Burt the Crocodile, Paul Hogan’s reptilian co-star in Crocodile Dundee, died peacefully at Crocosaurus Cove in Darwin during the weekend of December 21–22, 2024. He was believed to be more than 90 years old, but his exact age was unknown because he had been captured in the wild as an adult.
Burt’s fame came from a brief appearance in the 1986 film, but his public life extended far beyond that scene. The 5.1-meter saltwater crocodile later became one of Crocosaurus Cove’s best-known attractions and was remembered as a distinctive, strong-tempered animal connected with crocodile education and Australian wildlife.
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Key takeaways
- Burt died peacefully at Crocosaurus Cove in Darwin during the weekend of December 21–22, 2024.
- Burt’s age was estimated at more than 90 years, not verified as exactly 90, because he was captured as an adult in the wild.
- Burt was a 5.1-meter saltwater crocodile weighing more than 700 kilograms, according to earlier ABC News Australia reporting.
- Burt appeared briefly in a memorable crocodile-attack sequence in the 1986 film Crocodile Dundee, starring Paul Hogan and Linda Kozlowski.
- Burt spent his later public life as a major attraction and crocodile-education ambassador at Crocosaurus Cove in Darwin.
What happened to Burt the Crocodile?
Burt the Crocodile died peacefully at Crocosaurus Cove in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia, in December 2024. The facility announced his death after the weekend of December 21–22, and the Associated Press reported the announcement on December 23, 2024. The available reporting describes a death window rather than a separately documented exact date; the Associated Press account of Burt’s death also describes the end of an era for the famous reptile attraction.
The death was not connected to Paul Hogan. Hogan, who played Mick “Crocodile” Dundee, is not the subject of the obituary. Burt was the real saltwater crocodile associated with the film.
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Was Burt really 90 years old?
Burt was believed to be more than 90 years old, but 90 was an estimate rather than a verified exact age. Burt had been captured in the wild as an adult, so his birth year was unknown. News coverage commonly used “90” in headlines as a rounded description, while the more precise wording is that Burt was estimated to be over 90.
Reports connect Burt’s capture with the Reynolds River in Australia’s Northern Territory and say that he was named after actor Burt Reynolds. The safest chronology is that Burt was captured in the 1980s, later came to the attention of filmmakers, and eventually became associated with Crocodile Dundee and Crocosaurus Cove. The capture details and timeline vary slightly among secondary reports, so a precise capture date should not be treated as established fact.
How big was Burt the Crocodile?
Burt measured about 5.1 meters—roughly 16.7 feet—and weighed more than 700 kilograms, or about 1,540 pounds. Those figures come from earlier ABC News Australia reporting about the animal, rather than from a post-death measurement. ABC News Australia’s report on Burt at Crocosaurus Cove described him as a huge saltwater crocodile and a major visitor attraction.
| Detail | What the reporting supports | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Species | Saltwater crocodile | Burt was a real animal, not a fictional character. |
| Length | About 5.1 meters | The figure comes from earlier reporting. |
| Weight | More than 700 kilograms | The reported figure is approximate. |
| Age at death | Estimated to be more than 90 | His exact age was unknown. |
| Later home | Crocosaurus Cove, Darwin | Reports said Burt had been at the park since 2008. |
What was Burt’s role in Crocodile Dundee?
Burt appeared in a brief but memorable crocodile-attack sequence in the 1986 comedy-adventure film Crocodile Dundee. In the scene, Mick Dundee rescues journalist Sue Charlton from a crocodile attack. Burt was therefore a real crocodile associated with the movie, but he was not the film’s principal star and did not appear throughout it.
Paramount’s official film page identifies Crocodile Dundee as a 1986 movie starring Paul Hogan as Michael “Crocodile” Dundee and Linda Kozlowski as Sue Charlton. The film’s story begins with Sue traveling to Australia after hearing about Dundee and his encounter with a giant crocodile.
The distinction matters: obituary coverage describes Burt’s appearance as a cameo or brief scene, not as a performance spanning the film. There is also no reliable basis in the supplied reporting for claiming that Burt was the only crocodile used in every shot or that he performed trained stunts.
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Viewers who want to revisit Burt’s scene can watch or own the original Crocodile Dundee on DVD. Paramount’s home-entertainment page lists DVD, Blu-ray and digital viewing formats, although availability and edition details can vary by country and date. Paramount’s official home-viewing information is the appropriate reference for the film’s authorized formats.
Where did Burt spend his later years?
Burt spent his later public life at Crocosaurus Cove in Darwin, where reports said he had been housed since 2008. His screen appearance was short; his life as a public attraction lasted far longer. Visitors knew him for his size, distinctive temperament and famously “grumpy” attitude.
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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Crocosaurus Cove presented Burt not only as a movie animal but also as an ambassador for crocodile education and Australian wildlife. That description supports a public-education role at the attraction, not a claim that Burt carried out formal conservation work. Crocosaurus Cove’s Meet the Crocs page still contains legacy information identifying Burt as a famous movie star; that page should not be read as evidence that he was alive after the December 2024 death announcement.
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Why does Burt’s legacy extend beyond the movie?
Burt’s legacy comes from the contrast between a short cinematic appearance and decades as a recognizable Darwin attraction. Crocodile Dundee made the crocodile part of an enduring piece of Australian popular culture, while Crocosaurus Cove gave the public a place to learn about and see a large saltwater crocodile associated with that film.
The character and the animal should not be confused. Mick “Crocodile” Dundee was Paul Hogan’s fictional Australian outdoorsman; Burt was the real crocodile seen in the film’s attack sequence. Burt’s death closed the story of the animal, while the film’s cultural afterlife continues through home viewing, anniversary activity and restoration work. The official Crocodile Dundee and Love of an Icon site documents current franchise-related restoration and anniversary activity for 2025–2026, but it is not the source of the death announcement.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Frequently Asked Questions
When did Burt the Crocodile die?
Burt the Crocodile died during the weekend of December 21–22, 2024, at Crocosaurus Cove in Darwin, Australia. The facility announced his death on December 23, but available reports do not establish a more precise documented date.
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How old was Burt the Crocodile when he died?
Burt was believed to be more than 90 years old when he died, but his exact age was unknown because he had been captured as an adult in the wild. “90” should therefore be treated as an estimate, not a verified age.
Was Burt the Crocodile in the original Crocodile Dundee movie?
Burt appeared briefly in the crocodile-attack sequence in the 1986 film Crocodile Dundee, in which Mick Dundee rescues Sue Charlton. Burt was not the principal star and did not appear throughout the movie.
How large was Burt the Crocodile?
Burt was about 5.1 meters long and weighed more than 700 kilograms, according to earlier reporting. Those measurements are approximate reported figures, not a newly recorded post-death measurement.
The Bottom Line
Burt was a real saltwater crocodile who appeared briefly in the 1986 film Crocodile Dundee and later became a major attraction at Crocosaurus Cove. He died peacefully in Darwin in December 2024, believed to be more than 90 years old, although his exact age was never known.
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