Renowned Australian Film Critic David Stratton Dies Aged 85
David Stratton, one of Australia’s most celebrated film critics and television presenters, has died at the age of 85.
His family announced on Thursday afternoon that he passed away peacefully in a hospital near his home in the Blue Mountains, New South Wales.
Mr. Stratton was best known to generations of Australians for his 28-year on-screen partnership with fellow critic Margaret Pomeranz.
The pair co-hosted the popular film review program The Movie Show on SBS from 1986 to 2004, before moving to the ABC to present At the Movies until their retirement from the format in 2014.
A Life Dedicated to Film
Beyond his television work, Mr. Stratton had a profound impact on Australian film culture.
He served as the director of the Sydney Film Festival from 1966 to 1983 and was a long-serving film critic for The Weekend Australian newspaper.
An educator as well as a critic, he also lectured in film history at the University of Sydney’s Centre for Continuing Education.
Born in the United Kingdom in 1939, Mr. Stratton moved to Australia in 1963. Tributes have begun to flow, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese praising him for sharing his “love of film with our country” with “dry humour and sharp insight.”
In their statement, his family said his “passion for film, commitment to Australian cinema, and generous spirit touched countless lives.”