Jack Charles
Biography
Jack Charles was an Australian actor of stage and screen who helped establish Indigenous theater in Australia. Born in Melbourne in 1943, he started his acting career in 1970 with a role in Athol Fugard's The Blood Knot at Melbourne's New Theatre. In 1971 he co-founded Nindethana Theatre with Bob Maza, Australia's first Indigenous theater group. He played Bennelong in Cradle of Hercules at the Sydney Opera House in 1974. His film credits include The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith (1978) and Pan (2015), and he appeared in the TV series Cleverman (2016) and Preppers (2021). The documentary Bastardy (2008) focused on him and revived his career. His one-man show Jack Charles v The Crown (2010) earned a Helpmann Award nomination. In 2015 he was named Victoria's Senior Australian of the Year, and in 2022 he received the Male Elder of the Year award. He died in 2022.
79years old at death
- Born Melbourne
- Died Melbourne
- Star sign: VirgoThe sign runs August 23 to September 22
- Also credited as Uncle Jack Charles
Movie Career
- Films
- 5
- Career span
- 43 years1978 to 2021
Every film, newest first
- 2021Back to the OutbackIMDb rating 6.5
- 2021The Art of IncarcerationIMDb rating 7.5
- 2015PanIMDb rating 5.7
- 2013Mystery RoadIMDb rating 6.7
- 1978The Chant of Jimmie BlacksmithIMDb rating 7.3
Genres
Share
Did you know?!
A role that slipped away
In 1972, Charles tried out for the Indigenous lead in the TV show Boney but did not get it. The part went to James Laurenson, a white actor from New Zealand, who used brown face make-up.
First role
Charles started his acting career in 1970 when New Theatre members in Melbourne invited him to audition for A Raisin in the Sun, and its director Dot Thompson cast him in Athol Fugard's The Blood Knot that year.
Early training
Charles said the New Theatre, where he spent seven years, was his NIDA, since he never attended the National Institute of Dramatic Art.
Jack Charles movies on Netflix
Worked with
Jack Charles shares two films with Jack Thompson, and one with each of the others. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Jack Thompson's page
Aaron Pedersen's page
Guy Pearce's page
Hugh Jackman's page
Amanda Seyfried's page
Jacki Weaver's page
All films by Joe Wright
Clare KnightDirector, 1 film, 2021
All films by Clare Knight
Harry CrippsDirector, 1 film, 2021
All films by Harry Cripps
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.