David Ngoombujarra (27 June 1967 – 17 July 2011) was an Indigenous Australian actor of the Yamatji people. Born David Bernard Starr in Meekatharra, Western Australia, his acting career spanned over two decades from the late 1980s to 2010; he won three Australian Film Institute Awards.[1] On 17 July 2011 he was found in a park in Fremantle, and taken to Fremantle Hospital where he was pronounced dead.[1][2][3]
David Ngiombujarra | |
|---|---|
| Born | David Bernard Starr 27 June 1967 Meekatharra, Western Australia, Australia |
| Died | 17 July 2011 (aged 44) Fremantle, Western Australia, Australia |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Relatives | Ernie Dingo (cousin) |
Personal life
editNgoombujarra was adopted by Amy and Derek Sloan, and met his birth mother when he was 14. He moved to Sydney with plans for stardom and picked up some minor film roles in Young Einstein and others after being spotted busking in Circular Quay. His wide smile and booming laugh were very marketable. Ngoombujarra fell into petty crime and battled alcohol addiction which may have contributed to his death.[4]
It was revealed that Ngoombujara fathered a daughter who was later adopted by his cousin, actor Ernie Dingo.[5]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Breaking Loose | Davie | Film |
| 1988 | Young Einstein | Aboriginal dancer | Feature film |
| 1993 | Blackfellas | Floyd 'Pretty Boy' Davies | Feature film |
| 1994 | Dallas Doll | Storyteller | Feature film |
| 1996 | No Way to Forget | Shane Francis | Short film |
| 1999 | The Missing | Willie | Feature film |
| 1999 | Harry's War | Harry Saunders | TV short film |
| 2001 | Serenades | Joseph | |
| 2001 | Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles | Arthur | Feature film |
| 2002 | Rabbit-Proof Fence | Rabbit hunter | Feature film |
| 2002 | Black and White | Young Max Stuart | Feature film |
| 2003 | Kangaroo Jack | Snr. Sgt. 'Mr Jimmy' Inkamala | Feature film |
| 2003 | Yamajti Man | Narrator | |
| 2003 | Ned Kelly | Tribesman | Feature film |
| 2005 | The Adventures of Roman Pilgrim | Albert | Short film |
| 2008 | Australia | Magarri | Feature film |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Heartland | Majadi Burunga | TV series, 4 episodes |
| 1995 | Janus | Ray | TV series, episode: "Fit to Plead" |
| 1995 | Correlli | Warren 'Budgie' Keating | TV miniseries, episode: "Spoons" |
| 1995 | Snowy River: The McGregor Saga | Ninawunda | TV series, episode: "Man and Boy" |
| 1998 | Kings in Grass Castles | Burrakin | TV series, 2 episodes |
| 2004 | Parallax | Otto | TV series, 6 episodes |
| 2007-2010 | The Circuit | Harry Pope | TV series, 6 episodes, (final appearance) |
Awards
edit- AFI Best Supporting Actor in Television Drama for The Circuit (2007)
- AFI Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Black and White (2002)
- AFI Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Day of the Dog (1993)
References
edit- ^ a b Prior, Flip (19 July 2011). "Actor with the winning smile found dead at 44". Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 19 July 2011.
- ^ "Aboriginal actor David Ngoombujarra found dead in park". The Daily Telegraph (Sydney). 19 July 2011.
- ^ "Aborigine actor David Ngoombujarra dies". BBC News. 19 July 2011.
- ^ TAYLOR, PAIGE (23 July 2011). "The pain and joy of lost star David Ngoombujarra". The Australian. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
- ^ "Ernie Dingo's family adoption twist". The West Australian. 3 February 2012. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
External links
edit
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