Uncle Jack Charles

Photographer: Bindi Cole Chocka

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are advised that this post contains images, and names of people who have passed on.

Uncle Jack Charles (1943–2022) was a legendary Boon Wurrung, Dja Dja Wurrung, Woiwurrung, and Yorta Yorta elder, actor, musician, and fiercely proud gay Blak icon.

A survivor of the Stolen Generations, Uncle Jack co-founded Nindethana Theatre in 1971, Australia’s first Aboriginal theatre company. Over a career spanning five decades, he graced stages and screens nationwide, using storytelling to lay bare the truths of Australia’s history and inspire systemic change.

As an openly gay elder, he brought warmth, humor, and unwavering honesty to discussions around Blak identity, sexuality, and resilience. Today, we honour his legacy as a true grandfather of Indigenous theatre and a trailblazer at the intersection of Blak sovereignty and Queer pride.