Gus Mercurio


Augustino Eugenio “Gus” Mercurio was an American-Australian chiropractor, actor, boxing referee, boxing judge, and sports commentator. He was equally prominent as a character actor on film and television, and as a personality in the sports world. He was a long-time commentator on the Seven Network's World of Sport from 1976 to 1987. The Sydney Morning Herald described him as “one of the most recognised and loved faces in Australian television,” while boxing writer Paul Upham called him "one of the great characters of Australian boxing."

Early life

Of Sicilian descent, Mercurio was born in West Bend, Wisconsin near Milwaukee, in 1928. He was the eldest child of Vincent A. Mercurio and Cecilia W. "Mickey" Miller. He had two sisters, Gerie and Connie, and a brother, Tony. The elder Mercurio was a member of the Milwaukee mob, and according to his son, was verbally and emotionally abusive. His parents were divorced when he was seven.
Mercurio served in the United States Maritime Service, then the United States Marine Corps, and was also a chiropractor. He first visited Australia during the 1956 Melbourne Olympics and decided to stay. He worked as a chiropractor in regional Victoria for over a decade before he became prominent in the media.
He was later naturalised as an Australian citizen.

Sports career

Mercurio’s family had close ties to boxing. His father had boxed professionally under the ring name of Vince McGurk, and one of his uncles had boxed professionally under the name of Ray Miller. Mercurio began boxing while in the Marine Corps, and turned professional after leaving the service. He participated in two professional boxing fights in 1950, losing both.
He first came to Australia as a 32-year old during the 1956 Summer Olympics, accompanying the US boxing team as a chiropractor. He decided to stay, moving to Melbourne and working as a boxing coach.
Mercurio was also an international boxing judge and was also a well-known boxing promoter. Staying close to boxing, he judged 149 professional bouts and, starting in 1970 and until 1986, refereed 89 fights, including some world championship contests, such as the 1985 one between Barry Michael and Lester Ellis, which was a major sporting event in Australia.
Mercurio was also a judge for several world title bouts including Roy Jones versus Clinton Woods, Pernell Whitaker versus Gary Jacobs (boxer), Azumah Nelson versus Juan LaPorte and Rocky Mattioli versus Elisha Obed.
Mercurio was a regular commentator on Channel 7's World of Sport, from 1976 until the programme's end in 1987. His appearance on the programme led him to be what the Sydney Morning Herald described as “one of the most recognised and loved faces in Australian television." He was also the movie host for Channel 10's Saturday Night with Gus Mercurio.
He later became the inaugural president of the Australian National Boxing Hall of Fame – into which he was inducted in 2008.

Acting career

He was successful at his first audition for an ABC radio play. His raspy voice, energetic personality and natural talents quickly came to the attention of Australian television production houses such as Crawford Productions.
Mercurio appeared in several Australian TV series, including Cash and Company, its follow-up Tandarra and the miniseries Power Without Glory. Additionally, he played many guest roles in Australian TV police series, including Homicide, Division 4 and Matlock Police. His film appearances include The Blue Lagoon, The Man from Snowy River, Turkey Shoot, Crocodile Dundee II, Return to the Blue Lagoon and Doing Time for Patsy Cline.
He also wrote scripts for Matlock Police.

Personal life

Mercurio was married twice and fathered seven children, including dancer/actor Paul Mercurio.

Death

He died on 7 December 2010 from complications during surgery for a chest aneurysm. He was 82 years old.

Works

  • Mercurio, G., Boxin' : all you wanted to know but didn't want to fight to ask, Regus,, 1998.
  • Mercurio, G., Hang in There: Inspirational Gems to Empower You!, Wilkinson Books,, 1994.