RIP Terry Gill

Crocodile Dundee, Flying Doctors actor Terry Gill, 75, dead

  

The Sydney Morning Herald

By Bhakthi Puvanenthiran

February 25, 2015

Actor Terry Gill, best known for his roles in film Crocodile Dundee, television series The Flying Doctors and as Santa Claus in the annual Carols by Candlelight concerts, has died at the age of 75.

Gill was diagnosed with lung cancer in late 2014, making it his final performance for Vision Australia's Carols by Candlelight, a role he played for 27 years.

Born in England, Gill's other credits included a long list of well known Australian films and television programs, including Phar Lap, Crackers, The Wannabes, Prisoner, A Country Practice and Homicide.

Gill and his wife of 52 years, Carole Ann also ran theatre restaurant, The Tivoli, which house the children's pantomime series for which Gill wrote scripts.

She has remembered him for being above all, fun.

"He grew up with virtually no family and never even knew his Dad, so we came to Australia and we've made this dynasty," she said on Wednesday.

"Even when things were really really difficult, he made everything fun and we laughed.

"Thank goodness we've got those pantomimes. His humour is captured in them and we can pass them on to generations of children."

Carole Ann, who is also a singer and actress, said Gill's final performance at Carols by Candlelight was special because he already knew he was ill.

"He had limousines to all the rehearsals. He started losing his voice, and they said 'we don't care'. He was a sick man but we had a wonderful night. He went on stage with the cast and we didn't get home until 1am.

"He loved Carols and did it for 27 years, it was one of the highlights of his whole life. I thank Channel Nine and Carols for that."

Carole Ann Gill said the lung cancer had been a shock to Gill's family. The father-of-two had suffered a stroke while on holiday in London in November 2014 and was later diagnosed with cancer.

"We were very unprepared for any of this happening. And for a man who was so incredibly funny and outrageous and all the things that made him so very special, it was such a shock."

Channel Nine has also released a statement.

""We are deeply saddened to hear of the loss of Terry Gill. He was a much loved member of the Nine family, appearing in Division 4 and The Flying Doctors, as well as contributing to Carols by Candlelight for over three decades.  We extend our sincere condolences to Carole Ann and all his family and friends. He will be sadly missed by all of us at Channel Nine, as well as by legions of fans around Australia."

GILL, Terry

Born: 10/25/1939, England, U.K.

Died: 2/25/2015, Richmond, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Terry Gill’s westerns – actor:

Mad Dog Morgan – 1976

The Last Outlaw (TV) – 1980 (Constable Lonigan)

Snowy River: The McGregor Saga (TV) – 1994 (mayor)