Mad Max star Vincent Gill – aka The Nightrider – dies as co-star pays tribute-Louise Griffin-Entertainment – Metro

Vincent Gil, best known for playing The Nightrider in Mad Max, has died (Pictures: Getty)

Australian actor Vincent Gil, best known for playing The Nightrider in 1979’s Mad Max, has died.

His friend and co-star Paul Johnstone, who played Cundalini in the iconic film, confirmed the news on Facebook, sharing a recent photo of the two of them arm-in-arm.

‘Sadly, it is true…’ he wrote.

‘Vince Gil has left us. He’s been very frail for quite some time and mercifully no longer needs to be constrained by his mortal form.

‘My fondest memory of Vince will be during our wonderful tour of Japan for MMCon 2015. He was already in less-than-ideal health, and in the opening days a couple of us were concerned about his ability to get through the long demanding days of convention and socialising and travel and convention and…

‘We need not have been concerned. Vince was remarkable – he rose to the occasion every time, fed off the energy of the wonderful Japanese fans, and on the occasions when I’d glance at him and be worried about his ability to keep going, he’d shrug off any concerns and showed that he had a lot more stamina than many of we much younger men.

‘NIGHTRIDER…!!! Rest well old friend – we will remember you when we look at the night sky.’

Gil’s career began in 1965 with a role in the TV movie The Swagman.

Paul (L) announced the news of Gil’s death (Picture: Paul Cundalini Johnstone / FACEBOOK)(

Gil had an iconic introduction in the film (Picture: Warner Bros)

The Sydney native went on to star in the TV series Number 96, Division 4, and Homicide, and in various films, and starred as Dr Death in 1974 biker film Stone, before his most famous role in Mad Max in 1979.

Directed by George Miller, the action classic starred Mel Gibson in the lead role.

It was monumentally successful at the box office and inspired sequels including 2015’s Fury Road and the upcoming Furiosa.

Gil’s character, The Nightrider, was part of Toecutter’s (Hugh Keays-Byrne) biker gang.

The actor also appeared in Aussie shows including Neighbours, A Country Practice and Prisoner. 

His final role was in The Doctor Blake Mysteries in 2015.

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