Who was Noel Tovey AM? Pioneering Indigenous actor and dancer dies at 90

Noel Tovey AM died in Melbourne at 90. His career and activism spanned more than six decades.

Tovey was widely recognised as Australia's first Indigenous male ballet dancer and a trailblazer for First Nations representation and LGBTQIA+ rights. Born on Christmas Day in 1934 in Melbourne, he grew up during the Great Depression. By his teenage years, Noel Tovey was living on the streets. He worked as a sex worker.

At 17, a police raid in 1951 led to Tovey's arrest and a charge of buggery, which was then a criminal offence. He refused to plead guilty and served multiple months in Pentridge Prison.

Decades later, when Victoria introduced a scheme to expunge historical homosexual convictions, Tovey reportedly said that it was a relief to know he would not "die a criminal."

Social media tribute for Noel Tovey

Tovey's entry into the performing arts began in 1954 when he auditioned for the musical Paint Your Wagon. The role was his first time dancing on stage. It set him on a path that would eventually take him across Australia, London, and New York.

By the 1960s, he had gained international recognition as a dancer, actor, choreographer, and director. His work included theatre, television, and collaborations with notable figures such as Vanessa Redgrave, Boy George, and Damian Hirst.

ILBIJERRI Theatre Company posted a tribute to Tovey via their official Instagram page. It read:

"Remembering Uncle Noel Tovey AM. It is with great sadness and deep respect that we acknowledge the passing of Uncle Noel Tovey AM. A pioneering Aboriginal elder, extraordinary performing artist, mentor, and advocate whose life journey was marked by resilience, courage, and profound creativity."

The post continued:

"Born in Melbourne in 1934, Uncle Noel's childhood was shaped by hardship, abandonment, and abuse, yet he rose above these challenges to become Australia's first male ballet dancer of Aboriginal heritage. Over a remarkable 60-year career, he excelled as a dancer, actor, singer, choreographer, director, designer, writer, and teacher across Australia, Europe, and the UK. Uncle Noel was also a proud gay man who lived with honesty and bravery during times when homosexuality was deeply repressed."

ILBIJERRI Theatre Company concluded the emotional tribute stating:

"We offer our heartfelt condolences to Uncle Noel's family, friends, and community. His spirit, courage, and creativity will continue to inspire and guide us all. Rest in power, Uncle Noel, travel safe to the Dreamtime."

In 2004, he published his autobiography Little Black Bastard. The book later inspired a one-man play, which was performed in Australia and at the Edinburgh Festival. It earned a nomination for the World Amnesty Award.

Notably, Tovey created the Noel Tovey Scholarship Fund in 2001 and the Noel Tovey Award for Achievement in 2006 to help emerging talents access performing arts education. His contributions were recognised with multiple honours. These include the Uncle Bob Maza Memorial Lifetime Achievement Award for Victorian Indigenous Theatre in 2014, induction into the Australian Dance Awards Hall of Fame in 2017, and an Order of Australia Medal in 2015.

Rest in peace, Noel Tovey AM.

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