The crocodile who became famous after his appearance in the 1986 film “Crocodile Dundee” has died, the Australian reptile and aquarium attraction where he lived announced on social media.
Burt, the iconic saltwater crocodile who appeared alongside Paul Hogan and Linda Kozlowski in the hit film, is believed to be over 90 years old.
Crocosaurus Cove in Darwin said in a Instagram post that Burt died peacefully over the weekend, “marking the end of an incredible era.”
“Burt’s life story is one of strength, resilience and a personality as bold as the Top End itself,” the post continues. “Captured in the 1980s in the Reynolds River, Burt became one of the world’s most recognized crocodiles. He appeared in Crocodile Dundee and helped shape Australia’s image as the land of a wild natural beauty and impressive wildlife.”
The aquarium said Burt visited Crocosarus Cove in 2008 and became “a fierce and fascinating ambassador for crocodile education.”
“Known for his independent nature, Burt was a confirmed bachelor, an attitude he clearly demonstrated during his early years on a crocodile farm,” they said. “His fiery temperament earned him the respect of his keepers and visitors alike, as he embodied the raw, untamed spirit of the saltwater crocodile.”
Paramount via Getty Images
In the film, Hogan’s character, Mick Dundee, swaps the Australian outback for the concrete jungle of New York after meeting an American journalist, played by Kozlowski. Burt is seen in a scene where Kozlowski’s character is attacked as she kneels by a stream.
Burt will be honored with a memorial sign at Crocasourus Cove.