Iconic Australian film critic David Stratton dead at 85
The English-born film critic was best known for his role as co-host of film review shows alongside Margaret Pomeranz.
His family confirmed the news on Thursday afternoon, saying he died peacefully in hospital near his home in the Blue Mountains.
David Stratton, film critic and television presenter, has died at the age of 85.
'David's passion for film, commitment to Australian cinema, and generous spirit touched countless lives,' the family's statement read, per the ABC.
'He was adored as a husband, father, grand and great grand father and admired friend.
'David's family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude for the overwhelming support from friends, colleagues, and the public recently and across his lifetime.'
He was best known for his movie review TV shows alongside co-host Margaret Pomeranz. Photo byHis family has requested privacy following the announcement of his death, however made one request.
'(We) invite everyone to celebrate David's remarkable life and legacy by watching their favourite movie, or David's favourite movie of all time — Singin' In the Rain,' they said.
On social media, Anthony Albanese penned a tribute to Stratton, saying, 'with dry humour and sharp insight, David Stratton shared his love of film with our country'.
'All of us who tuned in to 'At the Movies' respected him for his deep knowledge and for the gentle and generous way he passed it on,' the Prime Minister wrote.
'May he rest in peace.'
Stratton moved to Australia from the UK in 1963.
The Sydney Film Festival also paid tribute to the film critic and educator, saying Australian film culture 'would not exist as it does today' without Stratton's 'remarkable passion and devotion'.
'His achievements are too innumerable to list in totality, and would include his successful fight against censorship of films in Australia, the establishment of the Travelling Film Festival, support for emerging filmmakers from Australia and around the world, and fostering of a brave and adventurous cinema culture in Australian audiences,' the statement read.
David Stratton was a major figure in the Australian film industry.
A 'ten-pound Pom', Stratton was born in Wiltshire in the UK in 1939, and moved to Australia in 1963 under the Assisted Passage Migration Scheme introduced by the Chifley government in 1945.
An avid film lover from a young age, he became director of the Sydney Film Festival in 1966, a position which he held until 1983.
He landed the position following his fight against film censorship, which landed him under the surveillance of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) after the festival featured Soviet films, and his visit to Russia in the late 1960s.
David Stratton was an avid film lover from a young age.
Stratton soon became one of the most respected names in the industry, working as a film critic for the Weekend Australian for 33 years.
He also lectured film history at the University of Sydney's Centre for Continuing Education from 1988 to 2023.
He was best-known for the movie review program The Movie Show, which he co-hosted alongside Margaret Pomeranz on SBS from 1984 until 2004.
The duo moved then to the ABC, where they co-hosted the television program At the Movies from 2004 until 2014, discussing and reviewing films that released in theatres that week.
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