Cornell died at his home in Byron Bay after he fought a 20-year battle with Parkinson’s disease. A statement from his family said he passed away peacefully Friday morning with his wife and eldest daughter by his side, and his youngest daughter on the phone from the UK.Cornell was described as “one of Australia’s leading lights in journalism, television, sport and film”.The multi-talented Cornell is best known for his hugely successful and much-loved collaborations with long-time friend Hogan – first on The Paul Hogan Show and then with the global hit Crocodile Dundee franchise – as well as helping business mogul Kerry Packer kick off the breakaway World Series Cricket competition.“A classic Australian character, John Cornell made the lives he touched much richer, not only through donations, but also through his generosity of spirit, humour, humility and honour,” the family’s statement read.“A true egalitarian, John sought equity and equality, and fought for a fair go. He is survived by his broken-hearted wife of 46 years, Delvene Delaney, and his daughters, Melissa, Allira and Liana Cornell.”Cornell and his wife Delaney met when she appeared on The Paul Hogan Show during the 1970s.Cornell was born in the West Australian mining town of Kalgoorlie in 1941 and started his career as print journalist (he also worked as a milkman, bookmaker and nightclub owner at various times) for Perth’s Daily News. In 1971, his life changed when he met Hogan while working for the Mike Willesee on A Current Affair and the two hit it off immediately.Sharing a similar larrikin spirit, Cornell became rigger-turned-comedian Hogan’s manager and the pair created The Paul Hogan Show, which ran for 12 seasons from 1973 to 1984. Cornell also wrote top-rating sketch comedy and appeared on screen as Hogan’s dopey, lifeguard flatmate, Strop.In his family’s statement on Friday, it read: “Born in Kalgoorlie on the 2nd of March, 1941, John rose quickly through the ranks of journalism at the Daily News in Perth, becoming the youngest super-a grade journalist in Australia, and London editor at the age of 26.“John then turned his talents to television, as the original producer of A Current Affair, naming the program, and initiating a new approach to television journalism. John was seeking the equivalent for A Current Affair of a newspaper cartoonist, and recognised the quintessential larrikin qualities in Paul Hogan. “The two teamed on the bond of a handshake, creating a 16 year run of the highest rating comedy specials, The Paul Hogan Shows, which John co-wrote, produced and performed in as the gormless but loveable Strop … and ultimately, the hugely resonant and globally successful Crocodile Dundee films.”After The Paul Hogan Show wrapped up, the pair along with director Peter Fainan, would go on to even greater success co-writing and producing Crocodile Dundee. It became a global hit, raking in US$328 million to become the highest grossing Australian film at the global box office and earning an Oscar-nomination for Cornell, Hogan and Ken Shadie for Best Original Screenplay.Cornell went on to direct produce and direct the successful 1988 sequel, Crocodile Dundee II as well as the 1990 comedy-drama, Also An Angel, which also starred Hogan.Cornell also proved to be a canny businessman, helping Australian cricketers get a better financial deal with World Series Cricket, spearheaded by Packer’s Channel 9 and in direct competition to established international cricket. Cornell was managing fast-bowling great Dennis Lillee at the time and scouted talent for the trailblazing, breakaway league as well as commissioning the Mojo ad agency to come up with the famous C’mon Aussie C’mon that became synonymous with the competition.His family’s statement touched on his love for cricket, saying: “John’s acute instincts and sharp intelligence drove his rebellious push of World Series Cricket against the establishment for higher recognition and bigger salaries for the world’s players of his favourite game, re-imagining, marketing and capturing it in a brand-new form.”Nine Director of Television Michael Healey paid tribute to “a man of enormous intellect and a creative genius who managed to touch so many, but as importantly he was a man with a big heart that filled a room”.“From journalism with the creation of A Current Affair, through sport with World Series Cricket and entertainment with his mate Hoges they made magic on television for decades here at Nine,” Healey said. “Our sincere condolences go to his beloved wife Delvene and daughters, Melissa, Allira and Liana Cornell as well as all those who he loved and shared his life with. Our love and thoughts are also with David Gyngell and Leila McKinnon who were like family with Corney and Delvene.”Fox Sports executive Steve Crawley described Cornell as “a true gentleman”.“You’d see him with the lifesaver cap on and his chin poking out but the reality was that he was an absolute genius,” Crawley said. “He was a brilliant businessman, who made a lot of friends and his role with Kerry Packer in the beginning of World Series cricket was dramatic. He loved cricket unbelievably and he loved television. He loved storytelling, he was one of the great Australians, a gentleman.”Stephen Quartermain also paid tribute saying he was “a bloody Aussie legend.”Cornell was also fundamental in turning Byron Bay from a sleepy beachside hamlet into a desirable destination, relocating there in 1980 with Delaney, his third wife. They bought up large tracts of land that decade. He built the Beach Hotel in prime beachfront location for $9 million and sold it for a then record $65 million in 2007. Cornell also bought the historic Hotel Brunswick. Cornell’s family confirmed: “After being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2001, John concentrated his efforts on philanthropy, supporting his community and worthy environmental, sporting and medical causes.”Cornell and Delaney were described by Hogan in an interview with News Corp last year as being “rock solid”. Hogan — who played cupid to the couple said last year: “Corny and Dellie are rock solid, always have been.”“Delvene has been there through thick and thin with John.”at the time, Hogan said he was in touch with Delaney while he was in Los Angeles.“Well it’s got very thin, and she’s still there, by his side, as always,” he said.“We keep in touch a lot, she constantly lets me know what’s going on — some days John can’t really talk on the phone, so she’s like the conduit from him to me, and me to him, and he knows I’m there for him, always.”Hogan told the podcast Evenin’ Viewers that the moment he met Delaney, he knew she was the one for his mate Cornell.“I remember saying to Corny “I’ve just found a winner for you, son,” he told the podcast. “I’d met Dellie and she was funny and smart and easy going and I thought ‘I can see Corny falling in love with this lady’.“And he did, and she did, and they still are — so there you go, I was better at matchmaking for them than I am for myself.” Delaney said of Cornell: “I don’t mean there haven’t been difficult moments, but John is probably the bravest man I know.” Delaney also revealed Cornell had undergone “deep brain stimulation” while in hospital in 2010 after his battle with Parkinson’s disease left him mostly immobile with some more communication difficulties.Delaney recalled: “We lived together for three years before he proposed at a restaurant where we had ordered quail.“John asked me to marry him, so I saved the wishbone, we broke it in half, and then I had both halves dipped in copper, then silver, then gold, because gold doesn’t adhere to bone, and then I put them on matching necklaces.”
Powered by WPeMatico
