Uncle Jack Charles honoured with Lifetime Achievement

Veteran actor Uncle Jack Charles has been honoured with a Lifetime Achievement at the 12th National Indigenous Arts Awards at the Sydney Opera House last night.

Uncle Jack, a Boon Wurrung and Dja Dja Wurrung Elder from Melbourne told NITV News, “Practically hitting 76 I am acknowledged as the old man of the theatre as it were…. Uncle Bob [Maza] would be really chuffed to see me in this position because he has won the Red Ochre of Lifetime Achievement Award so it’s a blessing.

“I’m counted among some of the icons from the past and living… to be included among that is a real hoot.”

Uncle Jack began performing at the New Theatre Melbourne in the early 1970s, co-founding the Melbourne-based Aboriginal theatre company, Nindethana, in 1972 with Uncle Bob [Maza0].

A member of the Stolen Generations, he spent many years of his early adult life homeless, fighting alcoholism and heroin addiction.

Uncle Jack’s screen credits include Cleverman, Rosehaven, Black Comedy, Rake, Wolf Creek, The Gods of Wheat Street, Woodley, We Can Be Heroes, Rush, Ben Hall, Mystery Road, Blackfellas, Pan, and Dimboola.

Source: SBS