Australian screen legend Jack Thompson honoured as he fights for life aged 86

Australian screen legend Jack Thompson has been honoured for his remarkable six-decade career with heartfelt tributes from Hollywood’s finest amid mounting health issues. The iconic actor, credited with helping create the Australian film industry as we know it, received messages from acting greats this week in his role as president of the Asia-Pacific Screen Academy.

Jack Thompson’s fight at 86 “Jack Thompson, the force of a man and a great force in film,” Hollywood icon Sean Penn said, as Aussie co-stars and colleagues rallied behind the beloved larrikin. Among the messages was a surprise video from a co-star who holds a special place in Thompson’s heart, and who first met the actor on set in 1970 when he was just six years old. “He has always been a mentor. What’s more important? He’s my mate,” Academy Award winner Russell Crowe said.

“I met Jack first on a set in 1970 when I was six years old and delivered my first on-camera line to Jack Thompson. He’s been a huge influence in my life and I appreciate him deeply.” An emotional Thompson responded: “Oh, you lovely bastard. That’s fantastic, mate.” “Wow. I’ve got so many here. Wow, truly, wow. I wouldn’t be able to get through them all,” he said. But behind the celebrations lies a serious health battle. Thompson is now hooked up to dialysis every three days. “The nephrologist said, well, Mrs Thompson, you can have a dialysed Jack or you can have a dead Jack,” he revealed.

Despite the challenges, the actor who has appeared in more than 100 shows and movies remains defiant. “So I’m living on borrowed time and I’m going to go on borrowing that time,” Thompson said. An orphan raised by poets, Thompson says his extraordinary life has been anything but dull. “I love life. It’s the only thing I know,” he said. At 86 and still keen to work, Australia’s screen icon isn’t ready to depart just yet.