won’t let me,” he said.
Singer played the memorable role of Con in the Crocodile Dundee, but he didn’t appear in the movie’s sequels. Before the show, Singer was not a very experienced actor and had only appeared in two TV shows, The Story of Johnny O’Keefe and Palace of Dreams, and a film named Bliss.
Sadly, after the Crocodile Dundee became a megahit, Singer’s acting career didn’t exactly take off, though he did appear on TV shows like Water Rats and Crownies. His last role was in the film Charlie’s Country (2013), which also featured fellow Crocodile Dundee star David Gulpilil.
John Snyder appeared about halfway through the movie as a pimp. When Dundee first arrives in New York City, he’s completely shocked by the way people behave and interact with one another. Then he has a run-in with the pimp Snyder portrayed. The role isn’t big, but it does have an impact on the film.
The 1980’s saw John Snyder’s prime. However, he made his biggest impact on the industry by voice acting, instead of by sticking his face in front of a camera. Towards the end of the 1980’s, he focused primarily on voice acting, and voice acted in anime films such as Akira and Battle Royal.
Dutton entered the Crocodile Dundee in the second installment, portraying the street-smart Leroy Brown, a stationery salesman. Dundee initially begins working for Brown, while getting used to life in New York City. When Sue is kidnapped by cartels, Leroy connected to inner city gangs and saved her back safely.
After the Crocodile Dundee 2, Dutton continued to land a number of key roles in major films, including 1992’s Alien 3 and 1993’s Rudy. Throughout the 1990’s and the 2000’s, Dutton has kept active and appeared in the 2008’s hit movie Honeydripper and in 2013’s The Monkey’s Paw.
Susie Essman played a kind-hearted tour guide in Crocodile Dundee 2. This tour guide helps out Mick when he’s at a complete loss as to where he needs to be. Although this role is fairly small in the movie and you might skip over her, Susie still brings her charms to the fullest.
After Crocodile Dundee 2, Susie went on with a very successful comedy career. She performs a unique brand of stand up comedy throughout the country. In 2000, she scored the role of a lifetime – the part of Susie in Larry David’s Curb Your Enthusiasm. Throughout the whole show, she’s one of the biggest reasons for laughing.
Nobody is better to be Miss Mathis in Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles than Kaitlin Hopkins. Sadly, the actress only made it onto the third installment of the series as a minor role, but she did manage to give us a few laughs.
After her role in Crocodile Dundee In Los Angeles, Hopkins continued to land roles in numerous episodes of Star Trek: Deep Space 9, Star Trek: Voyager, and Spin City. Hopkins is more of a stage actor, but she managed to really give us a show while on screen.
Jonathan Banks was a well-traveled actor when he played Milos Drubnik, one of the bad guys in Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles. Before the show, Banks had starred in big films like Airplane!, Gremlins, and the huge megahit comedy Beverly Hills Cop. He actually had been acting since 1974.
Long after he finished the role of Milos Drubnik, Jonathan Banks has went on to be successful in the world of acting. His biggest role after Milos Drubnik in the show has unquestionably been the plain-speaking hitman Mike in Breaking Bad and the subsequent spin-off Better Call Saul.
Many people first saw Ernie Dingo as Charlie in Crocodile Dundee 2. Actually, before the role, Dingo had already made appearances in such films as The Fringe Dwellers and Tudawali. In the late 1980s, Ernie’s career seemed to be building momentum.
Although Ernie Dingo didn’t necessarily seem to rise into stardom after Crocodile Dundee 2, he does have carved out a very nice career in the following years. Apart from appearances in The Great Outdoors, Heartland, and Family Confidential, Dingo has also landed a role as a Vietnam veteran in Dogs of War.
Luis Guzman is a well-known Puerto Rican actor who has a number of big roles to his name over the years. However, when he appeared in Crocodile Dundee 2 as Jose, one of his first high-profile roles, Luis wasn’t as well-known. He had also appeared in Short Eyes and Heartbeat.
Luis Guzman is now not primarily known for his role of Jose in Crocodile Dundee 2. Movies like Boogie Nights solidified his ability to play dramatic roles, and he has since landed roles in dozens of films, TV shows, and other productions. Recently, he’s seen in Narcos, Code Black, and How To Make It In America.
Hechter Ubarry was chosen by the producers and casting director to play the important role of Rico in Crocodile Dundee 2. However, this skilled actor’s career began not in movies, but on Broadway, where he learned to sing, dance, and act. Crocodile Dundee 2 was actually only his second film.
After the show, Hechter went back into the world of Broadway musicals, rather than catapult his film career with the publicity from Crocodile Dundee 2. He made appearances in Chu Chem, West Side Story, and Gone With The Wind.
The actor landed his first film role in Salome and played rather minor roles in the movies Salvador and Wildfire. Crocodile Dundee 2 was certainly the highest profile production he had been in. He’s skilled at playing the “bad guy” in films.
In addition to a successful actor, Juan was also a model working for designers such as Yves Saint-Laurent and Ossie Clark in his younger days. After Crocodile Dundee 2, Juan continued to appear in movies, including Liquid Dreams and the Vin Diesel vehicle A Man Apart. Most notably, he starred in The Collector and El Gallo.
