Paul Hogan

Paul Hogan AM (born 8 October 1939 in Parramatta, New South Wales) is an Australian actor, comedian, producer and writer whose career spans more than five decades. He began working as a rigger on the Sydney Harbour Bridge before winning public attention on the Nine Network talent show New Faces in 1971, where his irreverent routine as a “tap‑dancing knife‑thrower” earned him a loyal audience. His quirky larrikin persona caught the eye of journalist Mike Willesee and led to regular spots on A Current Affair, where he refined the sardonic commentary that would become his trademark. Hogan’s own sketch series, The Paul Hogan Show, ran for 60 episodes between 1973 and 1984, delivering the iconic “shrimp on the barbie” tourism ad and earning a Logie Award for Best New Talent in 1973. The worldwide breakthrough came with "Crocodile Dundee" (1986), a film he co‑wrote and starred in as Mick “Crocodile” Dundee; the movie grossed over $300 million and secured him a Golden Globe for Best Actor and an Academy Award nomination for screenplay. He reprised the role in "Crocodile Dundee II" (1988) and later appeared in "The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee" (2020), playing a satirical version of himself. Beyond the Dundee franchise Hogan produced, wrote and acted in a variety of projects, including "Lightning Jack" (1994), the family film "Flipper" (1996), and the Australian box‑office hit "Strange Bedfellows" (2004). His later years featured live stand‑up tours, a documentary Hanging with Hoges, and the 2017 miniseries Hoges: The Paul Hogan Story. Hogan has been honoured as Australian of the Year (1985), appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (1986), and received the AACTA Longford Lyell Award (2016). Despite his success he endured a protracted tax dispute with the Australian Taxation Office from 2003 to 2012, which concluded with a confidential settlement. He was married to Noelene Edwards (1958‑1981, 1982‑1989) and to actress Linda Kozlowski (1990‑2014), and is the father of six children.