David Ngoombujarra

David Ngoombujarra (27 June 1967 – 17 July 2011) was an Indigenous Australian actor of the Yamatji people. Born David Bernard Starr in Meekatharra, Western Australia, his acting career spanned over two decades from the late 1980s to 2010; he won three Australian Film Institute Awards. On 17 July 2011 he was found in a park in Fremantle, and taken to Fremantle Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Personal life Ngoombujarra was adopted by Amy and Derek Sloan, and met his birth mother when he was 14. He moved to Sydney with plans for stardom and picked up some minor film roles in Young Einstein and others after being spotted busking in Circular Quay. His wide smile and booming laugh were very marketable. Ngoombujarra fell into petty crime and battled alcohol addiction which may have contributed to his death.

It was revealed that Ngoombujara fathered a daughter who was later adopted by his cousin, actor Ernie Dingo.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 1988 Breaking Loose Davie Film 1988 Young Einstein Aboriginal dancer Feature film 1993 Blackfellas Floyd 'Pretty Boy' Davies Feature film 1994 Dallas Doll Storyteller Feature film 1996 No Way to Forget Shane Francis Short film 1999 The Missing Willie Feature film 1999 Harry's War Harry Saunders TV short film 2001 Serenades Joseph 2001 Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles Arthur Feature film 2002 Rabbit-Proof Fence Rabbit hunter Feature film 2002 Black and White Young Max Stuart Feature film 2003 Kangaroo Jack Snr. Sgt. 'Mr Jimmy' Inkamala Feature film 2003 Yamajti Man Narrator 2003 Ned Kelly Tribesman Feature film 2005 The Adventures of Roman Pilgrim Albert Short film 2008 Australia Magarri Feature film

Television Year Title Role Notes 1994 Heartland Majadi Burunga TV series, 4 episodes 1995 Janus Ray TV series, episode: "Fit to Plead" 1995 Correlli Warren 'Budgie' Keating TV miniseries, episode: "Spoons" 1995 Snowy River: The McGregor Saga Ninawunda TV series, episode: "Man and Boy" 1998 Kings in Grass Castles Burrakin TV series, 2 episodes 2004 Parallax Otto TV series, 6 episodes 2007-2010 The Circuit Harry Pope TV series, 6 episodes, (final appearance)

Awards AFI Best Supporting Actor in Television Drama for The Circuit (2007) AFI Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Black and White (2002) AFI Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Day of the Dog (1993)