Beloved Australian actor Alexander ‘Lex’ Marinos died on Friday at age 75, after a twenty year battle with cancer.

The NSW-born thespian, who had Greek heritage, had a fifty year career across Australia’s entertainment sector as an actor, writer and TV director.

Many Australian’s would remember him in the supporting role of Bruno ‘The Wog’ Bertolucci in the legendary sitcom Kingswood Country, which he appeared in from 1980 – 1984.

He was first diagnosed with leukemia in 2005 and after years of successfully managing it, finally succumbed to his illness.

Lex was a long-running advocate for diversity across Australian entertainment, and was proud for being one of the first non-Anglo actors on Aussie TV.

His role as the cheeky Italian son-in-law of the conservative white Anglo main character Ted Bullpitt, played by Ross Higgins, led to many hilarious confrontations on the show.

Lex often spoke proudly of his time on the show, and was delighted to play such a non-conventional character at a time when Aussie TV was filled with stereotypical white characters.

‘It’s very gratifying… It did provide a focal point for kids who were “other”. To see someone representing them on TV became a responsibility of sorts, I became aware of it,’ Lex told Greek-Australian newspaper Neos Kosmos in 2021.

Beloved Australian actor Alexander ‘Lex’ Marinos died on Friday at age 75, after a twenty year battle with cancer. Pictured on Kingswood Country in 1981

Throughout his long career, he worked with many world famous actors, including Melissa George, Richard Roxburgh and Jonathan LaPaglia. 

His death was announced on social media by his family, in a heartbreaking post which revealed the details of his passing.

‘To our dear friends, colleagues and favourite people. It is with heavy hearts we let you know that Lex passed away peacefully on Friday morning,’ the post began.

‘He died at home, at a moment of his choosing, surrounded by family and the sounds of Bob Dylan accompanying our vigil. There was so much love in the room.’

The iconic actor continued to work right up until his death, and most recently appeared in a 2023 episode of NCIS: Sydney, alongside Olivia Swann and Todd Lasance. 

The NSW-born thespian, who had Greek heritage, had a fifty year career across Australia’s entertainment sector as an actor, writer and TV director

Marinos was awarded an Order of Australia Medal in 1994 for his long-standing services to the preforming arts industry. 

In recognition of his incredible career, Wagga Wagga’s Museum of the Riverina will hold an exhibition on his later this year, called The Lex Factor: From Wagga to the World Stage.

Lex is survived by his wife Anne and several children. 

His role as the hilarious Italian son-in-law of the conservative white Anglo main character Ted Bullpitt, played by Ross Higgins (right), led to many hilarious confrontations on the show

Lex often spoke proudly of his time on the show, and was delighted to play such a non-conventional character at a time when Aussie TV was filled with stereotypical white characters