Jack Charles, also known as Uncle Jack Charles, was an Australian stage and screen actor and activist, known for his advocacy for Aboriginal people. He was involved in establishing the first Indigenous theatre in Australia, co-founding Nindethana Theatre with Bob Maza in Melbourne in 1971. His film credits include the Australian film The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith (1978), among others, and more recently appeared in TV series Wolf Creek (2016), Cleverman (2016-2017), and Preppers (2021).
Awards and honours include Tudawali Award at the Message Sticks Festival for his lifetime contribution to Indigenous media in 2009, Lifetime Achievement award from Victoria's Green Room Awards (the first Indigenous recipient) in 2014, Victorian Senior Australian of the Year by the Victorian Government in 2015, Red Ochre Award (a lifetime achievement award given by the Australia Council) in 2019, and Male Elder of the Year at the National NAIDOC Week Awards in 2022.
Charles died from a stroke on 13 September 2022 at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, eight days after his 79th birthday, and was given a farewell by his family with a smoking ceremony. His death was widely reported in the Australian and international press, with prime minister of Australia Anthony Albanese giving an oral tribute, saying that he left a "joyous legacy" and that Australia had "lost a legend of Australian theatre, film and creative arts".
