Kingswood Country star Lex Marinos dies aged 75
Australian actor and director Lex Marinos has died aged 75 surrounded by his family.
Best known for his performance as Bruno in the 1980s sitcom Kingswood Country, Marinos had an impressive 50-year career and was renowned as an advocate for diversity in the Australian entertainment industry.
The Greek Australian actor died on Friday leaving behind a legacy in television, film, and cultural advocacyCredit: ABC
In a social media post, Marinos’ family said the Wagga Wagga actor died at home “at a moment of his choosing”.
“It is with heavy hearts we let you know that Lex passed away peacefully on Friday morning,” the post said.
“He died at home...surrounded by family and the sounds of Bob Dylan accompanying our vigil.”
Marinos appeared on the small screen in the television drama A Country Practice and also starred in the 2015 film The Slap.
He worked as the former chair of the Australia Council, a production team member for the Opening Ceremony of the Sydney Olympics and served as a Double J radio presenter for the ABC in the 1970s.
The son of a Greek immigrant was awarded an Order of Australia Medal in 1994 for his service to the performing arts industry.
Cultural Perspectives Managing Director Pino Migliorino paid tribute to Marinos on social media, honouring their friendship of 30 years.
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“I will remember his voice at our sports fields, seeing him in our theatres and on our screens, working with him on the Yeperenye Dreaming Centenary event in Alice Springs,” he said.
“Vale Lex.”
The cause of his death has not been immediately revealed.
In 2014, Marinos spoke about his memoir Blood and Circuses and his experience growing up as a Greek Australian.
He described the 1970s acting scene as a “huge cultural shift”.
“There was a lot of alternative theatre and they were putting on new Australian plays with younger actors who weren’t so hung up on trying to be British,” he said.
“...That made it an exciting time to work, because you were invariably working on a new script with dynamic actors.”
Wagga Wagga’s Museum of the Riverina will honour the 75-year-old’s legacy with an exhibition titled The Lex Factor: From Wagga to the World Stage, later this year.
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