Remember Linda Kozlowski from ‘Crocodile Dundee’? Look at her today…
Gaining worldwide recognition through her performance in ‘Crocodile Dundee’, Linda Kozlowski portrayed Sue Charlton opposite Paul Hogan. Their on-screen chemistry translated into a real-life romance, culminating in marriage.
However, their unity came to an end in 2014 with a divorce, but not without sharing a son together. Since their separation, Kozlowski has charted her own path, finding contentment and a new partner.
You might wonder, what has Linda Kozlowski been up to since her ‘Crocodile Dundee’ days? And how does she look now? Let us uncover the details!
It’s the dream of every performer to land that pivotal role that catapults them into stardom, accompanied by the luxuries of a celebrity lifestyle, including more lucrative roles and heightened fame.
It’s common to see actors repeatedly cast in similar roles, with success in one typecast implying more of the same in subsequent endeavors.
However, a hit movie doesn’t always promise everlasting celebrity status, and some actors decide against a prolonged career in Hollywood despite major accomplishments.
Linda Kozlowski is a prime example. Her life was forever altered by the success of ‘Crocodile Dundee’, yet after her involvement in the trilogy and a few other roles, she retreated from the spotlight.
Her last acting credit was in 2001. What has been going on in her life since then, and how has she transformed? Discover all there is to know about Linda Kozlowski!
Kozlowski, born on January 7, 1958, in Fairfield, Connecticut to parents Stanley and Helen, was raised in Fairfield and completed her high school at Andrew Warde High School in 1976.
An early passion for acting propelled her to the revered Juilliard School’s drama division. Her graduation in 1981 led to her relocation to New York, where her acting journey unfolded.
While in New York, Kozlowski honed her craft in off-Broadway shows, with a noteworthy turn in How It All Began. She also nabbed roles on Broadway and television, including a part in ‘Death of a Salesman’ with Dustin Hoffman.
Nevertheless, post ‘Death of a Salesman’, her experience in New York was fraught with challenges, including working as a waitress, which prompted her move to California.
Her relationship with Dustin Hoffman, having grown, offered her guidance and mentorship during this period.
Speaking to People magazine, she shared her struggles in New York, “It was cold in New York, I didn’t see any other work in sight, and I was sort of miserable.”
Hoffman and his wife took her under their wing, inviting her to their Malibu beach house. Merely six weeks after her westward migration, Kozlowski auditioned for ‘Crocodile Dundee’.
It was Hoffman’s endorsement that paved the way for her Crocodile Dundee role, due to his admiration for her talent demonstrated in ‘Death of a Salesman’.
“Linda secured the movie role since they were smitten by her charm,” Linda reminisced about her audition. “There was this overwhelmingly positive atmosphere; not once did I doubt the prospects of success.”
Kozlowski shared humorous recollections of Hoffman’s influence, “Dustin inquired about the production team and where they were lodging. As they were in the midst of offering me the part, Hoffman rang them up. They initially mistook it for a prank. Once they realized it truly was Hoffman, their elation confirmed they had chosen correctly.”
William DeAcutis, her dear friend, remarked, “Dustin’s call was tantamount to high praise, but Linda’s innate appeal is what truly won them over.”
The 1986 ‘Crocodile Dundee’ film, with Kozlowski starring alongside Hogan, turned into an unprecedented success, raking in $320 million on a mere $10 million investment.
However, when Linda first joined the set in the Australian outback, it was far from what she was used to.
She recollected the initial shock, stating, “I found myself amidst the brisk dawn, among kangaroos and buffalos, completely disoriented.”
Almost immediately, Kozlowski rose to fame in Australia while yet remaining relatively unknown in the United States.
With ‘Crocodile Dundee’s initial release in Australia preceding its US debut, she was a sensation in one country while still driving her old Toyota around casting offices in another.
Describing her peculiar situation, Kozlowski mentioned to the Los Angeles Times, “The dichotomy was like being Cinderella. In Australia, limos were my norm, but back in the States, my beat-up Toyota was still my companion.”
Linda’s transition from aspiring actress to celebrity happened quickly; however, she maintained that the spotlight didn’t always shine brightly on her. Conversations and opportunities seemed to
The spotlight was entirely on Dundee.
