Whether he was unearthing Paul Hogan, or taking the idea of World Series Cricket to Kerry Packer, or snapping up pubs and property decades before the Byron Bay boom, John Cornell knew what Australians wanted — often before they did.
The legendary filmmaker, actor, director and entrepreneur died on Friday at the age of 80 after a 20-year battle with Parkinson’s disease.
He was surrounded by his family, including his wife and television personality Delvene Delaney and eldest daughter, at his home at Byron Bay.
The career of John Cornell took off in 1971 when he met Paul Hogan.Credit: Ross Anthony Willis
“A classic Australian character, John Cornell made the lives he touched much richer, not only through donations, but also through his generosity of spirit, humour, humility and honour,” his family said in a statement. “A true egalitarian, John sought equity and equality, and fought for a fair go.”
His passing is considered a blessing from those close to him, including former Nine boss David Gyngell, who considered him a father figure.
Cornell had many professions during his career, from journalist to nightclub owner to milkman to bookmaker, although anything he touched seemingly turned to gold.
He was born in Kalgoorlie in 1941 and made his foray into journalism at Perth’s Daily News before turning his attention to broadcast news.
His career took off when, in 1971 while working for Mike Willesee on A Current Affair, he met Paul Hogan, who had been interviewed on the program.
Cornell’s family said he recognised the “quintessential larrikin qualities” in Hogan and the two teamed on the bond of a handshake.
He became Hogan’s manager and later appeared on the hugely successful The Paul Hogan Show as the character Strop, the name he was often referred to by many during his life.
Cornell was media magnate Kerry Packer’s confidante during World Series Cricket in the late 1970s.Credit: Fairfax Photographic
In 1986, they made Crocodile Dundee, which is still the most profitable Australian movie of all time.
Cornell was new to film producing when he and Hogan went to Kakadu for the shoot after raising the $8 million budget through private investors, including rock singer Michael Hutchence and leading cricketers, under the country’s tax incentives at the time.
“It’s gunna be good,” he told visiting journalists with a showman’s confidence.
He was right. Director Peter Faiman’s comedy about outback adventurer Mick Dundee took a triumphant $US328 million around the world. The only film to sell more tickets that year was Top Gun.
Cornell joined Hogan and Ken Shadie in being nominated for an Oscar for the script. In Australia, Crocodile Dundee is still the country’s most successful film at the box office with $47 million.
After succeeding as writer and producer, Cornell turned his hand to directing for the 1988 sequel, Crocodile Dundee II. It was also an international hit and took $24 million in this country.
Faiman described Cornell’s death as “very sad news” and said “John was a visionary and an inspiration to know and to work with. He influenced a whole generation in so many ways. There are not many like him around. He will be sadly missed.”
In 1976, Cornell left an indelible mark on Australian sport when he took to Packer the idea of World Series Cricket.
“John’s acute instincts and sharp intelligence drove his rebellious push of World Series Cricket against the establishment for higher recognition and bigger salaries for the world’s players of his favourite game, reimagining, marketing and capturing it in a brand-new form,” his family said in their statement.
Cornell was in a Perth hotel room with businessman Austin Robertson and Australian fast bowler Dennis Lillee, discussing the poor pay and conditions of Australian players.
David Gyngell, John Cornell and John Singleton at the Magic Millions horse race on the Gold Coast in January 2009.Credit: Steve Holland
Discussion turned to a one-off match involving Australia’s best players, with a portion of gate takings and revenue given to them.
“I think I know someone who might be interested in that,” Cornell said.
The person he had in mind was Packer, who was 40 at the time and a year earlier had inherited a media dynasty — including Channel Nine (the owner of this masthead) and Australian Consolidated Press — from his legendary father Sir Frank Packer.
Packer and Cornell devised World Series Cricket, secretly signing the best players from the Australian team and from abroad. Cornell and Robertson secured England captain Tony Greig with a signature signed in Cornell’s front yard.
The first season of WSC tanked, with moderate crowds and interest from any media outside of Packer’s sphere.
While Packer was convincing the Neville Wran NSW government to erect lights at the SCG for the second season, Cornell was marching up the steps of Sydney advertising agency Mojo in search of a jingle to capture the hearts of the Australian public.
Industry titans Allan Johnston and Alan Morris came up with C’mon Aussie C’mon! and it became so popular it was the No.1 hit on Australian singles charts for two weeks.
On November 28, 1978, with the song blaring through the loudspeakers, Australia played the West Indies in the opening match of the season.
Abe Forsythe, left, played John Cornell in “Howzat! Kerry Packer’s War” about the World Series Cricket revolution. Pictured also are Cariba Heine (Delvene Delaney) and Travis McMahon (Paul Hogan).Credit: Dallas Kilponen
The crowd swelled by the tea break, prompting Packer to order the gates to be open to the public waiting outside.
“That was the first time I heard the song and the crowd singing it,” Australian captain Ian Chappell said. “That’s when I felt we were the Australian side.”
An estimated crowd of 52,000 had filled the SCG. Cornell raced the figure to the press box and declared: “The people have found truth”.
“I don’t mean there haven’t been difficult moments, but John is probably the bravest man I know,” Delaney told News Corp last year. “He never complains, he never asks ‘why me?’, and he’s always trying to make sure other people are all right.”
Nine’s director of television Michael Healy said Cornell had “made magic on television” for decades.
Cornell, Delaney and Hogan in November 1976.Credit: Herald Archives
“John Cornell was a man of enormous intellect and a creative genius who managed to touch so many, but as importantly he was a man with a big heart that filled a room,” he said.
Cornell and his family moved to a farm in Byron Bay in 1980. He bought the Hotel Brunswick and built the Beach Hotel in 1991. He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2001.
Cornell is survived by Delaney, who he was married to for 46 years, and daughters Melissa, Allira and Liana Cornell.
with Garry Maddox
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