‘That’s not a knife’: 30 years since Crocodile Dundee put Australia on the map

THE first time many Americans had even heard of Australia was because of Crocodile Dundee, which brought the Outback to life. It’s 30 years on, so where are the Dundee stars now?

THE first time many Americans had even heard of Australia was because of a film that brought the Outback to life.

After huge success at home, Crocodile Dundee was released in the US in September 1986. The low-budget success literally put us on the map.

The brainchild of star Paul Hogan and producer John Cornell, the likeable movie made terms like ‘that’s not a knife’ a talking point among the buzz that is moviemaking Hollywood.

WHERE ARE THE DUNDEE STARS NOW? SCROLL DOWN TO FIND OUT

One of Hogan’s close mates, Shane Jacobson, believes Hogan still hasn’t received enough recognition 30 years on.

“It is time for Australia to remember to celebrate him,’’ Jacobson said.

Paul Hogan with his wife and Crocodile Dundee co-star Linda Kozlowski.

“He is the one that put Australia on the map.

“The expression is used a lot but he is the only who has the right to say it. Australia was no. 56 on the world holidays destination list and he took it to no. 1 in America. It was the most successful tourism campaign on the planet.”

Jacobson met Hogan while promoting his own film Kenny, which is this year celebrating its 10th anniversary.

He said Hogan was still living in the US to be with his teenage son Chance, but would love to live in Australia.

Hogan, who played Mick Dundee, ended up marrying his co-star Linda Kozlowski, who played American reporter Sue Charlton.

“He is the master and one of my heroes and I get joy out of being able to spend time with him,’’ Jacobson said.

“He and Linda are still great mates and were together for over 25 years. They could never have thought it could be the success it went on to be. It was just an insane ride. He said it was like a runaway train. I’ve been with him in America when people yell out ‘Dundee’.

John Meillon and Paul Hogan on the set of Crocodile Dundee.

“The truth is he’s quite homesick but Chance is a young boy and he doesn’t want to uproot him. He’s a great dad and he’s spending as much time as he can with his son.”

The plot was fairly straightforward: American reporter Sue Charlton, played by relative newcomer Linda Kozlowski travels to Walkabout Creek in search of a bushman rumoured to have lost half a leg to a crocodile.

She meets Mick Dundee, Hogan, whose legs are intact, but he charms her with his courage and bush smarts.

The chemistry with Kozlowski was obvious, and romance blossomed with Hogan splitting with his first wife Noelene Edwards soon after.

Hogan and Edwards have five children together.

Kozlowski and Hogan were married for 23 years, and their divorce was finalised in 2014. They share custody of Chance.

Hogan has been quoted as saying: “How can you ‘fail’ after a quarter of a century.

“Failed marriages are when two people stay together even though they have long ago lost interest.”

Hogan and Kozlowski were married for 23 years.

Kozlowski’s acting career didn’t take off as most would have anticipated and the next decade included bit parts and cameos.

In more recent years Hogan was better known for his high-profile battles with the Australian Taxation Office, with few acting credits outside Dundee’s two sequels.

One of those films was Charlie & Boots which was released in 2009. He has recently toured Australia with live shows.

Dean Murphy, the producer and director of Charlie & Boots, said Hogan was special.

“When I first lived in LA in ‘95 I was amazed people still only knew Paul Hogan and Steve Irwin,’’ he said.

“He’s totally easygoing and down to earth and laughs a lot. He had gone over and had all this success but he didn’t even mention it. He’d just say I’m glad people enjoyed it. In a way (Crocodile Dundee) was like turning up at the Olympics in bare feet and running the 100m and then winning gold.”

The ABC in 2014 produced a documentary on Hogan’s life, and a Channel 7 miniseries is due for release next year starring Josh Lawson as Hogan.

‘That’s not a knife’.

PAUL HOGAN

Despite his massive profile after playing Mick Crocodile Dundee, Hogan has few other acting credits to his name outside the film’s two sequels and a few cameos in the ‘90s and early 2000s.

Recently, he is probably better known for his multimillion-dollar battles with the Tax Office.

Hogan met his second wife on set in co-star Linda Kozlowski, to whom he was married for 23 years. They filed for divorce in 2013 and share custody of their 17-year-old son Chance.

A Channel 7 miniseries is set for next year starring Josh Lawson.

LINDA KOZLOWSKI

It seemed certain that the American actor’s breakthrough role as intrepid reporter Sue Charlton would be a ticket to stardom.

But on-screen success wasn’t to be. She walked away from acting 10 years later having garnered a handful of small film roles.

DAVID GULPILIL

The veteran Aboriginal actor’s early-career character “Nev” was responsible for some of the film’s funniest scenes. He went on to star in The Tracker, Rabbit-Proof Fence, Australia, Charlie’s Country and most recently Goldstone.

But his career has been studded with brushes with the law, notably a stint in jail for assaulting his wife Miriam.

MARK BLUM

The now 66-year-old American actor played Sue’s editor and love interest back in the US. He went on to have a productive TV and Broadway stage career.

JOHN MEILLON

Meillon’s roles as Mick’s business partner in both the film and its sequel were among his last.

He had an illustrious 30-year career, most notably in My Name’s McGooley, What’s Yours?

He had appeared in radio plays since he was a boy, toured with Shakespeare companies and even received an OBE for services to theatre in 1979. Meillon died of liver cirrhosis in 1989 aged 55.

REGINALD VELJOHNSON

Playing a chauffeur who saves Mick from a gang attack, the now 63-year-old had bit-parts in Die Hard and Die Hard 2 as well as countless TV roles. He spent 1989-1998 starring as Carl Winslow in beloved comedy Family Matters and more recently appeared in Hart of Dixie until 2015.