A quiet arrival that sparked fresh concern
Australian screen legend Paul Hogan has returned home for the second time this year, arriving in Sydney on Wednesday after a long-haul flight from Los Angeles.
The 86-year-old actor was seen leaving Sydney Airport in a wheelchair, assisted by airport staff as he made his way to a waiting vehicle. Images of the Crocodile Dundee star using a mobility aid quickly reignited public concern about his health, with many wondering how the beloved entertainer is coping.
Yet despite the attention surrounding his condition, Hogan showed that his trademark wit remains very much intact.
Turning health speculation into a joke
Rather than shy away from the cameras, Hogan greeted photographers with humour.
Clutching his chest and pretending to be in pain, he playfully teased those waiting outside the terminal before revealing there was a far less dramatic explanation for the wheelchair.
The veteran actor joked that he was simply “too old to be roller skating,” before explaining that ongoing knee problems were behind his need for assistance after the flight.
Although the wheelchair prompted renewed speculation, Hogan appeared cheerful, relaxed and otherwise in good spirits as he departed the airport.
The embarrassing accident he still laughs about
The actor had offered the same explanation during a previous visit to Australia in July.
Speaking with 7NEWS, Hogan revealed that he has arthritis and also injured his knee in an unexpected skateboarding accident—an injury that made his condition significantly worse.
With characteristic self-deprecating humour, he admitted he had become “an 80-plus skateboarder,” adding that he wasn’t proud of it and had no hesitation using a wheelchair whenever necessary.
Despite ongoing mobility issues, Hogan insisted he remains in good health overall.
His wish to spend his final years at home
Earlier this year, Hogan made an emotional confession about where he hopes to spend the final chapter of his life.
Having lived in Los Angeles since the 1990s, the legendary entertainer said Australia is still where he truly belongs and that he wants to return permanently as soon as circumstances allow.
“I want to die here,” Hogan said with a laugh, acknowledging that time now seems to pass much faster than it once did.
He even joked that he wants his ashes scattered from Sydney Harbour Bridge, adding that the wish should be written into his will.
The family reason keeping him in Los Angeles
Although reports have repeatedly suggested Hogan is preparing to move home for good, one important reason continues to keep him in America.
The actor says he remains in Los Angeles to support his 27-year-old son, Chance Hogan, whom he shares with former wife and Crocodile Dundee co-star Linda Kozlowski.
According to Hogan, his son is still working to establish his career, and he wants to stay by his side until he is settled.
He explained that once Chance is in a stronger position—or if his son decides to move back with him—he intends to return to Australia permanently.
Chance has lived with his father in Los Angeles since Hogan and Kozlowski divorced in 2014 after 24 years of marriage.
A homecoming that could change everything
Speculation continues to grow that Hogan’s long-awaited move back to Australia may finally happen.
According to a report by New Idea, people close to the actor believe his recent visit reminded both father and son how much Australia means to him.
The publication claimed Chance now understands that returning home could significantly improve his father’s quality of life and believes spending his later years in Australia may even help him live longer.
For Hogan, whose career helped define Australian cinema around the world, the journey home now appears to be about far more than another visit—it is about returning to the place that has always felt like home.
