Legendary Indigenous Australian actor David Gulpilil dies aged 68

He was described as "one of the greatest artists Australia has ever seen"

David Gulpilil, an early Indigenous Australian performer, died at the age of 68.

The actor was well-known for roles in films such as Walkabout, Storm Boy, and Crocodile Dundee, and has been dubbed "one of Australia's finest performers."

"It is with deep sadness that I share with the people of South Australia the passing of an iconic, once-in-a-generation artist who shaped the history of Australian film and Aboriginal representation on-screen – David Gulpilil Ridjimiraril Dalaithngu (AM)," South Australian Premier Steven Marshall said in a statement.

"As an actor, dancer, singer, and painter, he was also one of Australia's finest artists," he continued.

Gulpilil was born into the Yolu people's Mandhalpingu tribe and reared in Arnhem Land. He eventually settled in Murray Bridge.

"Many in Australia and globally have never seen an Aboriginal character represented on cinema," Marshall said of his appearance in Nicolas Roeg's 1971 film Walkabout.

"He faced bigotry and discrimination, as well as the difficulties of the gap between his conventional lifestyle and his public prominence," he continued.

Gulpilil died in 2017 after being diagnosed with lung cancer. His final production was the autobiographical documentary My Name Is Gulpilil, which was published earlier this year.

His other film credits include The Tracker, Rabbit-Proof Fence, and Ten Canoes, for which he received the Cannes Film Festival's Un Certain Regard Best Actor award in 2014.

Since the news broke, tributes to the late actor have poured in, with Asylum Seeker Resource Centre founder Kon Karapanagiotidis writing: "Through his towering humanity on screen & talent David Gulpilil forced us to confront our shameful treatment of First Nations people's & challenged us to learn from it & not look away."

"I'm grateful to him for teaching me so much about how we're on the territory of the world's oldest living civilization."

Many more have shared their tributes:

This is terrible news.

Vale David Gulpilil.

A giant of cinema.

A once in a century talent.

An incredible actor, painter, singer dancer.

One of the greatest our nation has ever seen

His extraordinary talent forced us to face into our nations history of genocide & racism

— Kon Karapanagiotidis (@Kon__K) November 29, 2021

Sad news that one of Australia’s greatest actors David Gulpilil Ridjimiraril Dalaithngu has died. He possessed immense magnetism, skill & intelligence - in long shot or in close up he commanded the frame. As a storyteller, he also helped change the narrative of this country.

— Jason Di Rosso (@jdrrr) November 29, 2021

Vale David Gulpilil Ridjimiraril Dalaithngu. rest in peace and power ❤️

— chloe sargeant (@chlosarge) November 29, 2021

Absolutely devastating news. Vale, David Gulpilil. He forever changed the way Australian film represents Indigenous people and their cultural heritage. Never forgotten ❤️ https://t.co/uCAijoDkzk

— NFSA -National Film and Sound Archive of Australia (@NFSAonline) November 29, 2021

Farewell David Gulpilil. A true icon of Australian cinema. A heartbreaking loss.

— Madman Films (@MadmanFilms) November 29, 2021

Absolutely devastating to learn that we’ve lost one of the greatest to ever do it. Vale David Gulpilil 🖤

— Shari Niliwil Sebbens (@sharileesebbo) November 29, 2021

RIP David Gulpilil - extraordinary actor and Mandjalpingu man who helped the world understand Aboriginal culture more. Star in films like Walkabout, Storm Boy, Rabbit Proof Fence. In death, he said he wanted to return to his home country in Northern Territory https://t.co/RYtUoc4NDT

— Tony Tassell (@TonyTassell) November 29, 2021