Master satirist John Clarke is being remembered for his generosity and sharp wit by collaborators, family members and those who found themselves in his crosshairs.
New Zealand-born Clarke died at the weekend after collapsing while hiking in the Grampians National Park in Victoria at the age of 68.
While his career spanned decades, Clarke was perhaps best known for lampooning Australian politicians and bureaucratic life with long-term collaborator Bryan Dawe in deadpan mock interviews.
"John is such a big canvas it is impossible to explain how I feel," Dawe told Fairfax Media.
"I got to experience this man's humanity, his generosity, his brilliance and above all, his kindness."
Even his victims have paid tribute to his talent, including Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
"His laconic wit was rarely wide of the mark. I should know," Mr Turnbull said in a statement on Monday.
Clarke's family said he died doing one of the things he loved most - taking photos of birds in beautiful bushland with his wife and friends.
"He is forever in our hearts," they said in a statement.
Clarke worked on the 1980s sketch comedy TV series The Gillies Report, was a regular on ABC radio, the ABC's 7.30 program, the Nine Network's A Current Affair and also co-wrote the drama mini-series ANZACs.
He was inducted into the Logies Hall of Fame in 2008.
