Veteran Australian actor Charles 'Bud' Tingwell has died in hospital in Melbourne. He was aged 85.
He had been suffering from prostate cancer.
The Sydney-born star first appeared on screen in 1946 and is best known for his roles in a classic Australian film, The Castle, and a TV cop show, Homicide.
Tingwell became a radio actor while still at school, before joining the Royal Australian Air Force in 1941. He served as a reconnaissance pilot flying Spitfires and Mosquitoes in north Africa and southern Europe.
After leaving the service, he entered the film industry and landed his first speaking role in 1945 in the film Smithy, which was about aviator Charles Kingsford Smith.
In 1952, he was invited to Hollywood to work alongside Richard Burton on The Desert Rats.
He went on to have roles in a number of Australian films and TV shows, including Breaker Morant, All The Rivers Run, Puberty Blues, Flying Doctors, All Saints and Neighbours.
Most recently, Tingwell had small roles in The Craic, The Dish and the ABC series Changi and Bed Of Roses.
He was made a Member of the Order of Australia in the 1999 for his services to the performing arts as an actor, director, producer, and to the community.
He is survived by his son Christopher and daughter Virginia - who is an actress.
