Gus Mercurio (actor), renown for his gravelly voice, was also one of the most recognised and loved faces in Australian television history.
Augustino Eugenio “Gus” Mercurio born 10th August, 1928 was an American born Australian actor who appeared in both television and film.
Born and raised in Milwaukee, USA Mercurio was the eldest child of Vincent and Celia. He had three siblings, two sisters Gerie and Connie and one brother, Tony. His parents divorced when he was seven years old.
Mercurio came from a family of boxers. His father boxed professionally under the name Vince McGurk, and one of his uncles, who also was a professional boxer, did so under the name of Ray Miller. This inspired Mercurio to also enter the ring.
He served three years in the US Marines where he put his ring skills to good use. He became a professional boxer, was injured in his last two fights, but this didn’t deter his love for the sport.
The former professional boxer arrived in Melbourne, Australia as a qualified referee with the US Olympic boxing team in 1956 and never left.
But it was his knockabout looks and laid-back attitude that earned him a string of character acting roles and made him a favourite with local audiences. Having successfully auditioned for consideration to be included in the cast of an ABC radio play, and selected at his first audition, his energetic personality and natural talents quickly came to the attention of Hector Crawford, of Crawford Productions.
Mercurio went on to appear in many Australian television series and films including:-
- Alvin Purple rides again (1974)
- Cash and Company TV series (1975)[7]
- Eliza Fraser (1976)
- The Sullivans TV series (1976–1983)
- Power Without Glory TV series (1976)
- Tandarra TV series (1976)[7]
- The Blue Lagoon (1980)
- Harlequin (1980)
- Turkey Shoot (1982)
- The Man From Snowy River (1982)
- Five Mile Creek TV series (1983)
- All the Rivers Run (1983)
- The Return of Captain Invincible (1983)
- The Challenge TV series (1986)
- Crocodile Dundee II (1988)
- The Great Air Race (1990) (TV)
- Return to the Blue Lagoon (1991)
- Lightning Jack (1994)
- Flipper TV Series (1996)
- Doing Time for Patsy Cline (1997)
Mercurio was also the president of the Australian Boxing Hall of Fame.
Mercurio married twice and fathered six children, including Paul Mercurio a dancer/actor and star of the film “Strictly Ballroom” (1992).
Sigrid Thornton, who worked with him in “The Man from Snowy River” and “All The Rivers Run” remembers a man who always had a positive attitude.
Thornton:- “He had his life as an actor and as a boxer and you have to be a fighter to make it and stay in the field of acting. I imagine there was something about Australia that attracted him. He had a relaxed charm about him even though he was mostly cast to play tough characters. He had a rugged kind of look, but that belied the sensitivity of his personality. He was kind, generous and a spirited human being”.
Thornton last saw Mercurio at the “Man From Snowy River” re-union in Mansfield. She knew he was not well. She told “The Age” newspaper, “He made a supreme effort to get there and I am glad I had that time with him”.
It was a post on his sons website, that would announce to all, just how gravely ill Mercurio really was.
It read: “My dad is at this very moment laying on a table in a hospital getting cut open to fix an aneurysm in his chest”.
“Spare a thought for him if you can. He is a tough old bugger so he should be fine, however he is getting on – 82 and has become a little frailer over the last few years.”
Sadly for his family, Mercurio passed away at Epworth Hospital following complications during surgery. He was 82 years of age.
His is survived by his second wife Rita, and his six children.
, renown for his gravelly voice, was also one of the most recognised and loved faces in Australian television history.){kind=link}