Veteran sports broadcaster Darrell Eastlake dies aged 75

In a 40 year career, Darrell Eastlake, who died today, was celebrated for colourful commentary in a variety of sports.

Darrell Eastlake with his wife Julie and dog Please, at his Terrigal home in 2010.

Veteran sports broadcaster Darrell Eastlake has died following an eight year battle with emphysema and Alzheimer’s disease.

The 75-year-old former Wide World of Sports commentator, known best as the voice of the State of Origin, passed away in an aged care facility on the NSW Central Coast early this morning.

In a career that spanned 40 years, Mr Eastlake was widely celebrated for the exciting, colourful commentary he brought to a variety of sports from rugby league and surfing to weightlifting and Formula One championships.

His enthusiastic commentary was once so overwhelming that he was forcibly removed from the floor of the 1990 Auckland Commonwealth Games.

Among other tributes, Peter FitzSimons tweeted: “Fine man, great broadcaster. Long remembered for his State of Origin calls and his outcries of ‘What a HUGE man,’ during weightlifting at Commonwealth Games.”

Breaking
Nine News reporting that Daryl Eastlake has passed away.
Fine man, great broadcaster.
Long remembered for his State of Origin calls, and his outcries of "What a HUGE man," during weight-lifting at Commonwealth Games. Feel privileged, to have worked with him. Vale.

— Peter FitzSimons (@Peter_Fitz) April 18, 2018

But it was his role as the voice of the State of Origin during the 1980s where his talent truly shone.

He began working as a baggage handler for Qantas before running a surf shop before his first media role as a surf reporter for 2UW radio station.

Mr Eastlake worked for the Nine Network between 1982 and 2005 when he retired with his wife Julie.

Darrell Eastlake and Michelle Keighran in 2004. Picture: Troy Bendeich.

Five years later, he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and emphysema.

Mrs Eastlake appeared on A Current Affair in 2016, discussing the deterioration of her beloved husband’s health and her decision to place him in a nursing home.

“He gets very down because he thinks he’s forgotten, but he’s not forgotten, he’s really and truly not,” Mrs Eastlake said.

“It’s been so hard for me to tell him he can’t come home. I do a lot of crying when I leave the nursing home ... I sit here and say to myself ‘where’s my man gone?’”

AFL commentator and Nine personality Eddie McGuire, who worked with Eastlake at the Commonwealth Games, said he was “larger than life”, and a man who did his homework.

“He was a great teammate and I had many great times with him. He was sensational on air,” McGuire told Triple M.

Sports and media personalities have turned out on social media to commemorate the life of legendary sports caller Darrell Eastlake this morning.

Saddened to hear the news that Darrell Eastlake has passed. A legendary Sports Commentator. #RIP

— Greg Clark (@greg_clarkie) April 18, 2018

Fox Sports chief rugby commentator Greg Clark said he was saddened to hear the news of Mr Eastlake’s death, describing him as a “legendary sports commentator”.

Sports reporter Ben Damon described Mr Eastlake as “a huge character and an iconic broadcaster”.

Television journalist Trevor Long recalled that Mr Eastlake had been “the voice of sport for me as a kid, the Origin, and most importantly for me FormulaOne”.

Sad news, Big Darrell Eastlake had died... he was the voice of sport for me as a kid, the Origin, and most importantly for me #F1. Thoughts with his family and friends...

— Trevor Long (@trevorlong) April 18, 2018

From across the Tasman, veteran New Zealand sports commentator Keith Quinn shared his fond memories working with the former Wide World of Sports star.

“RIP great Ozzie commentator Darrell Eastlake. Worked with him and loved his style,” Mr Quinn said.

“His huge voice out off the weightlifters at the 1990 Auckland Comm Games so they moved him to an outer room! We could still hear him!”

Broadcaster Ray Hadley paid tribute to Mr Eastlake on 2GB radio, saying he had been told of the sad news at 4.30am.

“Whether you’re a commentator like me or a footy fan … it’s a link to our youth that disappears with the passing of people like Darrell Eastlake,” he said.

He recalled listening to the commentary of Mr Eastlake and the late Jack Gibson back in the 1980s.

“Darrell was always overstated, Jack was always understated. They made a nice combination,” Mr Hadley said.

“He was a really nice man with a huge talent, huge being the word he used many many times in his commentary and a gentleman in every respect”.

Many established commentators and journalists have attributed their love of sport to the veteran commentator’s larger-than-life ability.

For those of my vintage, Darrell Eastlake elevated the role of the sports commentator. Whether you liked his style or not, he made you interested in what he was calling. Sad to hear of his passing. Loved his work.

— Shane Anderson (@Globalgallop) April 18, 2018

Racing broadcaster Shane Anderson said he had always loved the excitement Mr Eastlake brought to every game he called.

“For those of my vintage, Darrell Eastlake elevated the role of the sports commentator,” Mr Anderson said.

“Whether you liked his style or not, he made you interested in what he was calling. Sad to hear of his passing”.

Motorsport reporter Conor McNally described Mr Eastlake’s work as “definitely unique and one of a kind”.

“Very much a part of my childhood and teenage years. Thank you Darrell”.

Radio broadcaster Alan Jones said Mr Eastlake was a “fixture on our television screens and on radio for more than 40 years”.

“Very sad, a lovely fellow. Remember the big booming voice,” he said.

Motorsport writer Will Dale called Mr Eastlake an “icon of Formula One, Motor GP and Indy car coverage for an entire generation of Aussies”.

“Thanks for the memories. Rest easy Daz,” he said.

NRL boss Todd Greenberg has also joined the tributes, describing Mr Eastlake as the voice that personified State of Origin.

“His calls were always colourful, larger than life, and he oozed passion through every tackle or big moment,” Greenberg said.

“Darrell will always be part of the rich history of State of Origin and he played an important role in the growth of the contest as a whole.”