MELBOURNE -- Indigenous actor David Gulpilil was a seminal force in Australian cinema.
In a career that began 50 years ago with his memorable debut as a teenager in English director Nicolas Roeg's 1971 film "Walkabout," set in the harsh desert outback, Gulpilil starred in a succession of iconic Australian films, from slow-burning cult classics to big-name blockbusters and poignant documentaries. His rise to cinematic stardom began at a time when few -- if any -- Aboriginal faces were seen on domestic screens.
