# Mike Preston, ‘Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior’ and ‘Hot Pursuit’ Actor, Dies at 93

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/mike-preston-mad-max-2-the-road-warrior-and-hot-pursuit-actor-dies-at-93/
- Published: 2026-07-21T23:47:40+00:00
- Updated: 2026-07-22T00:04:29+00:00
- Original publisher: Variety
- Original article: https://variety.com/2026/film/news/mike-preston-dead-mad-max-2-the-road-warrior-1236817624/
- Topics: Art, Culture

## Key points

- Actor Mike Preston has died aged 93 in Florida on 8 June.
- Known for "Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior" and "Hot Pursuit" roles.
- Career began as a UK pop singer before moving into Australian TV.

## Summary

Mike Preston, the British-born actor best known for playing settler leader Pappagallo in "Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior" and Detective Bob Delaney in the Australian series "Homicide," has died at the age of 93. He passed away on 8 June in Florida, with his death confirmed to Variety by his wife, Josie Preston. His career spanned pop music, television and film across two continents, making him a familiar face to both British and Australian audiences before he found wider recognition in Hollywood.

Born Jack Davis, Preston began his career as a UK chart-topping singer in the late 1950s, scoring three Top 40 hits, before relocating to Australia and building a career as a nightclub performer, TV host and actor, including 42 episodes of "Homicide" and a stint on "In Melbourne Tonight." He later appeared in "The Road Warrior" alongside director George Miller, led the sci-fi film "Metalstorm: The Destruction of Jared-Syn," and starred as Alec Shaw in "Hot Pursuit," as well as guesting on numerous American shows including "Highlander," "Alien Nation" and "Law & Order." His final credit was a voice role in the 2002 video game "The Getaway." He is survived by his wife, Josie, and two daughters.

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