Nostalgia trip: Comedian Mark Mitchell's 'psychic' admission years after famous role

Aussie comedian Mark Mitchell is beloved for his character Con the Fruiterer, a Greek fruit shop owner with iconic mannerisms and catchphrases like "coupla days", "bewdiful" and "doesn't madda", which are still used by Aussies today. 

But for such an enduring character, he doesn't come without controversy. 

Mitchell's comedy career started with the hit sketch show, The Comedy Company, which helped him launch Con, as well as many other characters, like Con's wife Marika.

The character was inspired by two Greek Australian stall-holders he met at Glenferrie Markets in Melbourne in 1984.

Watch the videos above

Despite not being Greek himself, Mitchell, now 71, managed to take his character to great heights. He released an ARIA nominated song titled A Cuppla Days in 1988, the book Con's Bewdiful Australia: A Guide to the Second-Best Country in the World in 1989, and he starred in a spin-off series titled Con's Bewdiful Holiday Videos in 1997.

He was even named the Moomba Monarch in 1989 for the renowned Melbourne Festival, despite opposition from the Greek community who felt uncomfortable at a non-Greek person representing them.

But he continues to defend his portrayal to this day, saying in a 2020 interview, "Let those who wish to condemn Con, now, go for it.

"They will never erase the countless happy moments I experienced with the audience and with migrant Australians for whom Con was a – dare I say it – hero in his own suburban, even mundane way."

READ MORE: Why are people still playing with Tamagotchis?

READ MORE: The sex education book generations of Aussie kids grew up with

READ MORE: In the '90s, potpourri was in every home - and then it vanished

For a daily dose of 9honey, subscribe to our newsletter here.

At the time, Comedy Company writer and creator Ian McFayden had said, "Con the Fruiterer was an attempt to represent that whole immigrant subculture which until recently has been totally ignored except as a stereotype token wog."

Mitchell continued on to have a long-running film and television career, also being widely known for his role as Mr Gribble in Round the Twist.

He also starred in SeaChange, Neighbours, Something in the Air, Blue Heelers, Prisoner, Dogwoman and Upper Middle Bogan.

Mitchell even ventured into parts in US films, playing Chief Quimby in the 2003 film Inspector Gadget 2, of 'Buck Cluck' for the Australian release of Chicken Little, The Munsters' Scary Little Christmas and The Strange Story of Sante and Kenny Kimes. His latest role was in miniseries New Gold Mountain (2021). 

He has recently also revealed that he is "psychic". In a 2015 interview, he shared that he has been able to see dead people since the age of 16, recalling a time when he used to perform in Hobart Theatre, having run into a late technician.  

"I felt his presence, which was freezing cold. I introduced myself and moments later the room warmed up. Luckily he liked comedies,' he said.

He adds that he has also had encounters with his mother, his mother-in-law and his grandfather – who apparently sat at the end of his bed putting on socks eight months after he had died. 

'I'm certain they visit to say a final goodbye, a reassurance everything is alright in the afterlife," Mitchell added.

FOLLOW US ON WHATSAPP HERE: Stay across all the latest in celebrity, lifestyle and opinion via our WhatsApp channel. No comments, no algorithm and nobody can see your private details.