Photo: Stephen Michael Barnett / CC BY 2.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
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
- Blood type
- Private
- Height
- Private
- Agency
- Private
- Occupation
- dancer / screenwriter / film actor / actor
2. Background
- Elementary school
- Private
- Junior high
- Private
- High school
- Private
- University
- Private
Awards & achievements
- 2001 Centenary Medal
- 1987 Member of the Order of Australia
- 2014 Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actor
- Red Ochre Award
3. Relationships
- Spouse
- Private
- Children
- Private
- Parents
- Private
- Siblings
- Private
4. Personality
Motto
Private
6. Links
- Official sitehttp://www.gulpilil.com/
- Wikipedia (Japanese)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David%20Gulpilil
Frequently asked questions
When was David Gulpilil born?
July 1, 1953 – November 29, 2021.
Where is David Gulpilil from?
David Gulpilil is from Maningrida, Northern Territory, Australia.
What does David Gulpilil do?
David Gulpilil works as dancer, screenwriter, film actor, actor.
Dancer — see all → · Screenwriter — see all → · More people from Australia →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-19
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public items are marked "Private / Unknown". English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.