Yahoo Serious faces tribunal over attempted eviction

Faded 1980s movie star Yahoo Serious has made a public appearance at the state’s civil tribunal over an effort to legally force him to vacate a house he is accused of squatting in begins.

Cult 80s movie star Yahoo Serious has said he was “close to death recently” and feels “persecuted” over efforts to evict him from an elderly man’s house where he is accused of squatting illegally.

The star of Australian indie film Young Einstein was invited to live in granny flat-style accommodation at the Palm Beach home of Charles “Phillip” Porter after falling on hard times, with Serious acting as the elderly man’s caretaker during the pandemic.

But Mr Porter’s power of attorney Margaret Charlton is now applying at the state’s tribunal to have Mr Serious removed over allegations he is now refusing to leave, so the house can be sold to fund Mr Porter’s care in the nursing home where he now resides.

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

“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,” Mr Serious said.

Yahoo Serious in Young Einstein.

Yahoo Serious today. Picture: Richard Dobson

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

In her original application to the tribunal, Ms Charlton refuted this suggestion.

Yahoo Serious pictured at the Palm Beach house where he currently resides. Picture: Jonathan Ng

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

“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.”

Ms Charlton further alleges Serious has so far refused to vacate the home, and does not pay any of the associated bills or otherwise maintain the home.

Images of the Palm Beach home.

Images of the Palm Beach home.

“He is not fulfilling any financial obligations, including rent or utility bills, which has placed considerable strain on the finances,” Ms Charlton wrote.

“Additionally, he is preventing us from accessing the property to prepare it for sale.”

Mr Serious told the tribunal his health was “very difficult”, and it is understood the former actor has recently been in treatment for 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,” Mr Serious told Mr Kinsey.

“(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 outside the tribunal on Wednesday. Picture: Richard Dobson

At tribunal on Wednesday, Ms Charlton could not be contacted, with the tribunal acknowledging documentation indicating she was in transit to the United States.

The matter will return to the tribunal no earlier than April 2.

The actor born Greg Pead starred in Young Einstein, Reckless Kelly and Mr Accident in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s and was previously married to film collaborator and Prisoner actor Lulu Pinkus.

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Originally published as Yahoo Serious faces tribunal over attempted eviction