Jack Charles

Who is Jack Charles?

Jack Charles is an Australian Aboriginal actor, musician, potter, elder and 'national treasure'.

Born at Cummeragunja Mission on the Murray River, Charles was raised in a boys home in Box Hill, suburban Melbourne, where he was the only Indigenous child.

Charles was involved in establishing Indigenous theatre in Australia. In 1971 he co-founded Nindethana at The Pram Factory in Melbourne, Australia's first Indigenous theatre group. Their first hit play was called Jack Charles is Up and Fighting. In 2010, Ilbijerri Theatre staged his powerful one-man show called Jack Charles v The Crown.

In 1972 Charles auditioned for the role of an Australian Indigenous character in a television show but was knocked back because they were "looking for an actor with blue eyes." The job infamously went to New Zealand-born James Laurenson, an actor of Sri Lankan descent.

In 1974 Jack played Bennelong in the stage production of Cradle of Hercules which was presented at the Sydney Opera House as part of its opening season. Also in the cast was a very young David Gulpilil. In 2012 Charles performed in the Sydney Festival production I am Eora.