Augustino Eugenio Mercurio (10 August 19287 December 2010) better known as Gus Mercurio, was an American-born Australian character actor who appeared in radio, television, and film.

Early life

Mercurio, the eldest child of Vincent A. Mercurio and Cecilia W. "Mickey" Miller, was born in

West Bend, Wisconsin West Bend is the county seat of Washington County, Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 31,752. History Early history and settlement Northeastern Washington County's earliest known inhabitants were pre-Columbian Mound Builder ...

near Milwaukee. He had two sisters, Gerie and Connie, and a brother, Tony. His parents were divorced when he was seven. He visited Australia during the

1956 Melbourne Olympics The 1956 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, from 22 November to 8 December 1956, with the exception of the equestrian events, whi ...

and decided to stay.

Early career

His father had boxed professionally under the name of Vince McGurk, and one of his uncles had boxed professionally under the name of Ray Miller. Mercurio himself was a professional boxer, had served in the

United States Marine Corps The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for conducting expeditionary and amphibious operations through combi ...

and was also a chiropractorUpham, Pau
"Gus Mercurio"
. aussiebox.com.au, Retrieved 7 December 2010 Mercurio was also an international boxing judge (refereeing a world title fight) and was also a well-known boxing promoter. He later became the inaugural president of the

Australian National Boxing Hall of Fame Australian National Boxing Hall of Fame was founded in 2001 and began inducting boxers into the Hall of Fame in 2003. Since then annual induction dinners have been held across Australia. Inductees are nominated and then voted upon by a panel of ...

– into which he was inducted in 2008.

Radio, TV and film

He was successful at his first audition for an ABC radio play. His raspy voice, energetic personality and natural talents quickly came to the attention of Australian television production houses such as

Crawford Productions Crawford Productions is an Australian media production company, focused on radio and television production. Founded in Melbourne by Hector Crawford and his sister, actress and voice artist Dorothy Crawford, the company, also known as Crawfords ...

. He also worked as a commentator for Channel 7's '' World of Sport'', as well as acting as the movie host for Channel 10's ''Saturday Night with Gus Mercurio''.Hill, M., ''The actors' handbook: a guide to the Australian entertainment industry'', Artists Technologies, (Carlton), 2007, (), p.20. Mercurio appeared in several Australian TV series, including ''

Cash and Company ''Cash and Company'' is an Australian television period adventure series, which screened on the Seven Network in Australia in 1976 and on ITV (including the London Weekend Television and Anglia regions) in the UK. The series was set during t ...

'' (1975), its follow-up ''

Tandarra ''Tandarra'' is an Australian television series which screened on the Seven Network in Australia in 1976 and on ITV (including the London Weekend Television and Anglia regions) in the UK. It was a follow-up series to '' Cash and Company'' whic ...

'' (1976) and the miniseries ''Power Without Glory'' (1976). Additionally, he played many guest roles in Australian TV police series, including ''

Homicide Homicide occurs when a person kills another person. A homicide requires only a volitional act or omission that causes the death of another, and thus a homicide may result from accidental, reckless, or negligent acts even if there is no inten ...

'' (1964), ''

Division 4 ''Division 4'' is an Australian television police drama series made by Crawford Productions for the Nine Network between 1969 and 1975 for 301 episodes. Synopsis The series was one of the first dramas to follow up on the enormous success o ...

'' (1969) and ''

Matlock Police ''Matlock Police'' is an Australian television police drama series made by Crawford Productions for the 0-10 Network (now known as the 10 Network) between 1971 and 1976. The series focused on the police station and crime in the Victorian town o ...

'' (1971). His film appearances include '' The Blue Lagoon'' (1980), ''

The Man from Snowy River The Man from Snowy River may refer to: * "The Man from Snowy River" (poem), an 1890 Australian poem by Banjo Paterson. * '' The Man from Snowy River and Other Verses'' an 1895 poetry collection by Banjo Paterson (including the above) * ''The Man ...

'' (1982), ''

Turkey Shoot A turkey shoot is an opportunity for an individual or a party to take advantage of a situation with a significant degree of ease. The term likely originates from a method of hunting wild turkeys in which the hunter, coming upon a flock, intention ...

