Australian character actor Augustino Eugenio "Gus" Mercurio died yesterday due to complications. Gus Mercurio was undergoing surgery for chest aneurysm when he died at age of 82.

Mercurio appeared in both film and television. He became famous in Australia after starring in the Australian TV series in 1975's Cash and Company. He also appeared in Tandarra and Powerd Without Grlory both in 1976. He also worked along with Paul Hogan in the 1988 film Crocodile Dundee II. He was last seen in the mutli-awarded film Doing Time For Pasty Cline in 1997.

Gus Mercurio was also a professional boxer and a popular boxing promoter. Mercurio said that while he had a lot of memories being an actor, boxing will always be his thing. He was the President of Australian Boxng Hall of Fame, and had been long involved in boxing as a referee, commentator and administrator.

Gus is the father of Paul Mercurio, who became internationally famous with Strictly Ballroom in 1992. He had said he was very proud of his son for being successful at what he likes to do.

Yesterday, Paul posted a message on his Web site, saying: ''My dad is at this very moment [lying] on a table in a hospital getting cut open to fix an aneurysm in his chest. Spare a thought for him if you can. He is a tough old bugger, so he should be fine. However, he is getting on - 82 and has become a little frailer over the last few years.''