Gulpilil
Ridjimiraril
(David)
Dalaithngu
AM
Born about in Maningrida, Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, Australia
Son of [father unknown] and [mother unknown]
[sibling(s) unknown]
[spouse(s) unknown]
[children unknown]
Died
at about age 68
in Murray Bridge, South Australia, Australia
Profile last modified
| Created 29 Nov 2021
This page has been accessed 427 times.
Biography
David Dalaithngu AM is an Indigenous Australian.
David Dalaithngu AM is Notable.
David's family have requested that he be referred to as David Dalaithngu for a period of time to avoid naming the dead. That period was 3 days[1].
Another naturally talented and much loved Indigenous entertainer, like Jack Charles but from a very different background, David Gulpilil Ridjimiraril Dalaithngu AM, known professionally as David Gulpilil and for a period after his death for cultural reasons, as David Dalaithngu, was an Australian film and television actor and ceremonial dancer, arguably best known for the films Walkabout (1971), Storm Boy (1976), Crocodile Dundee (1986), The Tracker (2002), Australia (2008) and Charlie's Country (2014).
David was born on 1 July 1953 in Maningrida, Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, Australia (Koori Mail Edition766 Wednesday, December 15, 2021, pp. 30-31)[2]. He was an Indigenous Australian of the Mandjalpingu (Djilba) clan and language, moiety Dhuwa, skin group Balang, of the Yolngu people and raised in the traditional lifestyle. Is mother and father were the same. He stated in the 2021 documentary about his life, My Name is Gulpilil, that he did not know how old he was. When he came of age, he was initiated into clan. His skin group totemic animal was the Kingfisher (of which the Kookaburra is best known in Australia), the meaning of the name Gulpilil. [3] Local missionaries recorded his birth on 1st July 1953, based on 'guesswork', and gave him the name 'David'. [4]
He became an accomplished hunter, tracker and ceremonial dancer. Between 1964 and 2021 David appeared in forty films and in episodes of seventeen Australian television series. For his filmography see his IMDb profile. He was also an acclaimed storyteller who wrote the text for two volumes of children's stories based on Yolngu beliefs:
- Gulpilil's Stories of the Dreamtime. Compiled by Hugh Rule and Stuart Goodman; illustrated by Allan Hondow; photography by Stuart Goodman. Sydney: Collins, Sydney NSW, 1979. ISBN 978-0-00-184383-7.
- The Birirrk, Our Ancestors of the Dreaming. Photographs by Neil McLeod. Cheltenham, Australia: L & S Publishing. ISBN 978-0-86898-061-4.
David was married to Miriam Ashley and, later, Robyn Djunginy.
David was appointed Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the Queen's Birthday Honours June 1987 for 'service to the arts through the interpretation of Aboriginal culture' [5] and awarded the Centenary Medal on 1st January 2001 for 'service to Australian society through dance and acting'. [6]
Other major honours bestowed on this great Australian include:
- AACTA / AFI Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role, for The Tracker in 2002 and Charlie's Country in 2014.
- Red Ochre Award in 2013, awarded annually by the Australia Council for the Arts to an outstanding Indigenous Australian artist for lifetime achievement.
- Best Actor award at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival for his performance in Charlie's Country.
- Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2019 NAIDOC Awards.
David was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer in 2017 and retired from acting in 2019. His illness prevented him from attending the 2019 NAIDOC Awards, at which he was recognised with the Lifetime Achievement Award. [7]
He passed away at home in Murray Bridge, South Australia on 29th November 2021. [8] David is survived by seven children: Jida (a musician and actor), Milan, Makia, Andrew, Jamie, Phoebe and Malakai. There are more details of his siblings and children in the Wikipedia article (ref.1) but no details of his parents. He did not see a white person until he was 8 years old.
Sources
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Gulpilil
- ↑ https://aiatsis.gov.au/collection/featured-collections/koori-mail
- ↑ Buckmaster, Luke. 'Vale David Dalaithngu: the inimitable actor who changed the movies, and changed us'. The Guardian, 30 Nov 2021; accessed 2 Dec 2021
- ↑ McGuirk, Rod. 'Famed Australian Indigenous actor David Gulpilil dies at 68'. ABC News, Associated Press, 30 Nov 2021; accessed 2 Dec 2021
- ↑ Australian Honours: Member of the Order of Australia; accessed 2 Dec 2021
- ↑ Australian Honours: Centenary Medal; accessed 2 Dec 2021
- ↑ Kwan, Biwa. 'Fans pay tribute to legendary actor David Gulpilil after he wins top NAIDOC award'. SBS News, Special Broadcasting Corporation; accessed 2 Dec 2021
- ↑ ABC News; accessed 30 Nov 2021
See also
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D > Dalaithngu > Gulpilil Ridjimiraril Dalaithngu AM
Categories: Yolngu | Notable Indigenous Australians | Traditional Singer-Songwriters | Dancers | Arnhem Land, Northern Territory | Murray Bridge, South Australia | Australia, Children's Authors | Centenary Medal (Australia) | Members of the Order of Australia | Australia, Actors | Indigenous Australians | Archibald Prize | Australia, Notables in the Entertainment Industries | Notables