'Crocodile Dundee' Star Paul Hogan Reveals How Treatments 'Shrunk' Him After Health Condition

Oct 11, 2023 by apost team

Paul Hogan is an Australian actor and comedian who gained international recognition for his role as Michael "Crocodile" Dundee in the 1986 "Crocodile Dundee" film. After gaining worldwide recognition, the actor starred in other notable movies like "Almost an Angel."

Hogan enjoyed a successful career both as an actor and comedian for decades before he experienced a decline due to health issues in his 80s. In a November 2022 interview on “A Current Affair,” the veteran actor opened up about his health struggles and the side effects of the treatment. He also revealed how he was gradually getting himself back after his treatment "shrunk" him. 

Hogan made his first public appearance in 1971 in the Australian television Nine Network's amateur talent program, "New Faces." As a talented comedic performer, he attracted the attention of Mike Willese, the host of Nine's News magazine program, "A Current Affair." Hogan had the opportunity to make regular appearances on the series. 

After his successful comedy career on the show, Hogan started his comedy sketch program, "The Paul Hogan Show'' which ran between 1973 and 1984. In 1973, Hogan won the TV Week Logie Award for Best New Talent. Also, in the 1970s and early 1980s, he appeared in a lot of advertisements that helped boost his career.

Hogan's breakout role came when he starred in "Crocodile Dundee" in 1986. In 1987, he won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy. Hogan was also nominated for Best Actor at the BAFTAs. Following this, he went on to star in films like "Lightning Jack," "Flipper," "Strange Bedfellows," and others. 

The Australian actor's successful career put him in the public eye, and this did not exclude his family. He looked back at his career and family while speaking to "A Current Affair" host Tracy Grimshaw. Hogan shared how he was "poor and famous'' before his appearance on "A Current Affair." However, after his career kicked off, he became a huge success, but this success was not without its challenges.

Hogan is not only an amazing actor and comedian but also a father to six children and has been married twice. The actor was first married to Noelene Edwards for three decades. The duo had five children together before they split. 

At first, the pair separated but got back together. However, they finally ended their marriage after Hogan met his fellow "Crocodile Dundee" co-star, Linda Kozlowski. The actor also explained to Grimshaw that their relationship had "no passion" although there was no "bitterness" in it too. 

The actor and Kozlowski were married for 23 years. They also had a son, Chance, but the duo later split after being married for over two decades. Hogan shared that both his first and second wives were "sick of living in the shadow." He explained to Grimshaw that it became a big issue with his wives losing their identities after he became famous. He shared:

"I know it used to annoy Noelene that she was just 'Paul Hogan's wife.' She was never herself. Linda had it too. She got sick of living in the shadow. She was 'Crocodile Dundee's wife' and not herself."

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Aside from opening up about his career and his family to Grimshaw, Hogan talked about his health issues and how he was trying to get himself back. The veteran actor explained:

"(I've) been better. I had a problem on that aorta in the kidney and the treatment fixed it, but it shrunk me."

The health issue Hogan talked about was retroperitoneal fibrosis, which, in his case, was a benign growth wrapped around his abdominal aorta and pressed on his kidney. To treat his illness, doctors prescribed corticosteroids to shrink it. The actor revealed the side effects of the treatment while speaking to Grimshaw. He explained:

"I just... I've lost all my body fat and the muscles all shrank and the strength hasn't come back, because it left me feeble. I get Chance to open jars for me."

Hogan also shared that when the muscle is shrunk, it was "supposed to make you fat, but I got thinner and thinner." About how he was trying to get himself back, he revealed that he was now "in the business of trying to put a bit of fat on." The classic actor noted that he now has a pacemaker while being “held together by strings.” 

Hogan also talked about how he was healthy for a long time until he turned 80 "because things start to fall apart." He shared that he wanted to return to Australia to be with the rest of his family, but he could leave his son, Chance, in California. Although a lot has happened in his life, Hogan noted that he was grateful he had lived an extraordinary life. 

Isn't it relieving to see how Paul Hogan bounced back despite his debilitating condition and recovery process? What do you think of his recovery story? Let us know, and be sure to pass this on to other Paul Hogan fans.