'' (1982), ''

Crocodile Dundee II ''Crocodile Dundee II'' is a 1988 action comedy film and the second of the ''Crocodile Dundee'' film series. It is a sequel to ''Crocodile Dundee'' (1986) and was followed by ''Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles'' (2001). Actors Paul Hogan and Lin ...

'' (1988), ''

Return to the Blue Lagoon ''Return to the Blue Lagoon'' is a 1991 American South Seas romantic adventure film directed and produced by William A. Graham and starring Milla Jovovich and Brian Krause. The film is a sequel to '' The Blue Lagoon'' (1980). The screenplay b ...

'' (1991) and ''

Doing Time for Patsy Cline ''Doing Time for Patsy Cline'' is a 1997 Australian film starring Miranda Otto, Richard Roxburgh, and Matt Day, and directed by Chris Kennedy. Plot Following a passion for country music, Ralph leaves his father's sheep farm in a remote Austral ...

'' (1997).

Family

Mercurio was married twice and fathered seven children, including dancer/actor

Paul Mercurio Paul Joseph Mercurio (born 31 March 1963) is an Australian actor, dancer, TV presenter and politician. Mercurio is best known for his lead role in '' Strictly Ballroom'' 1992 and his role as a judge on TV series '' Dancing with the Stars''. ...

, the star of the film ''

Strictly Ballroom ''Strictly Ballroom'' is a 1992 Australian romantic comedy film directed and co-written by Baz Luhrmann in his feature directorial debut. The film is the first in his "Red Curtain Trilogy" of theatre-motif-related films; it was followed by 1996 ...

'' (1992).

Death

He died on 7 December 2010 from complications during surgery for a chest

aneurysm An aneurysm is an outward bulging, likened to a bubble or balloon, caused by a localized, abnormal, weak spot on a blood vessel wall. Aneurysms may be a result of a hereditary condition or an acquired disease. Aneurysms can also be a nidus (s ...

."Gus Mercurio dies aged 82"

ABC News ABC News is the news division of the American broadcast network ABC. Its flagship program is the daily evening newscast ''ABC World News Tonight, ABC World News Tonight with David Muir''; other programs include Breakfast television, morning ...

, 7 December 2010 He was 82 years old.

Partial filmography

*''

Alvin Purple Rides Again ''Alvin Rides Again'' is a 1974 Australian sex-comedy film sequel to ''Alvin Purple''. It was directed by David Bilcock and Robin Copping, who were regular collaborators with Tim Burstall.David Stratton, ''The Last New Wave: The Australian Film ...

'' (1974) – Jake *''

'' (1975, TV Series)Cash & Company Tandarra
Retrieved 7 December 2010 – Joe Brady *''

Power Without Glory ''Power Without Glory'' is a 1950 historical novel written by Australian author Frank Hardy, following the life and ambitions of John West, a politician born into a working-class family who rises to prominence in Australian federal politics. ...

'' (1976, TV Series) – Sparring Partner / Bill Tinns *''

The Sullivans ''The Sullivans'' is an Australian period drama television series produced by Crawford Productions which ran on the Nine Network from 15 November 1976 until 10 March 1983. The series tells the story of a fictional average middle-clas ...

'' (1976, TV Series) – George *''

'' (1976, TV Series) – Joe Brady *''

Eliza Fraser Eliza Anne Fraser (c.1798 – 1858) was a Scottish woman who was aboard a ship that wrecked at an island off the coast of Queensland, Australia, on 22 May 1836, and who claimed she was taken in by the Bidjara language, Badtjala (Butchella) people ...

'' (1976) – Darge *''The Dreamers'' (1976) *'' Raw Deal'' (1977) – Ben *''

High Rolling ''High Rolling'' (also called ''High Rolling in a Hot Corvette'') is an Australian buddy comedy directed by Igor Auzins and written by Forest Redlich. Golden Globe Award winners Joseph Bottoms and Judy Davis are among the cast. The soundtrack for ...

'' (1977) – Nightclub Bouncer *''

Harlequin Harlequin (; it, Arlecchino ; lmo, Arlechin, Bergamasque dialect, Bergamasque pronunciation ) is the best-known of the ''zanni'' or comic servant characters from the Italian language, Italian ''commedia dell'arte'', associated with the city o ...

