John Cornell dead: The Paul Hogan Show star dies aged 80

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John Cornell, a legend of Australian screen and the man behind Paul Hogan’s success, has died age 80 after long battle with Parkinson’s disease.

John Cornell, a legend of Australian screen and the man behind Paul Hogan’s success, has died age 80 after long battle with Parkinson’s disease.

The producer behind The Paul Hogan Show and Crocodile Dundee films died peacefully this morning in Byron Bay with his wife and eldest daughter. His youngest said her farewells over the phone from the UK.

His family said in a statement this morning: “A classic Australian character, John Cornell made the lives he touched much richer, not only through donations, but also through his generosity of spirit, humour, humility and honour. A true egalitarian, John sought equity and equality, and fought for a fair go.”

Cornell, affectionately known as ‘Strop’, has battled the illness for 20 years. He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Delvene Delaney, and daughters Melissa, Allira and Liana.

Born in 1941, Cornell’s long media career began as a journalist in Perth. In 1971, while working for Mike Willesee on A Current Affair, he met Paul Hogan and became his manager.

The two Aussie icons worked together on The Paul Hogan Show, on which Cornell appeared as the character Strop, prompting the nickname by which he was known for much of his life.

In 1986, they produced Crocodile Dundee, the most profitable Australian movie of all time having raked in $47 million.

Not only did Cornell make a significant mark on Australian cinema, he was responsible for taking the concept of World Series Cricket to Kerry Packer.

After presenting the idea of a one-off match involving Australia’s best players to Packer, who had just inherited Channel Nine and Australian Consolidated Press at the time, the two men set ahead secretly signing cricketers to be involved.

While the first season tanked, by 1978, an estimated crowd of 52,000 filled the SCG when Australia played the West Indies, all passionately singing C’mon Aussie C’mon!, a sport jingle so popular it hit No.1 on the Australian charts.

Cornell was the driving force behind the event’s marketing, approaching Allan Johnston and Alan Morris to pen the song.

His widow Delvene Delaney told News Corp of his devastating condition last year: “I don’t mean there haven’t been difficult moments, but John is probably the bravest man I know.

“He never complains, he never asks ‘why me?’, and he’s always trying to make sure other people are all right.”



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