John Laws, the iconic Australian radio host renowned for his distinctive voice and dubbed the ‘Golden Tonsils,’ has died at the age of 90. Laws, whose broadcasting career spanned over seven decades, passed away peacefully at his Sydney home on Sunday, as confirmed by his family. His illustrious career included interviews with 17 Australian prime ministers and numerous celebrities, making him one of the highest-paid commercial radio hosts during his peak. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and actor Russell Crowe were among those who paid tribute, with Crowe describing Laws as a ‘mischievous mate’ and a ‘legend in the most Australian sense.’ Laws’ career was not without controversy, including a ‘cash-for-comment’ scandal in the 1990s and various breaches of broadcasting regulations. Despite these challenges, he remained a dominant figure in Australian radio, particularly in rural New South Wales, where his morning show attracted two million listeners at its height. Laws retired in November 2022 after a final 13-year stint at 2SM, capping off a career that also saw him inducted into the Australian Media Hall of Fame and awarded the Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE). The New South Wales premier, Chris Minns, announced that Laws’ family will be offered a state funeral.
John Laws, veteran Australian talkback radio host nicknamed ‘Golden Tonsils’, dies aged 90