'' (1980) – Mr. Bergier *'' The Blue Lagoon'' (1980) – Officer *''Dead Man's Float'' (1980) – Mr. Dobraski *''

'' (1982) – Red *''

'' (1982) – Frew *''

All the Rivers Run ''All the Rivers Run'' is an Australian historical novel by Nancy Cato, first published in 1958. It was adapted as a 1983 Australian television mini-series starring Sigrid Thornton and John Waters. The mini-series is marketed with the tagline ...

'' (1983, TV Series) – Tom Critchley *''

The Return of Captain Invincible ''The Return of Captain Invincible'' is a 1983 Australian superhero film, superhero musical film, musical comedy film directed by Philippe Mora, and starring Alan Arkin and Christopher Lee. It was a box office disappointment on release but has be ...

'' (1983) – Noisy Garbageman *''

Five Mile Creek ''Five Mile Creek'' is a western television drama series adapted from Louis L'Amour's novel ''The Cherokee Trail'' and produced in Australia. It starred Liz Burch, Louise Caire Clark, Rod Mullinar, Jay Kerr, Michael Caton, Peter Carroll, Gu ...

'' (1983–1985, TV Series) – Ben Jones *''

I Live with Me Dad ''I Live with Me Dad'' is a 1985 TV movie, produced by Crawfords Australia. The film is about six-year-old Crispy who lives with his destitute father Sid (Hehir). Based on a true story, it follows the street adventures of a father and son and h ...

'' (1985) – Waldo Skrimm *'' The Challenge'' (1986, TV Series) – Vic Romagna *''

Running from the Guns ''Running from the Guns'' (originally known as ''Free Enterprise'') is a 1987 Australian crime thriller film directed by John Dixon and starring Jon Blake, Mark Hembrow, Nikki Coghill, Terence Donovan, and Peter Whitford. It is a buddy action f ...

'' (1987) – Chazza *''

'' (1988) – Frank *'' The Great Air Race'' (1990, TV Series) – 'Granny' Granville *''

'' (1991) – First Mate *''

Lightning Jack ''Lightning Jack'' is a 1994 Western comedy film written by and starring Paul Hogan, as well as Cuba Gooding Jr. and Beverly D'Angelo. Plot Lightning Jack Kane, a long-sighted Australian outlaw in the American west, lives with his horse, Mate. ...

'' (1994) – Tough Guy *'' Flipper'' (1996–1999, TV Series) – Cap Daulton *''

'' (1997) – Tyrone *''Dalkeith'' (2002) – Enzo Petroni

Works

* Mercurio, G., ''Boxin' : all you wanted to know but didn't want to fight to ask'', Regus, (Kew), 1998. * Mercurio, G., ''Hang in There: Inspirational Gems to Empower You!'', Wilkinson Books, (Melbourne), 1994.

References

External links

*
Gus Mercurio biography at Aussie Box

Photo Gallery: Farewell Gus Mercurio

New Colonial Epic, ''Sydney Morning Herald TV Guide'', Monday, 2 February 1976.

* ttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=X7ApAAAAIBAJ&sjid=s-YDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3846%2C7634772 Humphries, R. "Inside Sport: Gus Mercurio", ''Sydney Morning Herald'', Wednesday, 25 February 1976, p.25.
Paxinos, S., "A Contest in Black and White", ''The Age'', 18 May 2008.

* [http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/farewell-to-a-man-who-made-mistakes-x2026-and-amends-20101220-1937d.html Quinn, K., "Farewell to a man who made mistakes … and amends", ''The Age'', 21 December 2010.]
Stark, J., "Boxing history hits the canvas", ''The Age'',29 September 2005.

* ttp://www.theage.com.au/articles/2005/06/06/1117910238700.html Webb, C., "Celebrating dinky-di Americans", ''The Age'', 7 June 2005. {{DEFAULTSORT:Mercurio, Gus 1928 births 2010 deaths American male film actors Australian male film actors Australian male soap opera actors American emigrants to Australia American people of Italian descent Male actors from Milwaukee United States Marines Australian male boxers Boxers from Melbourne Boxing judges Australian boxing promoters Recipients of the Medal of the Order of Australia Naturalised citizens of Australia Australian people of Italian descent People from West Bend, Wisconsin