Indigenous actor Tom E Lewis dies aged 59

Indigenous actor Tom E Lewis, who starred in The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith and A Town Like Alice has died aged 59.

Tom E. Lewis, in the film Finding Maawirrangga. Picture: Supplied.

Indigenous actor Tom E Lewis — who starred in The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith and A Town Like Alice — has died at the age of 59 in Katherine.

The actor and musician had a heart attack; his agent confirmed he died suddenly at his home in the Northern Territory town of Katherine overnight.

A family statement said: “It is with tremendous sadness that we confirm the sudden passing of T. E. Lewis late last night at his home in Katherine, Northern Territory.

“Mr Lewis will be forever remembered for his compelling and enduring work on stage and screen over 40 years, as a renowned musician, and as the driving force and vision behind Djilpin Arts with his partner and his extended family of Beswick and Arnhem Land communities.

“He will be greatly missed.”

Lewis was also an accomplished musician and in 2001 he started a cultural foundation the Djilpin Arts Aboriginal Corporation in the Northern Territory.

His break out role was the wild character of Jimmie in the 1978 movie Chant of the Jimmie Blacksmith, which explored the racism towards indigenous Australians in colonial Australia.

He was also known for his role in A Town Like Alice, a mini-series which aired in 1981 about a couple separated by the chaos of WWII.

As well as his extensive acting career he was also a musician playing in the acclaimed jazz duo, Lewis & Young in the 1990s.

In 2000 he was chosen to run with the Olympic torch through Melbourne.