Paul Hogan’s longtime best mate and manager John ‘Strop’ Cornell dies at 80

John ‘Strop’ Cornell has died aged 80 following a 20-year battle with Parkinson’s disease.

Cornell is best known for discovering Paul Hogan while working as a producer on TV show A Current Affair in 1971, before later becoming the legendary Australian actor’s manager.

He and Hogan also produced Crocodile Dundee together in 1986, which remains the most profitable Australian film of all time.  

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, he died at his home in Byron Bay surrounded by his wife Delvene Delaney, his eldest daughter Melissa, and his youngest daughter Liana on the phone from the UK.

Farewell: Paul Hogan’s best mate and longtime manager John ‘Strop’ Cornell has died aged 80 (pictured together)

‘A classic Australian character, John Cornell made the lives he touched much richer, not only through donations, but also through his generosity of spirit, humour, humility and honour,’ his family said in a statement. 

‘A true egalitarian, John sought equity and equality, and fought for a fair go.’  

Cornell was fundamental to the establishment of World Series Cricket, which created the one-day form of the game.

He worked closely with media mogul Kerry Packer to begin the rebel competition, which sent shockwaves through the cricket establishment.

The pair launched daring raids to sign the best players in the world and Cornell played a huge role in the marketing of the breakaway comp as it rose from early struggles to become a landmark in Australia’s sporting history. 

Cornell got his start in the 1960s as a journalist for The Daily News in Perth.

He later became a producer on Nine’s A Current Affair, which is where he discovered Paul Hogan, who was working as a rigger on the Sydney Harbour Bridge at the time. 

He became Hogan’s manager and eventual co-star on The Paul Hogan Show, where he played ‘Strop’.

From there, he produced and co-wrote the screenplay for Hogan’s 1986 film, which became the highest grossing Australian film of all time. 

Cornell and his wife owned several properties in Byron Bay, beginning with a home they purchased together in the 1980s.

At the time of purchase the beachfront pad was worth around $325,000 dollars.

It was later sold for around $10million to Harvey Norman heir Glen Norman.

The 2.3 acre property is based on Belongil Beach and has gorgeous views of Cape Byron Light-house, Julian Rocks and Mt Warning.  

Cornell is pictured with his wife Delvene Delaney in Sydney in 2006