John Cornell
Production
Biography
John Cornell (born 2 February 1941) a film producer, actor and businessman. An Australian icon, he was born in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia. Cornell once managed Paul Hogan and often appeared alongside Hogan in his popular television show The Paul Hogan Show as Strop, a dim-witted dinkum Aussie surf lifesaver. He produced and co-wrote the screenplay for Hogan's 1986 film, Crocodile Dundee that became the highest grossing Australian film ever. He also produced and directed the successful 1988 sequel, Crocodile Dundee II. Cornell was also involved in the initial stages of World Series Cricket. He was, in fact, one of the prime-movers in the setting up of WSC, working closely with Kerry Packer and Austin Robertson. Cornell married Australian television personality Delvene Delaney with two children together, Allira and Liana. His daughter Melissa was from a previous marriage. Until its sale for a record price of $65 million in 2007, Cornell owned the Beach Hotel, the most recognised pub in Byron Bay. He had built it for $9 million in 1990.
Known For
When a New York reporter plucks crocodile hunter Mick Dundee from the Australian Outback for a visit to the Big Apple, it's a clash of cultures and a recipe for good-natured comedy as naïve Dundee negotiates the concrete jungle. He proves that his instincts are quite useful in the city and adeptly handles everything from wily muggers to high-society snoots without breaking a sweat.
Crocodile Dundee
Australian outback expert protects his New York love from gangsters who've followed her down under.
Crocodile Dundee II
The Paul Hogan Show is a popular Australian comedy show which aired on Australian television from 1973 until 1984. It made a star of Paul Hogan, who later appeared in "Crocodile" Dundee. Hogan's friend John Cornell also appeared in the show, playing Hogan's dim flatmate Strop. The show also aired on the New York Tri-State area television WWOR channel 9, in the early 1980s. Episodes of the series generally opened with Hogan, playing a version of himself he called 'Hoges', presenting a stand-up comedy routine dressed in his bridge rigger's costume of boots, shorts, and shirt with sleeves cut off. The show then presented a series of comedy sketches, usually with Hogan in the lead role and playing various recurring characters, these include: ⁕Leo Wanker: an inept daredevil stuntman; ⁕George Fungus: a take-off of real-life television journalist George Negus of the Australian 60 Minutes; ⁕Super Dag: an ocker superhero complete with terry-towelling hat and zinc-creamed nose. His powers include his ability to use his esky in innovative ways; ⁕Perce the Wino: an old drunken derro who starred in a series of silent, Benny Hill-style, sketches; ⁕Donger: variants of this beer-gutted character include Sgt Donger, the tough cop with a bionic beer-gut, and Arthur Dunger, a caricature of the suburban tinny-chugging Australian male.
The Paul Hogan Show
Terry Dean is an electronics wizard and thief. After he is released from jail, he is hit by a car while saving a little girl's life. While in the hospital, he dreams that God visits him and tells him he's an Angel, and must start doing good things to make up for his past life. Not believing it at first, he soon becomes convinced he must be an Angel. Not having any Angel powers yet, he must use his own experiences and talents to make good things happen.
Almost an Angel
Nearly 40 years on, Crocodile Dundee remains Australia’s biggest film—what made it a cultural icon, and why does it still mean so much today?