Mike Preston, the pop singer turned actor whose real name was Jack C. Davis, has died at the age of 93. His wife, Josie Preston, confirmed the news to Variety over the weekend, saying he died on Monday, June 8, but she did not reveal the cause of death.
Pop singer turned actor
Born in London, Preston was discovered by agent and record producer Denis Preston. His debut single, A House, A Car And A Wedding Ring, was released on Decca Records in 1958. He went on to enjoy a series of UK chart hits before moving to Australia, where he worked as a nightclub singer.
In the late 1960s, he moved into television presenting and acting. He regularly hosted In Melbourne Tonight in 1968 and later presented the revival of the game show The Celebrity Game from 1976 to 1977. In a strange twist of fate, he had been a guest on the show less than ten years earlier.
Starring roles and Mad Max
In 1972, Preston landed his first continuous starring role on television as Senior Detective Bob Delaney in the police drama Homicide. He left after just one year and joined the soap opera Bellbird, playing the recurring role of Fr. John Kramer from 1974 to 1976.
He made numerous guest appearances in internationally renowned TV series including The A-Team, Airwolf, Scarecrow and Mrs. King, Alien Nation, Ellen and Highlander. But it was in the late 1970s that his career peaked.
He earned a swathe of fans with his unforgettable performance as Pappagallo, the inspiring and forward-thinking leader of the oil refinery settlement in 1981's Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior. His character served as the main villain but ultimate companion to Mel Gibson's lead character Max Rockatansky.
Awards and tributes
In 1979, Preston received an AACTA Award nomination for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his work in The Last of the Knucklemen. He also claimed two Logies for most popular male personality in Victoria in 1969 and 1970.
Tributes have poured in since the news broke this weekend. One fan wrote on Facebook: "I started following him when I first heard Running Bear back in the 60s then came Cradle of Love and he always remained one of my favourites. RIP." Another added: "RIP loved his songs when I was young one of my first pop idols."
