“Crocodile Dundee” Burt, the giant Australian crocodile, dies at the age of 90

(AP) — Burt, the giant crocodile who became famous after a cameo in the film Crocodile Dundee and continued to impress visitors with his fiery temperament and commanding presence, has died.

Burt died over the weekend, said the Crocosaurus Cove reptile aquarium in Darwin, Australia. He was at least 90 years old.

“Burt was known for his independence and a confirmed bachelor – an attitude that was clearly evident in his earlier years on a crocodile farm,” Crocosaurus Cove wrote in social media posts.

“He wasn’t just a crocodile, he was a force of nature and a reminder of the power and majesty of these incredible creatures. Although his personality could be challenging, it was also what made him so memorable and beloved by those who worked with him and the thousands who visited him over the years,” the aquarium wrote.

Burt, a saltwater crocodile, was estimated to be more than 5 meters (16 feet) long. It was captured in the Reynolds River in the 1980s and became one of the most famous crocodiles in the world, according to Crocosaurus Cove.

In the 1986 film, Paul Hogan plays tough crocodile hunter Mick Dundee. In the film, American Sue Charlton, played by actress Linda Kozlowski, goes to a watering hole to refill her canteen when she is attacked by a crocodile before being rescued by Dundee.

Burt can briefly be seen throwing himself out of the water.

But the creature shown in more detail as Dundee saves the day is apparently something else. The Internet Movie Database says the film was botched by depicting an American alligator with a blunter snout.

The Australian aquarium, where Burt has lived since 2008, features a “cage of death” that is said to be the only crocodile dive in the country. It said it plans to honor Burt’s legacy with a memorial plaque “celebrating his extraordinary life and the stories and interactions he shared during his time at the park.”