Allira and Liana (with Delaney); Melissa (previous marriage)
John Cornell (2 March 1941 – 23 July 2021) was an Australian actor, director, producer, writer, and businessman. He was best known for his role as "Strop" on The Paul Hogan Show, and he was instrumental in the introduction of
World Series Cricket in 1977.[1]
Early life
Cornell was born in
Kalgoorlie,
Western Australia,[2] on 2 March 1941.[3] He was raised in
Bunbury.[4] He stated that he was considered a "ratbag"[a] at school, but he topped the class in both English and Economics at
Bunbury High. Although he contemplated a career in
pharmacy, it was his interest in journalism that saw him gain a cadetship at the
Daily News in
Perth.[2]
In 1971, while working as a producer for the television show A Current Affair, Cornell recognised the talents of a
Sydney Harbour Bridge rigger,
Paul Hogan (who had been the subject of an interview by the station).[4] Cornell became Hogan's manager[6] and often appeared alongside him in his popular television show, The Paul Hogan Show, as a character called "Strop"[7] (a dim-witted
dinkum Australian
surf lifesaver). He produced and co-wrote the screenplay for Hogan's 1986 film Crocodile Dundee[4] which became the highest grossing Australian film.[8] He also produced and directed the successful 1988 sequel, Crocodile Dundee II.[4]
Cornell worked closely with
Kerry Packer and
Austin Robertson in setting up
World Series Cricket (WSC) in 1977.[9] Based on a suggestion in 1976 by
Dennis Lillee (whom Cornell was managing at the time), Cornell presented the idea to Kerry Packer—primarily with the aim of providing better financial rewards to the players.[10][11] Cornell was actively involved in the recruitment of players for WSC, for example travelling to New Zealand to sign players (including
Doug Walters).[12] Cornell engaged the
Mojo agency to produce radio and television advertisements to promote WSC—including the production of the jingle "
C'mon Aussie C'mon".[4][13]
Personal life
Cornell married Australian actress and television personality
Delvene Delaney in 1977,[2][7] and they had two children: Allira and Liana.[14][15] He was married twice before, and had a daughter from one of those marriages (Melissa, born in 1970).[2]
Finances
Cornell built the Byron Beach Hotel (
Byron Bay) for $9 million in 1990.[16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23] In 2007, it was sold by Cornell to a consortium of businessmen led by Max Twigg (a Melbourne businessman and racing car driver), with varying reports on the sale price, e.g. either $44 million[24][25][26][27][28][20][21] or a record $65 million.[17][19][29] In 2017, Max Twigg later resold the property to the Liberman family–backed Impact Investment Group (IIG), a Melbourne-based firm that is a joint venture between the Liberman and van Haandel families, in an off-market deal brokered by CBRE Hotels's Wayne Bunz and Daniel Dragicevich for $70 million[21][18][28][26][25][27][22] (below the initial $75–$80 million sales price ancipated in July 2016[20][23][19]). Dragicevich stated that “There are very few landmark beachside freehold hotels like this in Australia, both in terms of scale and location."[18] In November 2019, the Byron Beach Hotel was sold for a record $100 million to Moelis Australia Hotel Management.[25][27] It was described at the time by the buyer (Dan Brady, CEO of Moelis Australia Hotel Management) as an "Iconic Australian establishment located on irreplaceable real estate".[16] The hotel is known as "Top Pub" to locals. Melbourne restaurateurs and hospitality figures John and Lisa van Haandel have operated the hotel since 2007, with John van Handel still holding the original 10-year lease (ending mid-2017), which had two additional 10-year options.[18][19][20][26][25][23]
Cornell and Paul Hogan were investigated for alleged tax evasion as part of the
Australian Taxation Office's (ATO) Project Wickenby, which commenced in 2004.[30][31] They were also investigated by the Australian Crime Commission "over the use of offshore accounts to bank royalties from the Crocodile Dundee films" (with both denying any dishonest conduct). They were later cleared of any wrongdoing by the
Australian Crime Commission (ACC).[32] In 2012, Hogan and Cornell confirmed that they had settled the eight-year dispute with the ATO.[6]
Death
Cornell suffered from
Parkinson's disease and had undergone
deep brain stimulation to alleviate the symptoms.[7] The disease had rendered Cornell largely immobile;[7] however, treatment by Peter Silburn at St Andrew's War Memorial Hospital in Brisbane enabled him to "enjoy 2 km walks with his wife".[33]
Cornell died on 23 July 2021 at his home at Byron Bay. He was 80, and he'd passed away due to complications related to Parkinson's disease.[34][35]
Filmography
Cornell was involved in various roles in the following projects:
^ "Ratbag" is an Australian slang term for a non-conformist, a mischievous troublemaker, a scoundrel, a rascal or a lovable scallywag. The term can be used in a non-offensive way (as is the case in this article), or it may be used more pejoratively, as someone thoroughly disapproved of: a villain, a crook, a disreputable person.