David Gulpilil

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David Gulpilil in August 2007

David Gulpilil Rigjimiraril Dalaithngu (born July 1, 1953 in Maningrida , Arnhem Land , Northern Territory ) is an Australian actor and dancer .

life and career

David Gulpilil is an Aboriginal man from the Yolngu tribe . Even as a young boy he was an accomplished hunter, tracker and ceremonial dancer. He spent his childhood in the bush, shielded from the influence of white civilization. He later attended the Maningrida Mission School in northeast Arnhem Land , where he learned English. In 1970 he made his first appearance alongside the leading actress Jenny Agutter in the internationally successful film Walkabout by British director Nicolas Roeg . As a result, Gulpilil has appeared in a variety of films and television productions. Commercially successful 1976 Storm Boy with him in the lead role.

Gulpilil is also known in Australia as a traditional Aboriginal dancer. He organized dance groups and musicians and performed at festivals across Australia, including the prestigious Darwin Australia Day Eisteddfod dance competition , which he won four times. His narrative talent was reflected in the writing of two volumes of children's stories about the Yolngu faith, illustrated with photographs and paintings by Australian artists. His last artistic success was in March 2004 when he participated in an autobiographical stage production at the Adelaide Festival of Arts .

David Gulpilil made headlines in 2006 when an incident broke out between him and Vaughan Williams in Darwin . Gulpilil, feeling threatened, pulled out a machete . The court ruled the charge of carrying an offensive weapon in 2007 with an acquittal because the machete was a component of a cultural nature. In 2007, Gulpilil had problems with domestic violence against his wife.

Gulpilil was also politically active, advocating the return of land to the tribes. He also denounced the stolen generation . Mixed race children were forcibly torn from their Aboriginal parents by the authorities and were sent to mission schools far away from their home countries or were placed with white couples who were willing to adopt .

In 2006 Gulpilil appeared in the film 10 Canoes, 150 Spears and 3 Women ( Ten Canoes ) by director Rolf de Heer , who won the special prize of the jury at the Cannes Film Festival that same year . David Gulpilil's last internationally acclaimed appearance was in 2008 in the Australian epic film Australia, staged by director Baz Luhrmann , starring alongside Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman .

David Gulpilil was first married to Robin Djungini until 2003. He has been married to Miriam Ashley since 2004. His son Jamie Gulpilil is also an actor. He currently lives in Winnellite in the Northern Territory.

In September 2011, David Gulpilil was sentenced to imprisonment after assaulting his wife. A court in Darwin ruled that the 58-year-old was imprisoned for a year and had to go through drug rehabilitation. In December, Gulpilil hit his wife Miriam Ashley with a broomstick while drunk and broke her arm. He had already been convicted of domestic violence and traffic offenses under the influence of alcohol several times.

Filmography (selection)

Movies
watch TV
  • 1972-1973: Boney
  • 1974: Homicide
  • 1976: Rush
  • 1977: The Outsiders
  • 1980: The Timeless Land
  • 1980: Young Ramsay
  • 1989: Naked Under Capricorn

Web links

Commons : David Gulpilil  - Collection of Images
personal data
SURNAME Gulpilil, David
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Gulpilil Rigjimiraril Dalaithngu, David (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Australian actor and dancer
DATE OF BIRTH July 1, 1953
PLACE OF BIRTH Maningrida , Arnhem Land , Northern Territory , Australia