Quintessential Australian actor, Bill Hunter, who was an honorary member of the
ACS Queensland Branch, passed away over the weekend at the age of 71. The screen legend passed away surrounded by family and friends at a Melbourne hospice after a battle with cancer. A true stalwart of the Australian film industry, his 100-plus movie and television credits read like a potted history of home-grown film and television.
Prime Minister, Julia Gillard said this about Bill; ”Mr. Hunter played a key role
as an acclaimed actor in helping to define Australian culture over five decades
on screen and on stage. He told us Australian stories in an Australian voice at
a time when we were debating and developing our sense of national identity.”
Bill was a great actor and a much respected friend of all cinematographers who he came into contact with. He was intuitive and always “delivered”. I worked with Bill on many occasions and shared the odd yarn and a cold one, sometimes a rum, with him whenever time allowed. He was a larger than life character who always gave 100% of himself. Our industry is much, much poorer for his passing.
Ron Johanson ACS
National President
