Jack Charles facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jack Charles
Charles holding his record in 2019
Born	(1943-09-05)5 September 1943 Carlton, Victoria, Australia
Died	13 September 2022(2022-09-13) (aged 79) Parkville, Victoria, Australia
Other names	Uncle Jack Charles
Occupation	Actor musician activist Aboriginal elder
Years active	1970–2022

Jack Charles (born 5 September 1943 – died 13 September 2022) was a famous Australian actor and activist. Many people knew him as Uncle Jack Charles. He was a respected Aboriginal elder and worked hard to support Aboriginal people.

Jack Charles helped start the first Indigenous theatre group in Australia. It was called Nindethana Theatre and he co-founded it in Melbourne in 1971. He acted in many films and TV shows. Some of his well-known roles were in The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith (1978), Cleverman (2016), and Preppers (2021).

As a child, Jack Charles was part of the Stolen Generations. This was a time when Aboriginal children were taken from their families. This experience caused him much pain. Later in life, he became a mentor for young Aboriginal people. He helped those who were in the prison system. He was also a role model for young Indigenous people.

Jack Charles received many awards for his work. In 2015, he was named Victorian Senior Australian of the Year. In 2022, he won Male Elder of the Year at the National NAIDOC Week Awards.

Jack Charles's Early Life

Jack Charles was born on 5 September 1943. He was born in Carlton, Melbourne, Victoria. His mother was 15 years old and from the Bunurong people. His father was from the Wiradjuri people.

Jack's great-great-grandfather was a Djadjawurrung man. He was an activist who fought for his people's rights. This was at the Coranderrk reserve in 1881.

When Jack was a baby, he was taken from his mother. This was part of a government program called the Stolen Generations. He was only four months old when authorities took him away.

He was raised in a Salvation Army Boys' Home in Box Hill, Melbourne. He was the only Aboriginal child there. He did not know he was Aboriginal and thought he was an orphan. Later, he found out his mother was still alive.

At 14, he lived with a foster mother, Mrs Murphy. She treated him well. When he was 17, he had a disagreement with her. He was then taken away again. As a teenager, he met some of his brothers and sisters. He later learned more about his birth family.

Acting and Theatre Career

Namila Benson, Jack Charles and Baker Boy at Night With Uncle Jack at the Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne, November 2021

Jack Charles began his acting career in 1970. He started in theatre in Melbourne. He joined the New Theatre and acted in several plays. He said this theatre was like his acting school and family.

He helped create Indigenous theatre in Australia. In 1971, he co-founded Nindethana Theatre in Melbourne. This was Australia's first Indigenous theatre group. Their first popular play was Jack Charles is Up and Fighting in 1972. He also wrote music for this play.

Many people call him "the grandfather of Indigenous theatre". This is because of his important early work. He also helped start the National Black Theatre in Redfern, Sydney.

In 1974, he played Bennelong in a play at the Sydney Opera House. A young David Gulpilil was also in the cast.

In 2010, Jack Charles performed his own show called Jack Charles v The Crown. In this show, he shared his life story. He talked about being taken from his family and the challenges he faced. The show toured all over Australia and to other countries for ten years. He was nominated for an award for his performance.

Film and Television Roles

In 1972, Jack Charles tried out for a TV show called Boney. He wanted to play the main Aboriginal character. But a white actor got the role instead. This made him realize that Aboriginal actors needed more opportunities. This led him to help create Nindethana Theatre.

A documentary film called Bastardy followed Jack Charles for seven years. It showed his life and struggles. The film won several awards. Jack Charles said the film helped him turn his life around. It also helped him get more acting jobs.

He played Chief Great Little Panther in the 2015 fantasy film Pan. He also appeared in the comedy show Black Comedy from 2014 to 2020. In 2016, he was in the TV drama series Wolf Creek and Cleverman. In 2021, he appeared in the comedy series Preppers.

Radio Appearances

Jack Charles was often interviewed on ABC Radio. He shared his stories and experiences with many people.

Other Activities and Later Life

Jack Charles learned to make pottery while in prison in the 1970s. He became very skilled and taught other prisoners. He found making pottery to be very calming.

He became a role model for young Indigenous men. He helped them connect with their culture. He also mentored Aboriginal people in Victorian prisons and youth detention centres. He wanted more community centers for Aboriginal people. These centers would be safe places for people to talk about their issues.

Jack Charles and Archie Roach at "A Night with Uncle Jack", 2019

In 2017, Jack Charles gave a talk at TEDx in Sydney. He spoke about his passion for mentoring prisoners. He also worked with musician Uncle Archie Roach through the Archie Roach Foundation. They worked together to help Aboriginal prisoners.

In 2019, he went on a speaking tour called A Night with Jack Charles. He shared his life story with audiences. He talked about his journey and how he had changed.

His memoir, Jack Charles: Born-Again Blakfella, was published in 2020. It was written by Namila Benson. The book was nominated for an award.

In April 2021, Jack Charles spoke at the Yoorrook Justice Commission. This commission listens to the experiences of Aboriginal Victorians. It aims to create an official record of their history since British colonisation.

Death and Legacy

In his later life, Jack Charles was often called Uncle Jack or Uncle Jack Charles. This is a sign of deep respect for an Aboriginal elder. He is remembered as "the grandfather of Indigenous theatre".

Jack Charles passed away on 13 September 2022. He was 79 years old. His family held a smoking ceremony to say goodbye. Many people in Australia and around the world shared their sadness. The Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese, said Jack Charles left a "joyous legacy".

A state memorial was held for him in Melbourne. It was streamed live into prisons and youth justice centers. Many people attended to honor his life. Speakers talked about how he gave back to the community.

Awards and Recognition

Jack Charles was featured in the 2008 documentary Bastardy.

A photograph of Jack Charles taken by Rod McNicol hangs in the National Portrait Gallery of Australia. It won an award in 2012. A portrait of him by Anh Do won the People's Choice Award in the 2017 Archibald Prize.

His awards and honors include:

• 2009: Tudawali Award for his lifetime work in Indigenous media.
• 2014: Lifetime Achievement award from Victoria's Green Room Awards. He was the first Indigenous person to receive it.
• 2015: Named Victorian Senior Australian of the Year.
• 2019: Red Ochre Award, a lifetime achievement award from the Australia Council.
• 2022: Male Elder of the Year at the National NAIDOC Week Awards.

Jack Charles's Family Life

Jack Charles's five times great-grandfather was Mannalargenna. He was a respected Aboriginal Tasmanian elder and leader. His four times great-grandmother, Woretemoeteyenner, was a strong Aboriginal Tasmanian woman. She stood up for her community. His grandmother, Annie Johnson, was important in the history of the Murray River region. She helped families during flu outbreaks.

Jack met his sisters, Esmae and Eva Jo Charles, when he was a teenager. They visited him in prison in the 1980s. They later found another sister, Christine Zenip Charles. Jack met his mother when he was 19.

In 2021, he learned who his father was. This happened when he was on the TV show Who Do You Think You Are?. His father was Hilton Hamilton Walsh, a Wiradjuri man.

Jack Charles had a relationship with Jack Huston in the 1970s. Jack Huston helped him and Bob Maza start Nindethana Theatre. He also helped Jack Charles learn to love ballet and opera. After this, Jack Charles chose to remain single.

Selected Filmography