John Jarratt

Biography

John Jarratt, an accomplished Australian actor and filmmaker, was born in Wongawilli, a quaint rural town near Wollongong, New South Wales, and later spent his formative years in the Snowy Mountains. His father worked as a coal miner and concreter, contributing to the Snowy Mountains hydroelectric scheme. Jarratt's lineage traces back to his 5x great-grandfather, George Jarratt, who immigrated from England in 1833.

Jarratt's passion for acting was ignited during high school, where he both directed and performed in a successful school play, prompting his principal to encourage him to pursue a career in the arts. He graduated from the prestigious National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) in 1973. His acting career took off with his screen debut in *The Great Macarthy*, followed by notable performances in Peter Weir’s *Picnic at Hanging Rock* (1975) and *Summer City* (1977) alongside Mel Gibson. His portrayal of Ned Kelly in the 1979 miniseries *The Last Outlaw* is among his career highlights.

Jarratt gained further recognition in the 2005 horror film *Wolf Creek*, where he delivered a chilling performance as the antagonist Mick Taylor. His television credits include roles in *McLeod’s Daughters*, *Blue Heelers*, and *Inspector Morse*. In addition to acting, he founded Winnah Films, producing projects like *Savages Crossing* and co-directing *StalkHer*. Jarratt continues to be active in the industry, recently reprising his role in *Wolf Creek 2* (2014) and making a cameo in Quentin Tarantino's *Django Unchained* (2012). Throughout his life, he has been open about his struggles with alcoholism, becoming an active member of Alcoholics Anonymous.