David Ngoombujarra

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David Ngiombujarra
Born
David Bernard Starr

(1967-06-27)27 June 1967
Died17 July 2011(2011-07-17) (aged 44)
OccupationActor
RelativesErnie Dingo - Cousin

David Ngoombujarra (27 June 1967 – 17 July 2011) was an Indigenous Australian actor of the Yamatji people. Born David Bernard Starr in Meekatharra, Western Australia, his acting career spanned over two decades from the late 1980s to 2010; he won three Australian Film Institute Awards.[1] On 17 July 2011 he was found in a park in Fremantle, and taken to Fremantle Hospital where he was pronounced dead.[1][2][3]

Personal life[edit]

Ngoombujarra was adopted by Amy and Derek Sloan, and met his birth mother when he was 14. He moved to Sydney with plans for stardom and picked up some minor film roles in Young Einstein and others after being spotted busking in Circular Quay. His wide smile and booming laugh were very marketable. Ngoombujarra fell into petty crime and battled alcohol addiction which may have contributed to his death.[4]

It was revealed that Ngoombujara fathered a daughter who was later adopted by his cousin, actor Ernie Dingo.[5]

Filmography[edit]

Film[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1988 Breaking Loose Davie Film
1988 Young Einstein Aboriginal dancer Feature film
1993 Day of the Dog Floyd 'Pretty Boy' Davies Feature film
1994 Dallas Doll Storyteller Feature film
1996 No Way to Forget Shane Francis Short film
1999 The Missing Willie Feature film
1999 Harry's War Harry Saunders TV short film
2001 Serenades Joseph
2001 Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles Arthur Feature film
2002 Rabbit-Proof Fence Rabbit hunter Feature film
2002 Black and White Young Max Stuart Feature film
2003 Kangaroo Jack Snr. Sgt. 'Mr Jimmy' Inkamala Feature film
2003 Yamajti Man Narrator
2003 Ned Kelly Tribesman Feature film
2005 The Adventures of Roman Pilgrim Albert Short film
2008 Australia Magarri Feature film

Television[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1994 Heartland Majadi Burunga TV series, 4 episodes
1995 Janus Ray TV series, episode: "Fit to Plead"
1995 Correlli Warren 'Budgie' Keating TV miniseries, episode: "Spoons"
1995 Snowy River: The McGregor Saga Ninawunda TV series, episode: "Man and Boy"
1998 Kings in Grass Castles Burrakin TV series, 2 episodes
2004 Parallax Otto TV series, 6 episodes
2007-2010 The Circuit Harry Pope TV series, 6 episodes, (final appearance)

Awards[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Prior, Flip (19 July 2011). "Actor with the winning smile found dead at 44". Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 19 July 2011.
  2. ^ "Aboriginal actor David Ngoombujarra found dead in park". The Daily Telegraph (Sydney). 19 July 2011.
  3. ^ "Aborigine actor David Ngoombujarra dies". BBC News. 19 July 2011.
  4. ^ TAYLOR, PAIGE (23 July 2011). "The pain and joy of lost star David Ngoombujarra". The Australian. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  5. ^ "Ernie Dingo's family adoption twist". The West Australian. 3 February 2012. Retrieved 14 February 2022.

External links[edit]