John Laws farewelled in Sydney as Russell Crowe honours radio titan’s legacy and ‘lion-hearted’ spirit

Movie star Russell Crowe has described radio icon John Laws as having the “heart of a lion”.

Delivering Laws’ eulogy at Sydney’s St Andrew’s Cathedral, Crowe said, “the very first time that I met John, he gave me the impression that he believed in me”.

“That is an undervalued gift to instil confidence in others,” Crowe said.

Laws, known as the “Golden Tonsils”, died peacefully aged 90 at his home in Woolloomooloo in Sydney’s CBD earlier this month.

Beginning his career at Bendigo’s 3BO in 1953, Laws spent a whopping 71 years on the air, most notably on Sydney stations 2UE and 2SM.

He famously announced into a golden microphone, which was next to his casket as mourners filed into the church.

Despite being “on opposite sides on any issue”, Crowe said the pair always made each other laugh.

“In fact, my last couple of conversations were about a project of mine that he showed great interest in, Nuremberg,” Crowe said.

The Gladiator star recalled Laws as “my neighbour, mischievous mate, my good friend, a very kind man”.

“His critics would point out the irony that his show was most usually invective-laden opinion and his interviews with political figures often stern and unyielding, but to express his opinion was John’s gift and his therapy, and for regular listeners, it became theirs,” Crowe said.

“It was often through expressing himself that he made new discoveries, that he saw the truth revealed in a different opinion, and his audience was there to experience him and his endless ability to believe in a cause but question its structure.

“To platform the voiceless and let them be heard, to upgrade an antagonist but make room for them at his table, this was his forte.”

Crowe shared a story of Laws bringing a bottle of whiskey to his first son’s birthday party and joked about being asked to participate in the service.

“A long time ago, John asked me if I would speak at his funeral. I said yes and then he just kept on living,” Crowe said.

“The idea, though, is that I give you the impression I’m just telling you stories off the top of my head … It’ll take a bit of acting, but let’s see how we go.”

A number of famous faces were among those gathered to pay their respects to Laws, including former Prime Minister John Howard, swimmer Dawn Fraser.

Television, Richard Wilkins, singer Marcia Hines, and Barnaby Joyce were also present.

Singer-songwriter John Williamson performed his 1982 song True Blue for the service.

Paul Warren knew Laws for 55 years.

He told the service that his friend had faced challenges, including twice battling polio, to reach some two million listeners on his program, carried on 100 radio stations.

“He fought back, rebuilt, and that same determination and resilience that carried him through everything he did in life,” Mr Warren said of Laws.

“He could do just about anything. He wrote songs, he sang them, he made albums, he appeared in films, and he even popped on Skippy, I think, one time.

“John was a man who shaped public opinion and political thought like no one else.

“He interviewed 16 prime ministers and numerous premiers, some a bit nervous, some a little too confident, but all of them knew they’re about to face one of the sharpest minds and quickest tongues in the country.”

But, Mr Warren said, to those who knew Laws, he was just “John”.

“A man who lived life completely on his own terms,” he said.

“He entertained, he challenged, he inspired, and he left a mark that will never fade, not just on broadcasting, but of everyone lucky enough to have known him,” he said.

Mr Warren said the pair became close about 20 years ago when he lost his father and Laws lost his best friend.

Laws was inducted into the Australian Commercial Radio Hall of Fame and received the Order of Australia medal for his contribution to he arts.

Some 800 people are expected to attend his funeral, including NSW Premier Chris Minns and broadcasters Ben Fordham and Ray Hadley.

Shock jock Kyle Sandilands said he would not be attending nor watching online because “it’s too emotional”.

“It feels to me like I’ve lost a grandfather. I know that sounds bizarre, but he’s been in my life for a very long time. It’s very sad,” he said on air.

NSW MLC John Ruddick posted to X from inside the service on Wednesday.

“For two-three years after school I worked on a remote property near Walgett,” Mr Ruddick said.

“I’d work 12 hour shifts and be alone either in a tractor, ute or a quad-runner.

“They were long days but the highlight was listening to John Laws for three hours.”

More to come...