Crocodile from cult film “Crocodile Dundee” dies

He only had a brief appearance, but it was all the more frightening: Burt was the secret star of the classic film “Crocodile Dundee”. Now the saltwater crocodile has died.

The crocodile Burt, known from the film “Crocodile Dundee”, has died at the age of probably more than 90 years. He died over the weekend, the reptile aquarium “Crocosaurus Cove” in Darwin, Australia, announced on Instagram.

“Burt was truly one of a kind,” a spokeswoman said. “He was a force of nature and a symbol of the power and majesty of these incredible creatures.” The saltwater crocodile has lived in the Australian aquarium since 2008.

Burt was around five meters long and weighed around 700 kilograms, local media reported.

Only seen briefly in the film

The reptile was caught in the Reynolds River in 1980 – and then named after the US actor Burt Reynolds (1936-2018). He has always had Hollywood in his blood, the zoo's spokeswoman told ABC Australia.

In the 1986 film, Burt is briefly seen in a scene in which main character Mick “Crocodile” Dundee, played by Paul Hogan, saves New York journalist Sue Charlton, played by Linda Kozlowski, from the fangs of a giant crocodile.

The adventure comedy is still considered Australia's most successful film today. An estimated 200,000 saltwater crocodiles live in the country. On average they live to be 70 years old.