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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Jamie Roberts

Tony Barry dead: Star of Australia and The Night We Called It A Day dies

Veteran actor Tony Barry has died at the age of 81.

The performer who boasted a CV of over 100 films and TV shows starred alongside some of the biggest names in the industry, and the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance shared a tribute to him as news broke.

Their post on Facebook read: "Vale Australian veteran actor Tony Barry who passed away. Despite the difficulties caused by his illness, Tony worked up until shortly before his death.

"In addition to his acting career, Tony was also known for his many years of volunteer work including Indigenous rights."

The words were met by messages of condolence from a number of Tony's famous friends, including Dr Quinn star Jane Seymour, who wrote: "'Nooooo...a most kind man and wonderful actor."

Fat Pizza actor Will Ward also commented to say Tony was "the most supportive person I've ever met in 18 years in the industry".

Filmmaker Dame Gaylene Preston also wrote on Facebook saying: "It is with a heavy heart that we farewell Tony Barry who died peacefully yesterday at Murwillumbah NSW after a long illness. … He was one of a kind.

"A fierce fighter for the underdog, working for indigenous rights and as part of rehabilitation programmes in the justice system and for the environment. He considered himself an honorary Kiwi being the only Australian to feature on a NZ postage stamp for his role in Goodbye Pork Pie."

Meanwhile on Twitter, Anthony Hayes was among those paying tribute. The director of Gold starring Zac Efron wrote: "#tonybarry was an excellent actor. Brimming with warmth beneath his gruff exterior. You can’t bottle that stuff. You have it or you don’t. Beautiful man. Vale. X"

Tony's long career began in 1968 as he made a guest appearance role on Skippy, the famous series about a bush kangaroo.

He starred alongside Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman in Australia (AFP/Getty Images)

Arguably his most famous role came four decades later in 2008 when he starred alongside Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman in Baz Luhrmann's Australia. He portrayed the role of Sgt Callahan in the blockbuster.

Elsewhere, his most notable appearances on the big screen came in The Night We Called It A Day alongside Rose Byrne and Mystery Road, which also starred Hugo Weaving.

The actor had a long-running battle with health problems and in 2013 had to have his leg amputated after it became infected with melanoma.

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