The much-loved star of The Man from Snowy River, Breaker Morant and Sunday Too Far Away is undergoing regular dialysis as he continues to battle kidney failure, a condition that has threatened his life for several years.
Thompson revealed the stark warning doctors had given his wife about the seriousness of his condition. “The nephrologist said, well, Mrs Thompson, you can have a dialysed Jack or you can have a dead Jack,” he recalled.
The veteran actor now requires dialysis every three days to keep him alive, but despite the gruelling treatment and concerns surrounding his health, he remains determined to make the most of every moment.
“So I’m living on borrowed time and I’m going to go on borrowing that time,” he said.
Thompson’s latest revelations came as he was celebrated for his remarkable six-decade contribution to Australian cinema, receiving heartfelt tributes from some of the biggest names in the film industry.
Among them was Academy Award-winning actor Russell Crowe, who shared an emotional video message recalling his first encounter with Thompson more than half a century ago.
“I met Jack first on a set in 1970 when I was six years old and delivered my first on-camera line to Jack Thompson,” Crowe said.
“He’s been a huge influence in my life and I appreciate him deeply.”
Crowe described Thompson not only as a mentor but also as a close friend.
“He has always been a mentor. What’s more important? He’s my mate.”
The touching message prompted a characteristically Australian response from an emotional Thompson.
“Oh, you lovely bastard. That’s fantastic, mate,” he said.
Hollywood star Sean Penn also joined the tributes, describing Thompson as “the force of a man and a great force in film”.
The outpouring of affection visibly moved the veteran performer, who has appeared in more than 100 film and television productions and remains president of the Asia Pacific Screen Academy.
Thompson’s health troubles are not new. In 2019, ABC’s Australian Story revealed how he had come dangerously close to death after developing severe kidney failure following an earlier battle with prostate cancer.
At the time, doctors feared he might not survive without urgent treatment.
Remarkably, Thompson continued working, even undergoing dialysis while filming the Australian drama High Ground in remote Arnhem Land.
It was another extraordinary chapter in the life of a man who helped define Australia’s cinematic renaissance during the 1970s and 1980s.
From his breakthrough performances in Petersen and Sunday Too Far Away to his acclaimed roles in Breaker Morant, The Club and The Man from Snowy River, Thompson became one of the country’s most recognisable and respected performers.
His distinctive voice, rugged charm and commanding screen presence made him a household name, while his willingness to tackle complex characters earned him international recognition.
Yet behind that larger-than-life public image is a man who has endured considerable personal hardship, including losing his mother as a child and spending time in an orphanage before being raised by poet and broadcaster John Thompson and his wife.
Now, more than 60 years into his acting career, Thompson faces one of his greatest challenges.
But while his latest comments are understandably concerning for generations of Australians who have grown up watching him on screen, the actor has made it clear he has no intention of giving up.
Still enthusiastic about working and deeply appreciative of the life he has led, Thompson offered a simple explanation for his determination to keep going.
“I love life. It’s the only thing I know,” he said.
And judging by the affection pouring in from colleagues, friends and admirers around the world, there are plenty of people hoping Jack Thompson has many more chapters left to write.
