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IMDbPro

Bill Hunter(1940-2011)

  • Actor
  • Stunts
  • Additional Crew
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Bill Hunter
Trailer for Red Dog
Play trailer1:19
Red Dog (2011)
8 Videos
12 Photos
Bill Hunter was one of Australia's acting legends, having worked with almost every notable Australian director and actor of the last thirty years - evidence of his genuine popularity among the public and acting fraternity alike.

He started out in Australian television in the '60s (a hotbed of well written and directed drama), and rapidly became a favorite of directors during the boom in the Australian movie industry in the '70s. He has often played the strong, opinionated, stereotypically gruff Australian who ultimately betrays a softer heart.

Some of his notable movie roles include the Australian officer Major Barton, who will only ask his troops to do as he would, in Gallipoli (1981), Peter Weir's groundbreaking movie starring the young Mel Gibson; the meddling Barry Fife in Strictly Ballroom (1992), Baz Luhrmann's first international hit; scheming politician and failure as a father and husband Bill Heslop in Muriel's Wedding (1994), P.J. Hogan's first international hit; the lovable country battler in the international megahit The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994), starring Terence Stamp, Guy Pearce, and Hugo Weaving.
BornFebruary 27, 1940
DiedMay 21, 2011(71)
BornFebruary 27, 1940
DiedMay 21, 2011(71)
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • Awards
    • 3 wins & 4 nominations total

Photos12

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+ 8
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Known for

Gallipoli (1981)
Gallipoli
7.4
  • Major Barton
  • 1981
Toni Collette in Muriel's Wedding (1994)
Muriel's Wedding
7.2
  • Bill
  • 1994
Terence Stamp, Guy Pearce, and Hugo Weaving in The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994)
The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
7.5
  • Robert 'Bob' Spart
  • 1994
Sonia Kruger, Paul Mercurio, and Tara Morice in Strictly Ballroom (1992)
Strictly Ballroom
7.2
  • Barry Fife
  • 1992

Credits

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IMDbPro

Actor



  • Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman in Faraway Downs (2023)
    Faraway Downs
    7.0
    TV Mini Series
    • Skipper (Qantas Sloop)
    • 2023
  • Die on Your Feet (2013)
    Die on Your Feet
    6.3
    TV Series
    • Bill Hunter
    • 2013
  • Sean McIntyre in The Cup (2011)
    The Cup
    5.6
    • Bart Cummings
    • 2011
  • Small Time Gangster (2011)
    Small Time Gangster
    6.9
    TV Mini Series
    • Big Jack Stanley
    • 2011
  • Josh Lucas, Rachael Taylor, and Koko in Red Dog (2011)
    Red Dog
    7.3
    • Jumbo Smelt
    • 2011
  • Jim Sturgess, David Wenham, Emily Barclay, and Adrienne DeFaria in Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole (2010)
    Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole
    6.9
    • Bubo (voice)
    • 2010
  • Steve Bisley, Rhonda Burchmore, Essie Davis, Nadine Garner, Bill Hunter, Josh Lawson, Alex Menglet, Heather Mitchell, Geoff Paine, Adam Zwar, Isabel Lucas, and Nikita Leigh-Pritchard in The Wedding Party (2010)
    The Wedding Party
    5.1
    • Priest
    • 2010
  • The Pacific (2010)
    The Pacific
    8.3
    TV Mini Series
    • James
    • 2010
  • Fallen (2008)
    Fallen
    Short
    • Captain Jack Carlson
    • 2008
  • Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman in Australia (2008)
    Australia
    6.6
    • Skipper (Qantas Sloop)
    • 2008
  • The Square (2008)
    The Square
    6.7
    • Gil Hubbard
    • 2008
  • Bill Hunter in One Last Shot (2006)
    One Last Shot
    Short
    • Herman
    • 2006
  • Two Twisted (2005)
    Two Twisted
    7.1
    TV Mini Series
    • Granddad
    • 2006
  • Jason Clarke, Anita Hegh, Asher Keddie, Kate Kendall, Peter Phelps, Robert Rabiah, Jacinta Stapleton, Ian Stenlake, Gary Sweet, and Roxane Wilson in Stingers (1998)
    Stingers
    7.1
    TV Series
    • Sen. Sgt. Geoff Skinner
    • 2004
  • Tom White (2004)
    Tom White
    6.6
    • Malcolm
    • 2004

Stunts



  • On the Beach (1959)
    On the Beach
    7.1
    • Swimming Double (uncredited)
    • 1959

Additional Crew



  • On the Beach (1959)
    On the Beach
    7.1
    • swimming double (uncredited)
    • 1959

Videos8

Trailer
Trailer 2:26
Trailer
The Square
Trailer 1:25
The Square
The Square
Trailer 1:25
The Square
Kangaroo Jack
Trailer 1:48
Kangaroo Jack
Red Dog
Trailer 1:19
Red Dog
Strictly Ballroom
Trailer 0:31
Strictly Ballroom
Muriel's Wedding
Trailer 1:06
Muriel's Wedding

Personal details

Edit
  • Height
    • 6′ 1″ (1.85 m)
  • Born
    • February 27, 1940
    • Ballarat, Victoria, Australia
  • Died
    • May 21, 2011
    • Kew, Victoria, Australia(liver cancer)
  • Spouse
    • Rhoda Roberts1993 - 1999 (divorced)
  • Publicity listings
    • 1 Article

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    Filmed Muriel's Wedding (1994) and The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994) at the same time, each requiring him to have different length hair, beard and to be in different parts of Australia.
  • Quotes
    As long as the director told me where to stand, and what to say, I was happy. Anyone who says there is more to it [acting] than that is full of bullshit. It's a job. It is a craft, but there's no art involved. What you need is common sense and a reasonably rough head. You put on the make-up and the wardrobe and that is half the performance. That upsets the purists but never mind, they don't work as much as I do.

FAQ12

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