He’s a recognisable face across Australia and around the world thanks to his starring role in hit horror movie Wolf Creek, as well as his hosting role alongside ex wife Noni Hazlehurst on Better Homes and Gardens in the 1990s, but actor John Jarratt has now been forced to halt his career as he’s charged over a historic sexual assault.
The actor, 66, spoke out just days ago to slam shock claims he raped a teenager in a house in Sydney in September 1976, after he was charged over the alleged assault.
Now however, the Sydney Morning Herald reports he has described the investigation as a “nightmare”, adding: “My career is disintegrating.”
According to the news outlet, he has not only offered to undertake a lie detector test, but also wants his court date moved forward, as his lawyer claims he could be facing another year’s wait for a trial to attempt to clear his name.
If that’s the case, his lawyer claimed his career could be put on hold, stopping his income and forcing him to survive on the age pension.
Jarratt is currently due to appear before Waverley Court on October 10, while his trial may reportedly fall in August next year – at the earliest.
“An accusation is made without any supporting evidence 42 years after an alleged incident, which is totally denied, and it will take two years from the time the allegation was made to be resolved,” Chris Murphy reportedly told Fairfax Media.
“Now he is facing an old age pension to survive. He is keen to work, keen to answer the allegation at one minute’s notice in a court or any forum, but until then everything is on hold.”
It comes after the actor issued an angry statement denying the allegations a few days ago. He insisted he’s a “good man” as he spoke to Nine News, and calling the accusations “ridiculous and untrue”, he added: “I’m fine because I’m innocent. I’m good, because I’m a good man.”
Jarratt has been married four times and is currently with spouse Rosa Jarratt – also his first wife. He has six children.
He was previously married to much-loved actress Noni Hazlehurst and appeared alongside her on Better Homes and Gardens in the mid-late 1990s. He left the show when they divorced, but she remained a host.
The actor made his screen debut on The Great Macarthy in 1975. The same year he appeared in Picnic at Hanging Rock.