Mark “Chopper” Read, a career criminal who became an Australian celebrity, has died of cancer, according to reports.
Australia’s TEN News and 3aw.com reported on his death on Wednesday. Read was 61.
Read was possibly best known as being the main character in the 2000 film “Chopper” starring Eric Bana, which was based on his stories and research.
From the ages of 20 and 38, Read spent only 13 months away from prison, doing time for assault, arson, armed robbery, and other offenses.
Later, he became an author of crime novels, selling hundreds of thousands.
He also frequently appeared on radio and television.
The Herald Sun reported that Read was discharged from the hospital after receiving treatment this week. He was diagnosed with liver cancer and had cirrhosis.
