David Gulpilil
Biography
David Gulpilil was an Aboriginal Australian actor and dancer, born in Maningrida in 1953 and raised in Arnhem Land. A skilled traditional dancer, he was spotted by British director Nicolas Roeg, who cast him in Walkabout (1971), his first film role. That internationally acclaimed part made him an instant celebrity. He went on to appear in films such as Storm Boy, The Last Wave (1977), Crocodile Dundee (1986), Rabbit-Proof Fence (2002), The Tracker (2002), Ten Canoes (2006), Australia (2008), and Charlie's Country (2013), for which he shared screenwriting credits with Rolf de Heer. He won AACTA/AFI Best Actor awards for The Tracker and Charlie's Country, and a Best Actor prize at Cannes for Charlie's Country in the Un Certain Regard section. He also narrated Ten Canoes, performed on stage in his autobiographical show Gulpilil, and received the NAIDOC lifetime achievement award in 2019. He died in 2021.
68years old at death
- Born Maningrida
- Died Murray Bridge
- Star sign: CancerThe sign runs June 21 to July 22
- David Gulpilil Ridjimiraril Dalaithngu (birth name)Also credited as David Gulpilil Ridjimiraril and David Dhalatnghu Gulpilil
Movie Career
- Films
- 16
- Career span
- 48 years1971 to 2019
Genres
First and latest
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Big break
Gulpilil was a skilled traditional dancer whose dancing caught the eye of British filmmaker Nicolas Roeg, who cast the 16-year-old unknown in a principal role in Walkabout.
Behind the camera
Gulpilil shared screenwriting credits with De Heer on Charlie's Country, released in 2014. The film earned several awards, among them Best Actor in Un Certain Regard at the Cannes Film Festival.
Own stunts
Gulpilil was perhaps Australia's most renowned traditional dancer. He won the Darwin Australia Day Eisteddfod dance competition four times and put together groups of dancers and musicians who performed at festivals across the country.
Beyond film
In March 2004, Gulpilil appeared at the Adelaide Festival of Arts in a stage show about his own life, Gulpilil, and audiences gave him standing ovations. Reg Cribb helped write it and Neil Armfield directed.
Languages
Gulpilil spoke several Aboriginal languages. He became fluent in English after he appeared in his first film, Walkabout, in 1971.
David Gulpilil movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
Rolf de Heer directed three of these films. Three actors appear in three of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
David Wenham's page
John Jarratt's page
Natasha Wanganeen's page
Bryan Brown's page
John Meillon's page
Rolf de HeerDirector, 3 films, 2002 to 2013
All films by Rolf de Heer
Also two films together11 more actors
- Anthony HayesCargo (2017) and Rabbit-Proof Fence (2002)
- Gary SweetCharlie's Country (2013) and The Tracker (2002)
- Aaron PedersenGoldstone (2016) and Dead Heart (1996)
- Wallas EatonThe Last Wave (1977) and Mad Dog Morgan (1976)
- Damon GameauCharlie's Country (2013) and The Tracker (2002)
- Peter CumminsStorm Boy (1977) and Mad Dog Morgan (1976)
- Steve RodgersGoldstone (2016) and Dead Heart (1996)
- David BracksCrocodile Dundee (1986) and Mad Dog Morgan (1976)
- Ritchie SingerCharlie's Country (2013) and Crocodile Dundee (1986)
- Hedley CullenStorm Boy (1977) and The Last Wave (1977)
- Greg RoweStorm Boy (1977) and The Last Wave (1977)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Box office
What David Gulpilil's films earned in cinemas worldwide.
Combined worldwide box office
$565 million
8 of the 16 films have a worldwide figure.
Of the 16 films: 8 worldwide figure; 2 us gross only; 2 never in cinemas; 4 figure not found.
- 8Worldwide figure
- 2US gross only
- 2Never in cinemas
- 4Figure not found
Highest grossing
The eight biggest films earned 100% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.
- 1$328M58.1% of the total
- 2$212M37.5% of the total
- 3$16M2.9% of the total
- 4$5.0M0.9% of the total
- 5$2.1M0.4% of the total
- 6$658K0.1% of the total
- 7$442K0.1% of the total
- 8$300K0.1% of the total
Awards
Four awards and honors from 1987 to 2014, one of them major.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cannes Film Festival | |||
| 2014 | Best Actor | Charlie's Country | Won |
| Other honors | |||
| 2001 | Centenary Medal | Won | |
| 1987 | Member of the Order of Australia | Won | |
| Red Ochre Award | Won | ||
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.