Australian movie star Yahoo Serious hits back over home dispute

Embattled Aussie actor Yahoo Serious insists he’s not done anything wrong, amid claims he’s been squatting in an elderly man’s home.

Australian actor Yahoo Serious has hit back at claims he’s been squatting in an elderly man’s home, insisting he’s “never” done anything illegal.

The Young Einstein actor, born Greg Gomez Pead, was evicted from his Avalon Beach home in 2020 for unpaid rent and had later resorted to sleeping in his car while homeless.

He later met pensioner Charles ‘Phillip’ Porter, who Serious, 71, claims allowed him to stay in a separate flat on his property.

However, it is now alleged that he has since moved into Porter’s main residence without permission, and in doing so has blocked the pensioner, who has dementia, from being able to sell it.

Yahoo Serious outside the home... Picture: Supplied.

...and a look inside. Picture: Supplied.

But Serious denied any wrongdoing in a rare public comment to the Daily Mail: “I don’t do things that are illegal and I never have,’ he told the outlet. “The [professional] work I have done has proved that.”

Porter’s power of attorney and landlord, Margaret Charlton, is now attempting to evict Serious from the property, claiming that he has refused to leave despite numerous requests. She also alleges that the actor doesn’t pay rent or contribute financially to the home’s upkeep or to Porter’s care.

“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 an NCAT application, according to Daily Telegraph.

“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.”

Yahoo Serious burst to international fame in 1988’s Young Einstein. Picture: Getty.

The NCAT hearing for Serious’ tenancy termination is set for March 19.

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.

A follow-up came five years later: Once again written, directed and starring Serious, Reckless Kelly saw the actor play a modern-day Ned Kelly character.

While Reckless Kelly performed strongly at Australian cinemas, it failed to catch on overseas, only making $5 million against a $20 million budget.

One further film followed in 2000, Mr Accident, which again made modest returns at the box office.

Originally published as Australian movie star Yahoo Serious hits back over home dispute