80s Australian actor Yahoo Serious claims he’s been ‘close to death’ amid squatting battle

Yahoo Serious told a tribunal he’s been ‘close to death’ recently amid allegations he’s been squatting in an ill pensioner’s home.

Australian actor Yahoo Serious has claimed that he was “close to death recently” amid controversy surrounding his alleged squatting.

Serious hit headlines earlier this month after he was accused of squatting in the home of Charles “Phillip” Porter, an elderly man with dementia.

While serious denied the accusations, Porter’s power of attorney Margaret Charlton is now applying at the state’s tribunal to have Serious removed from the property.

The reclusive actor appeared in person before Member Graham Kinsey at the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal in Sydney to respond to the application.

Actor Yahoo Serious arrives pictured at Sony Tropfest 2007 short film festival. Picture: Getty.

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“I’m greatly improving, I was very close to death very recently … I just, I’m coming good but I’m having trouble with just, recall of day to day things,” Serious said, according to Daily Telegraph.

“It will be a very complex thing, there’s been advice by – he goes by Phillip – Phillip’s lawyer has advised that I should stay in the property and be the caretaker.”

Serious told the tribunal his health was “very difficult”. It’s reported that the 80s star has recently been treated for a form of cancer.

“It’s a very complex case and a humanitarian, it’s very, I’ve been persecuted for the past two or three weeks, there’s people watching where I go all the time,” Serious told the tribunal.

“(The rental situation) was a verbal agreement – I really am sorry but my brain can’t do it, I know it sounds crazy, but really my brain has to leave.”

Yahoo Serious plays a violin in a scene from the Warner Bros movie Young Einstein. Picture: Getty.

However, Porter’s lawyer has alleged Serious’ claim to remain in the home is false.

“Due to his diagnosis of dementia, Mr Porter has been placed in a nursing home, and I hold power of attorney for his affairs,” Charlton wrote in her original complaint to the court.

“The Public Trustee has instructed me to sell the property in order to fund Mr Porter’s ongoing care.

“Failure to do so will result in his removal from his current care facility as he is an elderly patient with dementia.”

Serious’ breakout film, 1988’s Young Einstein was a zany, fictionalised account of the early life of Albert Einstein, featuring the star in the titular role, complete with wildly teased bouffant. The film was an instant smash here in Australia, becoming one of the top-grossing Aussie films of all time, and went on to make almost $25 million at the global box office against a $5 million budget.

Originally published as 80s Australian actor Yahoo Serious claims he’s been ‘close to death’ amid squatting battle