John Jarratt
An Australian screen veteran whose friendly face became terrifyingly unforgettable as the outback's most sadistic fictional hunter.
Born 1952 (age 74)·Australian actor and director·Birthday: August 5·Baby Boomers
Biography
John Jarratt's career is a distinct slice of Australian film history, spanning the artistic heights of the 1970s New Wave to the grindhouse thrills of 21st-century horror. He first appeared in the haunting classic 'Picnic at Hanging Rock', but it was his early knack for larrikin, everyman charm that made him a familiar face on television and in film for decades. For years, he was best known as the host of the DIY show 'Better Homes and Gardens' and for dramatic roles in projects like 'We of the Never Never'. That all changed in 2005 with 'Wolf Creek', where his portrayal of Mick Taylor, a cheerful yet monstrous crocodile hunter, redefined the Australian horror villain. Jarratt infused the character with a terrifying, authentic outback menace, turning a simple phrase like 'head on a stick' into national folklore. The role resurrected his career, typecasting him in the best possible way, and cemented his status as a cult figure whose performance is both deeply unsettling and oddly, darkly charismatic.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
John was born in 1952, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When John Was Born
The biggest hits of 1952
#1 Movie
The Greatest Show on Earth
Best Picture
The Greatest Show on Earth
#1 TV Show
I Love Lucy
John's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1952Born
Queen Elizabeth II ascends the throne
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,350Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Blue Tango" — Leroy AndersonBest Picture: The Greatest Show on Earth
1957Started school
Sputnik launches the Space Age
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $10,550Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"All Shook Up" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: The Bridge on the River Kwai
1965Became a teenager
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1968Could drive
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1970Could vote
First Earth Day; The Beatles break up
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $17,000Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Bridge over Troubled Water" — Simon & GarfunkelBest Picture: Patton
1973Turned 21
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1982Turned 30
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1992Turned 40
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
2002Turned 50
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2012Turned 60
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2022Turned 70
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 74 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Portrayed the iconic horror antagonist Mick Taylor in the 'Wolf Creek' film and television franchise.
- Appeared in Peter Weir's seminal Australian film 'Picnic at Hanging Rock' (1975) early in his career.
- Hosted the popular Australian lifestyle television program 'Better Homes and Gardens' for several years.
- Played a leading role in the acclaimed Australian historical drama 'We of the Never Never' (1982).
Did You Know?
He is a qualified carpenter and often did the renovation demonstrations himself on 'Better Homes and Gardens'.
Jarratt was originally considered for the role of Mad Max before it went to Mel Gibson.
He is an avid surfer and has been since his youth.
He provided the voice for Jack Hunter, the father, in the audio drama adaptation of 'The Phoenix Files'.
“I've always been drawn to the raw, true stories of this country, the good and the bad.”
