Chopper and A Country Practice star Gary Waddell dies at age 74 after battle with dementia: 'One of a kind'

Gary Waddell has died at age 74, after battling dementia. 

The death of the Australian actor, who had appeared in some of the country's most lauded films and television series, was announced by his manager. 

'Sadly our wonderful client, Gary Waddell, passed away peacefully this week after living with dementia over the last few years,' Sophie Jermyn, of Sophie Jermyn Management (SJM), wrote on Instagram. 

'Gary was one of a kind, a true artist in every sense of the word and his body of Australian work was so utterly impressive.

'The SJM team send their love to Gary's family at this time. Thanks for everything, Gary - you will be missed. We've had a lot of fun over the years.'

Waddell rose to prominence in the 'Ozploitation' movies of the 1970s, winning an AFI Best Actor award for his role as a heroin addict in 1975's Pure S**t. 

He went on to star in a large swathe of films, including Dirty Deeds, Gettin' Square and 2000's Chopper.

In 2021, the beloved actor won a Best Supporting Actor AACTA Award for his role in The King is Dead! 

Waddell also worked across a number of classic television titles, including A Country Practice, Water Rats, All Saints, Home and Away and Rake. 

His final role was in 2022's The Survival of Kindness. 

The actor explained in a 2012 interview that he was a homeless Melbourne teenager when he was embraced by Carlton's art scene. 

'I was introduced to people and started living in totally different circles. They introduced me to art. I went to exhibitions,' he told Crikey. 

'I did my first play — I think it might have been 1972 — called The Weight at a place called La Mamma. All of a sudden I was acting!'

Waddell told The Guardian that he suffered from imposter syndrome through much of his career.    

'I actually thought for a long, long time – until around '86, '87 – that my career was one of the greatest con jobs I'd ever pulled off. I never thought I could act,' he said. 

'I had no idea until an actor said to me – and he was a trained actor – that what I did on film was what most people go to school to learn.' 

News of Waddell's death was met with dozens of tributes from his fans and friends. 

'Vale Gary. Condolences to his family and to the SJM family. A talent a great person will be missed,' wrote one person on Instagram, while another said: 'A legend. Vale.' 

One fan penned: 'One of the finest actors anywhere, entirely self-taught.'

Actor Christian Manon said: 'Gary Waddell brought a genuine and very rare street level authenticity to the Australian screen.'

Waddell was a 'one-of-a-kind, heart-of-f***ing-gold dude' said singer Lo Carmen.

She added: 'I don't know why on earth he wasn't cast in everything.'