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Australian actor (1940–2011)

William John Hunter (27 February 194021 May 2011) was an Australian actor of film, stage and television, who was also prominent as a voice over artist. He appeared in more than 60 films and won two AFI Awards. He was also a recipient of the Centenary Medal.

Hunter was born in Ballarat, Victoria, the son of William and Francie Hunter. Hunter qualified for the Australian swimming team for the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia before a bout of meningitis ended his Olympic hopes.

Hunter made his film debut as an extra in 1957 film The Shiralee. An introduction to Ava Gardner saw him gain a job as an extra and swimming double in the Hollywood film On the Beach, which was filming in Melbourne. He took an intensive drama course in Melbourne and sailed aboard the RHMS Ellinis on New Year's Eve 1964 for England. There he won a two year scholarship to the prestigious Northampton Repertory Company in England. In 1966, Hunter made his first television appearance, two episodes in The Ark, a serial within the third season of the BBC television drama series Doctor Who. Hunter returned to Australia in 1967 and began working in television drama and feature films. He had interviewed with Gavrik Losey in London, making no great impression in that highly competitive atmosphere, but Losey was able to offer Hunter his first Australian film appearance in Ned Kelly in 1970 with Losey as production supervisor. Hunter often played characters who were the strong, opinionated, archetypal gruff Australian whose exterior belies a softer heart and sensibilities vulnerable to pressure. Some of his most notable movie roles include Mad Dog Morgan (1976), Newsfront (1978), Gallipoli (1981), The Dismissal, Scales of Justice (1983), Strictly Ballroom (1992), Muriel's Wedding (1994), The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994) and Australia (2008). In 2007, he reprised the role of Bob in the Australian touring stage production of Priscilla. He also provided the voice of the dentist in Finding Nemo (2003) and the voice of Bubo in Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole (2010). He portrayed United Nations Secretary General Spencer Chartwell in the American science fiction series Space: Above and Beyond. His last film role was in The Cup (2011). Of acting, Hunter said, "As long as the director told me where to stand and what to say, I was happy. Anyone who says there's any more to it than that, is full of bullshit. It's a job. It is a craft, but there's no art involved. What you need is common sense and a reasonably rough head. You put on the makeup and the wardrobe, and that is half the performance. That upsets the purists, but never mind, they don't work as much as I do."

Hunter's first marriage was to Robbie Anderson from 1963 to 1973, with whom he had a son, named James Hunter. His next marriage was to actress Pat Bishop, in 1976. His third marriage was to artist and television presenter Rhoda Roberts, from 1993 until their divorce in 1999. Hunter was a supporter of the Australian Labor Party, appearing in the party's official 1996 Federal Election Campaign advertisement. On 15 May 2011, Hunter was admitted to Caritas Christi hospice in Kew after refusing to go to a hospital. Surrounded by family and friends, he died of liver cancer on 21 May 2011, aged 71. A memorial service for Hunter was held at Melbourne's Princess Theatre on 26 May 2011. Close friend and co star Mick Molloy paid tribute to Bill Hunter on stage at the 54th Logie Awards in April 2012.

Year Title Role Notes 1970 Ned Kelly Officer (uncredited) Feature film 1974 27A Cornish 1974 Stone Barman Feature film 1975 (a. k. a. The Dragon Flies) Peterson 1976 Eliza Fraser Youlden Feature film 1976 Mad Dog Morgan Sgt. Smith Feature film 1977 Backroads Jack 1978 In Search of Anna Peter 1978 Newsfront Len Maguire Feature filmAFI Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role 1978 Weekend of Shadows Bosun 1980 Dead Man's Float (a. k. a. Smuggler’s Cove) Eddie Bell 1980 Hard Knocks Brady 1981 Gallipoli Major Barton AFI Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role 1981 Stephen 1982 Heatwave Robert Duncan Feature film 1982 Far East Walker 1983 Harry 1983 Tupper / Coach 1984 Street Hero Detective Fitzpatrick 1985 Colonel Chinstrap 1985 Rebel Browning Feature film 1986 Death of a Soldier Detective Sgt. Adams 1986 Sky Pirates O'Reilly Feature film 1987 The Shiralee Extra 1988 Rikky and Pete Whitstead 1989 Fever Sgt. Jack Welles 1989 Mull Frank Mullens 1990 Call Me Mr. Brown Detective Sergeant ‘Jim’ Jack McNeill 1991 Deadly Vernon Giles 1992 Beth's Father Feature film 1992 Strictly Ballroom Barry Fife Feature film 1993 Broken Highway Wilson Feature film 1993 The Custodian Managing director 1993 Shotgun Wedding Police Commissioner Andrews Feature film 1994 Bob Feature film 1994 Everynight Everynight Berriman 1994 Muriel's Wedding Bill Heslop Feature film 1996 Cody: Fall from Grace Sam Wolfe TV film 1996 Race the Sun Commissioner Hawkes 1996 River Street Vincent Pierce Feature film 1997 Road to Nhill Bob Feature film 1998 15 Amore Brendan (voice) Feature film 1998 Cooper (uncredited) TV film 2000 On the Beach Prime Minister Seaton TV film 2002 Crackerjack Stan Coombs Feature film 2003 Finding Nemo Philip Sherman (voice) Feature film 2003 Bad Eggs Ted Pratt Feature film 2003 Horseplay Barry Coxhead 2003 Kangaroo Jack Blue Feature film 2004 Tom White Malcolm Feature film 2008 Gil Hubbard Feature film 2008 Australia Skipper (Qantas Sloop) Feature film 2010 The Wedding Party Priest Feature film 2010 Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole Bubo (voice) Animated feature film 2011 Red Dog Himself Feature film 2011 Bart Cummings Feature filmFinal film appearance

Hunter won the 1978 AFI Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for Newsfront, and the 1981 Best Supporting Actor award for Gallipoli. In 2001, he was awarded the Centenary Medal for service to acting.