Jack Charles (1943-2022) *79

also known as Uncle Jack Charles, was an Aboriginal Australian stage and screen actor, known for his advocacy for Aboriginal people. He was involved in establishing the first Indigenous theatre in Australia, co-founding Nindethana Theatre with Bob Maza in 1971. His film credits include the Australian film The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith (1978), among others, and more recently appeared in TV series Cleverman (2016) and Preppers (2021).

He spent many decades in and out of prison and as a heroin addict, which he ascribed largely to trauma that he experienced as a child, as one of the Stolen Generations. In later life he became a mentor for Aboriginal youth in the prison system along with musician Archie Roach, and was revered as an elder. He was also a gay icon and role model for LGBTQI+ Indigenous youth, whom he encouraged to be true to themselves, although he chose to remain "a loner" for most of his life, after an early relationship.