Burtthe giant crocodile that starred in the 1986 film Crocodile Dundee along with Paul Hogan and Linda Kozlowski, died this Monday at the age of 90 in the aquarium where he lived, Crocosaurus Cove, in the Australian city of Darwin. “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Burt, the iconic saltwater crocodile and star of the Australian classic Crocodile Dundee. The animal died peacefully over the weekend, marking the end of an incredible era,” as stated in a statement from the aquarium on its official Facebook page.
Burtwhich was named in honor of Burt Reynolds, because it was captured in the 1980s in the Reynold River, was a giant saltwater crocodile that measured 5.1 meters and weighed 700 kilos. It became one of the most recognized crocodiles in the world after appearing in the aforementioned film “and helped shape Australia’s image as a land of rugged natural beauty and impressive wildlife,” as the aquarium highlights in its note. .
According to the park, the famed crocodile arrived in Crocosaurus Cove in 2008 and was known for its independent nature. “His fiery temperament earned him the respect of his keepers and visitors alike, as he embodied the raw and untamed spirit of the saltwater crocodile,” can be read in the text published by the aquarium.
A sequel without much success
The film was a great success the year it was released, in 1986. It was the second highest-grossing film, with 174.8 million dollars (about 168 million euros at the current exchange rate) in receipts, only behind Top Gunwhich reached 176.9 million, according to data from the specialized website Box Office Mojo. Its popularity allowed a sequel to be filmed, Cocodrilo Dundee II (1988), which was not as successful as the first, but was the sixth highest grosser of that year, with $109 million in revenue.
In 2001 it was launched Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles, in a failed attempt to revitalize the saga, which barely raised 39 million. And in 2020, The Very Excellent Mr. Dundeein which Paul Hogan played himself as a retired actor who participates in a project to remake the film that made him famous. It was the last film in which Oliva Newton-John appeared.