Australian cinema pioneer respected by Paul Hogan dies at 89 after a short illness READ MORE: Iconic New Zealand actress Glenis Levestam dead at 87 By Jimmy Briggs For Daily Mail Australia Published: 01:00 BST, 21 September 2024 | Updated: 01:03 BST, 21 September 2024 e-mail View comments Beloved Australian cinema pioneer Beryl Madsen died on Thursday aged 89, after contracting pneumonia . The Queensland-based film enthusiast was a showbusiness pioneer who helped shatter the glass ceiling for women in the movie industry. Madsen began her career in 1963 by working as a diner attendant at a local drive-in cinema.
Over the next decade, Madsen's hard work was acknowledged with several promotions, and in 1973 she became manager at one of the city's most lively cinema complexes. Madsen had a host of A-list stars as friends, and often got them to come to her cinema for a public talk ahead of one of their film screenings. Some of the stars who did talks for her include legendary Australian actor Jack Thompson, American star Jan Michael Vincent and Superman actress Susannah York, reported the Courier Mail .
One of the highlights of her esteemed career was receiving a telegram from Paul Hogan , thanking her personally for the record-breaking success of his 1986 movie Crocodile Dundee at the Cinema Maroochydore. Beloved Australian cinema pioneer Beryl Madsen (pictured) died on Thursday aged 89, after contracting pneumonia Read More Beloved ARIA award-winning singer dead at 55 after long.