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Melbourne - American-born actor Gus Mercurio, who starred in several Australian television series and appeared in films such as The Blue Lagoon and Crocodile Dundee II, has died from complications during surgery. He was 82.
Mercurio died on Tuesday while in surgery for a chest aneurysm, said his son, Paul Mercurio.
Gus Mercurio is survived by his second wife, Rita, and six children, including Paul, who starred in the hit 1992 film Strictly Ballroom.
"There's a little bit of sunshine that's just gone out and will never be replaced," Paul told Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio on Wednesday. "It's a great shame. I would have loved him to have written his autobiography so that I could really know all about him."
Acting career
Gus Mercurio was born Augustino Eugenio Mercurio in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His raspy voice and acting talents brought him to the attention of Australian TV networks, and he won starring roles in the popular series Cash and Company and Tandarra.
He played guest roles in a number of Australian police series, and his film appearances included the two Blue Lagoon movies, The Man from Snowy River and Crocodile Dundee II.
The actor was also a professional boxer and president of the Australian Boxing Hall of Fame. For 13 years, he was the commentator on a regular Sunday morning boxing segment on Channel Seven's "World of Sport".
Actress Sigrid Thornton, who worked with him in The Man from Snowy River, called Mercurio a kind and generous man with a positive attitude.
"He had his life as an actor and as a boxer, and you have to be a fighter to stay in the acting process," Thornton told the Sydney Morning Herald. "I imagine there was something about Australia that attracted him. He had a relaxed charm about him."
