Mike Preston, best known for playing settler leader Pappagallo in Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior and detective Bob Delaney in the Australian TV series The Killing, died June 8 in Florida. He was 93.
Preston’s death has been confirmed Diversity his wife Josie Preston.
Preston, born Jack Davies, was one of the first singers to top the UK charts in the late 50s, with three top 40 hits. He then moved to Australia and began working as a singer and nightclub performer.
He found success as the host of Tonight in Melbourne and then appeared in 42 episodes of the Australian series The Killing. He had a recurring role in the soap opera Bluebell and also appeared in Dixon of Dock Green, Thundarra, Helicopter Squad and Cop Shop.
His first feature film role was in the 1969 film Stoney, which also starred Barbara Boucher and Richard Jaeckel. He worked with George Miller on the beloved Mad Max sequel The Road Warrior, helmed the sci-fi film Metal Storm: The Destruction of Jared-Syn as the title character, and appeared in eight episodes of Hot Pursuit as Alec Shaw alongside the likes of Kerry Keane, Eric Pierpoint and Dina Merrill.
Throughout the ’80s and ’90s, Preston made guest appearances on more than a dozen shows, including “Ellen,” “Scarecrow and Mrs. King,” “Shadow Hunters,” “Criminals,” “Magnificent,” “Alien Nation,” “Dark Justice,” “Highlander,” “Steel” and “Law & Order.” His most recent credit was as a voice actor in the video game The Getaway, released in 2002.
Preston is survived by his wife Josie Preston and two daughters.