Photo: Stephen Michael Barnett / CC BY 2.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
David Gulpilil was born on July 1, 1953 in Maningrida, Northern Territory, Australia and was credited as a dancer, screenwriter and film actor. David Gulpilil died on November 29, 2021 at the age of 68. Awards on record include Centenary Medal (2001), Member of the Order of Australia (1987), Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actor (2014) and 1 more.
My Take
David Gulpilil is, for me, one of the most magnetic screen presences Australia ever produced. Raised in a traditional Yolngu life in Arnhem Land, he carried that authenticity into Walkabout, Crocodile Dundee, Rabbit-Proof Fence and The Tracker, bridging two worlds with extraordinary grace. He danced and acted as one continuous art, telling stories with his whole body and those unforgettable eyes. His 2014 Cannes Best Actor award felt like recognition long overdue for Indigenous artistry. Since his death in 2021 I've valued his work even more as a record of dignity and presence that cinema rarely captures.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- David Gulpilil
- Name (Japanese)
- デヴィッド・ガルピリル
- Reading
- でゔぃっど・がるぴりる
- Born
- July 1, 1953 – November 29, 2021
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Cancer / Snake
- Origin
- Maningrida, Northern Territory, Australia
- Occupation
- dancer / screenwriter / film actor / actor
2. Background
Awards & achievements
- 2001 Centenary Medal
- 1987 Member of the Order of Australia
- 2014 Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actor
- Red Ochre Award
3. Links
- Official sitehttp://www.gulpilil.com/
- Wikipedia (English)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David%20Gulpilil
- Wikidatahttps://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q731111
4. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-19
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was David Gulpilil born?
Born July 1, 1953.
When did David Gulpilil die?
Died November 29, 2021, aged 68.
Where was David Gulpilil from?
David Gulpilil was from Maningrida, Northern Territory, Australia.
What did David Gulpilil do?
David Gulpilil worked as dancer, screenwriter, film actor, actor.
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