Uncle Jack Charles, Indigenous actor and activist, dies aged 79

Indigenous actor, musician, artist and activist Uncle Jack Charles has died at the age of 79.

His publicist confirmed on Tuesday morning Charles had suffered a stroke and died at Royal Melbourne hospital.

The beloved Boon Wurrung, Dja Dja Wurrung, Woiwurrung and Yorta Yorta elder was farewelled by family with a smoking ceremony at the hospital.

“We are so proud of everything he has achieved in his remarkable life – elder, actor, musician, potter, activist, mentor, a household name and voice loved by all – as is demonstrated by his numerous awards including this year’s NAIDOC Male Elder of the Year,” the statement said.

“He will live on in our hearts and memories and through his numerous screen and stage roles.”

On Twitter, rapper Briggs paid tribute: “You’d never have met a more warm, funny & friendly soul,” he wrote. “Uncle Jack & Uncle Arch [Archie Roach] gonna be in good company wherever they’re at.”

The actor David Wenham described him as a “great actor, great social activist, great human being”. The singer and actor David Campbell called him a “true Australian legend”.

Magda Szubanski wrote that she was devastated to hear the news. “He was just the absolute best and this is such a loss. RIP my darling.” Author Anita Heiss wrote “the beauty of your spirit and the gift of your storytelling will live on forever.”

The Greens leader, Adam Bandt, also paid tribute on Twitter: “What a life. What a storyteller. Unforgettable wit and energy and generosity and courage.”

Born in 1943, Charles was a member of the Stolen Generations. In 1971, with Bob Maza, he co-founded Australia’s first Indigenous theatre group, Nindethana, with Bob Maza at Melbourne’s Pram Factory in 1971.

“Once the industry realised that there were Aboriginals playing Aboriginals they had to stop blacking white people to play Aboriginals,” he said in a recent video for NITV. “It was a big wake up call for the arts industry.”

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The following year he was passed over for the role of Indigenous detective Boney, in the Australian television series of the same name. The part went to New Zealand actor James Larenson who wore black face make-up for the role.

Charles forged a name for himself over five decades, in films such as The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith, Bedevil, Blackfellas, Tom White and Pan.

More recently, Charles appeared in the horror drama series Wolf Creek and in the ABC television drama series Cleverman and the ABC comedy Preppers.

In 2014, Charles became the first Indigenous recipient of a Green Room award for lifetime achievement. In 2019 he was recognised by the Australia Council with a Red Ochre Award also for lifetime achievement.

His memoir – Jack Charles: Born-Again Blakfella – was published in 2020, co-written by Namila Benson.

A survivor of the stolen generations, Charles was the first witness to tell his story in Victoria’s Indigenous truth-telling commission in April this year.

In July, he was named Male Elder of the Year, during Naidoc week.

The Guardian has received permission to use his name and image.