Paul Hogan – 81

 

If Australia has a human figure in the minds of Americans, it may be Paul Hogan’s smiling, deeply lined face. Nicknamed “Hoges,” he represented Australia in a series of advertisements for the Australian Tourist Commission that drew more than 600,000 Americans abroad. Audiences praised him for being sincere, likable, and down-to-earth. He is the co-writer and actor of Crocodile Dundee, a massively successful comic adventure about the adventures of an Outback outdoorsman in New York City.

Hogan parlayed these traits into international degrees of stardom. Hogan has received several award nominations for this unpretentiously old-fashioned comedy. It also spawned a lucrative sequel, Crocodile Dundee 2, which he co-wrote and executive produced in 1988. Outside of performing, he was an executive producer on the films Almost an Angel and Lightning Jack. He was titled Australian of the Year and became a ‘Member of the Order of Australia’ for his contributions to tourism and entertainment.