LOS ANGELES: Veteran actor and singer Mike Preston, best known for his memorable role as Pappagallo in Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior, has died at the age of 93, marking the end of a career that spanned music, television and film.
His wife, Josie Preston, confirmed to Variety that he died on June 8 in Florida. The cause of death was not disclosed.
Born Jack Davis in London in 1938, Preston began his career in entertainment as a singer after initially working as a boxer and cartoon cameraman.
He rose to fame in the late 1950s with three UK Top 40 hit singles before moving to Australia, where he became a popular nightclub performer and television host on In Melbourne Tonight.
He later built a successful television career, starring as Detective Bob Delaney in 42 episodes of the crime series Homicide. His television credits also include Bellbird, Dixon of Dock Green, Tandarra, Chopper Squad, Cop Shop and Punishment.
Preston made his feature film debut in the 1969 crime drama Stoney, but it was his performance as Pappagallo in George Miller’s 1981 post-apocalyptic classic Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior alongside Mel Gibson that became the defining role of his career. As the compassionate leader of an oil refinery community, his character helped make the film one of Australia’s most celebrated action classics.
Following the success of Mad Max 2, Preston appeared in the 1983 science-fiction film Metalstorm: The Destruction of Jared-Syn before playing Alec Shaw in eight episodes of the 1984 television series Hot Pursuit.
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, he continued to make guest appearances in popular television series, including Ellen, Scarecrow and Mrs. King, Shadow Chasers, Outlaws, Alien Nation, Dark Justice, Highlander, Baywatch Nights, Steel and Law & Order.
His final credited role came as a voice actor in the 2002 PlayStation 2 video game The Getaway, bringing to a close a career that spanned more than four decades.
Preston’s death comes just weeks after the passing of his Mad Max 2 co-star Kjell Nilsson, who played the film’s villain Lord Humungus and died in Queensland, Australia, at the age of 76 following a four-year battle with kidney disease.
Mike Preston is survived by his wife, Josie, and their two daughters. He is remembered as a versatile entertainer whose work across music, television and film left a lasting mark, with Pappagallo remaining his most iconic screen role.