“However, let me share where I truly shined,” she chuckled. “Back in Fairfield, Conn., my hometown. That’s where my folks, Stanley and Helen Kozlowski, reside. They must have watched the film countless times when it premiered.
“Interestingly, the hometown newspaper never called me by my first name, ‘Linda,'” she mused. “It was always ‘Stanley’s daughter did this…’ and ‘Stanley’s daughter mentioned that…’”
A couple of years passed and she graced the screen in the sequel of Crocodile Dundee, followed by the 2001 release of Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles.
Amidst her flourishing career, Kozlowski found romance with none other than Paul Hogan, the iconic Crocodile Dundee himself.
The duo tied the knot down under in Australia in May 1990 and, as reported by the Los Angeles Times, Hogan gifted her an opulent $2 million mansion to celebrate their union.
Even after two incredibly popular Crocodile Dundee movies, one might think Linda Kozlowski would be inundated with roles. However, she found herself confronted with a different reality.
Undoubtedly, there were offers, but none that captured her excitement.
“Post-Crocodile Dundee, I declined a plethora of opportunities, mainly those where I’d be cast as the amusing man’s girlfriend,” Kozlowski confessed, noting she repurposed the scripts for igniting fires.
“That’s their best use. I was sinking into despair, yet eventually, a worthwhile project came my way–’Pass the Ammo.’ It’s been delayed but now it’s finally getting a release date,” she said.
By 2001, Kozlowski starred in the third installment of the Crocodile Dundee series. But that marked her final bow in the acting world.
Prior to the third film, she opted to step away from Hollywood. In 1998, she and Paul Hogan were blessed with their sole child together, Chance Hogan, and she decided to dedicate herself to nurturing her precious son.
After more than two decades of marriage, Linda and Paul parted ways in 2014. The split, filed in October 2013, was attributed to “irreconcilable differences.”
In her conversation with New Idea, Linda indicated her desire to step into her own light. The Sydney Morning Herald reported that she received a $6.25 million lump sum while Hogan maintained ownership over the Crocodile Dundee persona and the film company behind the movies.
Kozlowski was also granted permission to reside in their Los Angeles home for four years or until she was remarried, depending on which occurred first.
“Emerging from Paul’s shadow, I am basking in my own illumination,” she revealed to New Idea. She related the relational drift to a loss of communal interests, stating, “Frankly, we just drifted apart naturally. Such a divide occurs to many over time.”
Paul Hogan echoed her sentiments, acknowledging their differences but emphasizing that they manage to maintain harmony nonetheless.
“Our attraction was fueled by being polar opposites in every facet, from dining choices to musical tastes, entertainment preferences, colors, attire, and desired locales. Contrasting as we were, it somehow worked,” Hogan reflected.
The pair has maintained joint custody of their son, Chance, and regardless of the dissolution, they remain on amicable terms.
These days, Linda Kozlowski has chosen to live outside the limelight and settled in Morocco where she has found new love.
During a voyage to Morocco, she was shown around by the local guide, Moulay Hafid Baba. Communicating with Luxe Beat, Kozlowski shared that the connection was immediate.
Together, they launched Dream My Destiny, a Marrakesh-based luxury travel venture, where they craft personalized experiences tailored to their clients’ whims.
“It was evident right away that our souls had been intertwined for millennia, casting a spell on both our lives,” she claimed. “As partners, we orchestrate all travel arrangements in tandem.
“He’s an expert on the local scene, from guiding the men whilst the women indulge in retail therapy to knowing the Sahara Desert like the back of his hand. His presence ensures security, no matter the location,” she added.
The timeless allure of Linda remains undeniable!
Linda has stepped back from the acting scene quite some time ago. Nevertheless, she is forever cherished as the remarkable Sue in Crocodile Dundee, with a legacy that endures eternally.
Now at the age of 63, she shows no intentions of resurrecting her acting career.
“I don’t long for acting as my life is incredibly fulfilling as is. The real world surpasses any fiction.
“One gripe I had with acting was the restraint it put on living adventurously,” she revealed. “You were stuck waiting for opportunities in LA. Presently, I revel in my newfound freedom. My acting past certainly honed my instincts, vital for my current business, as so much relies on intuiting and addressing individuals’ needs,” she explained.
Linda Kozlowski’s work in the film industry was indeed extraordinary. However, ultimately, we’re delighted that she pursued her love for adventure and new beginnings.
