‘Crocodile Dundee’ star Burt the Crocodile Dead at 90

On By Littum

The animal also provided the basis for a digital killing hook in the 2007 film Rogue and appeared in several documentaries

Burt, the giant saltwater crocodile who was on the receiving end of Mick “Crocodile” Dundee’s famous knife in the popular eighties film Crocodile Dundeeis dead. He is believed to have been around 90 years old.

Crocosaurus Cove, the aquarium in Darwin City, Australia, where Burt has lived since 2008, confirmed the animal’s death on Facebook. “Burt passed away peacefully over the weekend, estimated to be over 90 years of age, marking the end of an incredible era,” the statement read.

“Burt’s life story is one of strength, resilience and a personality as bold as the Top End itself,” the statement continued, referring to Australia’s north coast where Darwin is located. “Burt was captured in the 1980s in the Reynolds River and became one of the most recognized crocodiles in the world, appearing in Crocodile Dundee and helps shape Australia’s image as a land of rugged natural beauty and awe-inspiring wildlife.”

Burt’s star-making turn comes at a crucial time Crocodile Dundee as the titular hero (played by Paul Hogan) saves American journalist Sue Charlton (Linda Kozlowski) from a crocodile attack while filling her water canteen. In return, Sue invites Dundee back to America, where the two fall in love in the middle of a classic fish-out-of-water tale.

According to his bio on Crocosaurus Cove websiteprovided Burt with “the basis of the digital crocodile” in the 2007 film Rogue. Burt also “starred in a large number of other documentaries and educational programs” throughout his life.

The aquarium described Burt in their tribute as “a fierce and fascinating ambassador for crocodile education.” He was said to be an independent animal and a “confirmed bachelor”, while his “fiery temper earned him the respect of his keepers and visitors alike as he embodied the raw and untamed spirit of the saltwater crocodile.”

Crocosaurus Cove plans to honor Burt’s legacy with a “memorial” to celebrate his “extraordinary life and the stories and interactions he shared throughout his time at the park.”