John Cornell: Producer of Crocodile Dundee (1941–2021)

If you grew up watching Australian television in the 1970s, the name John Cornell might not immediately ring a bell – but the character Strop probably does. He was the quiet strategist who helped turn a rigger from the Sydney Harbour Bridge into a global movie star, and died on 23 July 2021 at 80 after a two-decade battle with Parkinson’s disease, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter (leading US entertainment news).

Born: 2 March 1941 ·
Died: 23 July 2021 ·
Cause of death: Parkinson’s disease ·
Occupation: Actor, Producer, Writer, Businessman ·
Known for: The Paul Hogan Show, Crocodile Dundee ·
Partner: Delvene Delaney

Eight key facts about John Cornell, one pattern: a man who quietly built a bridge between Australian television and global cinema.

Who is John Cornell from Crocodile Dundee?

What was John Cornell’s early career?

John Cornell was born on 2 March 1941 in Tumut, New South Wales, according to Wikipedia (collaborative encyclopedia). He began his career in journalism and television production, working for several stations before joining A Current Affair. The National Film and Sound Archive of Australia (Australia’s premier audiovisual archive) notes that he was a “talented writer and highly respected business visionary” from the start.

What is John Cornell best known for?

Cornell is best known for playing the silent, hapless character Strop on The Paul Hogan Show, a role that made him a household name across Australia. The NFSA (Australia’s premier audiovisual archive) describes Strop as a “classic Australian character.” But his most enduring impact came as the producer of Crocodile Dundee (1986), which became the highest-grossing Australian film at the time, as reported by The Times (British newspaper of record).

The implication: Cornell’s ability to amplify Australian voices reshaped expectations for what local cinema could achieve globally.

How did John Cornell meet Paul Hogan?

The partnership on A Current Affair

Cornell met Paul Hogan in the early 1970s while working as a producer on A Current Affair. Hogan, then a rigger on the Sydney Harbour Bridge, was interviewed on the show. Cornell recognized his comedic potential and the two struck up a partnership. Obituaries Australia (Australian National University’s biographical database) confirms that this meeting launched a long creative collaboration.

Creating The Paul Hogan Show

Together, they co-created The Paul Hogan Show in 1973, where Cornell played the mute character Strop, a role that became a cultural touchstone. The Sydney Morning Herald (Australia’s oldest daily newspaper) called Strop “the walking definition of mateship.” The show ran for over a decade and established Hogan as a star.

What this means: The silent sidekick was actually the architect of one of Australia’s most beloved comedy partnerships.

Did John Cornell have children?

Relationship with Delvene Delaney

John Cornell was in a long-term partnership with television personality Delvene Delaney. The West Australian (Western Australia’s leading newspaper) reported that the couple had two daughters, Allira and Liana, and that Cornell also had a daughter, Melissa, from an earlier marriage. Wikipedia (collaborative encyclopedia) lists two sons. The number of children is not consistently reported across sources, making the exact family composition unclear.

Family Privacy

Cornell and Delaney kept their family life largely private, residing in Byron Bay away from the Sydney media spotlight. The family statement after his death, quoted by The Hollywood Reporter (leading US entertainment news), described him as “a classic Australian character.”

What did John Cornell pass away from?

Diagnosis and battle with Parkinson’s disease

John Cornell was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2001, according to IMDb News (film industry news aggregator), though this timeline is not officially confirmed. He died on 23 July 2021 at his home in Byron Bay after a prolonged struggle with the disease, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter (leading US entertainment news). His family said he had battled Parkinson’s for two decades.

Tributes from the industry

Following his death, tributes poured in from across the Australian entertainment industry. The Sydney Morning Herald (Australia’s oldest daily newspaper) ran a tribute calling him “the walking definition of mateship.” The National Film and Sound Archive of Australia (Australia’s premier audiovisual archive) published a Vale article celebrating his legacy.

The catch: Without official confirmation, the diagnosis timeline remains an open question, but his resilience over those years is undisputed.

What was John Cornell’s legacy in the film industry?

Crocodile Dundee success

As producer of Crocodile Dundee, Cornell pulled off what The Times (British newspaper of record) described as breaking “the first rule of film-making.” The film was a low-budget Australian production that became the highest-grossing movie in the country’s history at the time, earning over $328 million worldwide. Cornell also produced Crocodile Dundee II (1988) and was involved in several other projects.

Business ventures and philanthropy

Aside from film, Cornell was a savvy businessman. He was instrumental in the introduction of World Series Cricket in 1977, according to Wikipedia (collaborative encyclopedia). He also founded the production company Imagineering and supported the National Film and Sound Archive. After his Parkinson’s diagnosis, he reportedly focused on philanthropy, as noted by IMDb News (film industry news aggregator).

The pattern: Cornell engineered a model for cultural export that remains relevant today, balancing authenticity with commercial appeal.

Timeline

Clarity Check

Quotes

“[John Cornell was] a talented writer and highly respected business visionary.”

– National Film and Sound Archive of Australia, Vale John Cornell

“As the hapless Strop, John Cornell was the walking definition of mateship.”

– The Sydney Morning Herald, tribute article

For Australian film lovers, John Cornell’s legacy is a reminder that the best comedy often comes from the quietest minds. The challenge now is to preserve that spirit in an industry that increasingly relies on global franchises. For Australian producers, the choice is clear: invest in local talent with a global vision, or risk losing the very identity that made Crocodile Dundee a phenomenon.

John Cornell, who produced the iconic film, worked closely with the cast of Crocodile Dundee to bring the outback adventure to life.

Frequently asked questions