Charles ‘Bud’ Tingwell (1923 – 2009)

Legendary Australian actor Charles ‘Bud’ Tingwell has passed away at the age of 86.

A veteran of stage and screen, Tingwell had been suffering from prostate cancer, but it was only in the last two weeks that his health took a stern turn for the worse.

International audiences will recognize Tingwell from his role in the smash-hit Australian comedy “The Castle”. They’d also have seen him in “Evil Angels” (released as “A Cry in the Dark’ in the states) with Meryl Streep, “Jindabyne’, “Irresistible” with Susan Sarandon and Sam Neill, “Ned Kelly” with Heath Ledger, and the TV remake of “On the Beach”. (Game fans might also recognize him as the voice of Hammond in the ‘Jurassic Park : Operation Genius’ game).

Tingwell, who appeared in over 100 films in his career, entered the film industry after serving as a pilot with the Royal Australian Air Force during World War Two.

He was best known for his roles in the film “Breaker Morant,” the Miss Marple “Murder” movies with Dame Margaret Rutherford, and more recently the abovementioned “The Castle”, TV shows “Homicide”, Britain’s “Emergency Ward 10”, and the local soap “Neighbours.” And who can forget his memorable turn opposite the ‘Piss-Weak Kids’ on “Late Show’ fave, ‘Charlie the Wonder Dog”!?

In 1952, Tingwell was invited to Hollywood where he played Lt. Carstairs in “The Desert Rats” with Richard Burton, James Mason and Chips Rafferty but he declined a contract to stay in the United States and returned to work in Australia and Britain.

Rob Sitch, director of “The Castle”, relayed an interesting story to radio 3AW today that can be heard online. Give it a listen.

ROB SITCH TALKS TO 3AW ABOUT CHARLES ‘BUD’ TINGWELL

Rest in peace, ‘Bud’.