Australian satirist John Clarke has died aged 68.
The comedian was hiking in the Grampians National Park in Victoria when he collapsed and unexpectedly passed away. He died from natural causes.
Clarke was best known for his long running collaboration with Brian Dawe where Clarke would play different politicians and public figures in an interview scenario. Their weekly sketches aired just after the Thursday edition of ABC’s 7:30.
Comedian Wil Anderson paid tribute to Clarke as “the funniest satirist on TV”, while Opposition leader Bill Shorten said, “Thursdays would never be the same again.”
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said Clarke was so much more than a satirist, he understood the essence of Australia.
“His laconic wit was rarely wide of the mark. I should know. With lethal accuracy he made politicians and Prime Ministers his prey.”
The Prime Minister said Clarke and Dawe’s weekly take-downs were required viewing.
His family released a statement thanking everyone for the outpouring of support, saying he’d died doing something he loved.
“John died doing one of the things he loved the most in the world, taking photos of birds in beautiful bush land with his wife and friends,” the statement read. “He is forever in our hearts.”
Clarke was a New Zealander but had lived in Australia since the 1970’s. He first came to prominence playing a farmer character, Fred Dagg.
In the 1980’s he was a cast member of The Gillies Report where he gave regular reports on the fictional sport of farnarkeling.
In 1989 Clarke teamed up with Brian Dawe for their regular satirical interviews. The pair first appeared on A Current Affair, where they were part of the program until 1997. After a break, they began appearing on the ABC.
In 1989, alongside Ross Stevenson, Clarke wrote The Games, a mockumentary that focused on the organisation setting up the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
Clarke appeared in several movies, memorably providing the voice of Wal Footrot in the animated film Footrot Flats: A Dog’s Tale and as the villainous Bernie Fowler in Crackerjack.
Here’s a classic moment of Clarke and Dawe.
