New Zealand-born comedy writer and actor John Clarke has died suddenly at the age of 68.
Clarke and partner Bryan Dawe became household names in Australia with their political satire as Clarke and Dawe, originally for the Nine Network and then on the ABC. They performed together for 27 years.
Clarke originally found fame in his native New Zealand in the 70s under the guise of Fred Dagg.
Clarke wrote the Olympic Games send-up The Games. As an actor, he appeared in the films Never Say Die, Deat In Brunswick and Blood Oath.
John Clarke is reported to have died of natural causes while hiking on the weekend in the Grampians.
