Iconic New Zealand-Australian comedian, writer and satirist John Clarke, best known for his work in the ABC series ‘Clarke & Dawe’, has died at the age of 68.
An ABC spokesman has confirmed to Fairfax Media that Clarke died on Sunday while hiking in the Grampians National Park in Victoria. He collapsed at one point during the walk, and died of natural causes.
Clarke and his comedy partner Bryan Dawe have conducted mock interviews with politicians on ‘Clarke & Dawe’ for 27 years.
Tributes to Clarke are flowing online. View some of the tributes from his peers in the comedy game, below.
Clarke was born in New Zealand, but arrived in Australia in the 1970s, and went on to write the mockumentary The Games, co-write the stage musicals for ‘The Adventures of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie’ and ‘Little Ragged Blossom’, and release a number of books.
Vale John Clarke. Brilliantly funny man.
— Dave Hughes (@DHughesy) April 10, 2017
Vale John Clarke. I will miss terribly our chats about politics and law and comedy. What a delightful man. What a shocking, terrible loss.
— Corinne Grant (@corinne_grant) April 10, 2017
Two of the greatest minutes of satire you will see: https://t.co/8xVgMYK3SH #JohnClarke #TheFrontFellOff
— Wil Anderson (@Wil_Anderson) April 10, 2017
Very sorry to hear of the passing of John Clarke. Not only one of the best satirists going around, but also a lovely guy.
— Craig Reucassel (@craigreucassel) April 10, 2017
Gutted about John Clarke. We can ill afford to lose such a voice of wry sanity.
— Jane Caro (@JaneCaro) April 10, 2017
I wish 2017 took the Queen instead of John Clarke…. We still need John Clarke.
— Dan Ilic (@danilic) April 10, 2017
Vale to the man who gave us Farnarkling. Genius #johnclarke https://t.co/vy4awxMgv3
— Andrew Stafford (@staffo_sez) April 10, 2017
