Crocodile Dundee: The Real-Life Romance and Divorce

Few films capture the culture clash between the Australian outback and New York City quite like Crocodile Dundee. Released in 1986, the movie turned Paul Hogan into an international star and launched a franchise that spanned three films. Behind the laughs, the real story involves a romance that began on set and lasted nearly 25 years. Here’s what happened to the film’s stars and where they are today.

Worldwide box office: $328 million ·
Release year: 1986 ·
Rotten Tomatoes score: 89% ·
Paul Hogan age at release: 47 ·
Linda Kozlowski age at release: 28

Five key details at a glance, from release date to awards.

Was Crocodile Dundee a hit or flop?

By any measure, Crocodile Dundee was a massive hit. Produced on a budget under $10 million, it went on to earn $328 million worldwide, making it the second highest-grossing film of 1986 in the United States (Wikipedia (film encyclopedia)). Critics loved it too: the film holds an 89% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes (Rotten Tomatoes (review aggregator)).

Box office performance worldwide

• Budget: under $10 million
• Worldwide gross: $328 million
• US box office rank (1986): #2 behind Top Gun

Critical reception at release

• Rotten Tomatoes critics’ consensus: high praise for Hogan’s comic timing and the fish-out-of-water premise
• Golden Globe win for Paul Hogan as Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy (TV Guide (cast & review site))

The implication: a modest Australian comedy became a global phenomenon, proving that a fresh concept and a charismatic lead could outperform big-budget competitors.

What happened to Paul Hogan and Linda Kozlowski?

Their on-screen chemistry as Mick Dundee and reporter Sue Charlton turned into a real-life romance during the filming of the first two movies (IMDb (cast biography)). They married in 1990 and had a son, Chance, in 1996. The couple lived in California until their divorce was finalized in 2014 after 24 years of marriage (IMDb).

Marriage and divorce timeline

• 1985: Meet on set of Crocodile Dundee
• 1990: Marry
• 2014: Divorce finalized

Post-divorce life and careers

• Paul Hogan remarried Jasmine Hind in 2020
• Linda Kozlowski remarried businessman Moulay Hafid Baba in 2018
• Both have largely stepped away from Hollywood

The pattern: the couple that defined the franchise chose very different paths after their split, but neither returned to the spotlight with the same intensity.

Where is Linda Kozlowski today?

Linda Kozlowski retired from acting in the early 2000s, after appearing in all three Crocodile Dundee films and a handful of other projects (Wikipedia (biography page)). She now lives in California and runs a travel business. In 2018 she married Moulay Hafid Baba, a businessman, and today keeps a low profile away from cameras.

The implication: Linda Kozlowski’s decision to step away from acting was a conscious choice, not a career decline.

How old is Linda Kozlowski and how rich is she?

Born January 7, 1958 in Fairfield, Connecticut, Linda Kozlowski turned 67 in 2025 (IMDb). Her net worth is estimated at $10 million, largely from her acting royalties and business ventures. Exact figures are private, but celebrity wealth trackers place her firmly in the multi-million range.

What can I watch Crocodile Dundee on?

The original film is widely available. As of 2025, it streams on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video in select regions, and can be rented or purchased on Apple TV, Google Play, and Vudu (Wikipedia (film release info)). Check your local library before buying — it’s a staple of the “cult classic” category.

Franchise timeline

Here is a timeline of major events in the franchise’s history.

The timeline shows how the franchise and the couple’s lives intertwined.

Clarity check: what we know and what remains fuzzy

The facts and uncertainties provide a balanced view of the story.

Summary

Crocodile Dundee was a hit that turned Paul Hogan and Linda Kozlowski into household names — and, briefly, a married couple. Their divorce ended the on-screen partnership, but the film’s legacy as a culture-bridging comedy endures. For audiences revisiting the story, the lesson is clear: the real drama behind Crocodile Dundee involved Paul Hogan and Linda Kozlowski, and their lives after the film are as compelling as the movie itself.

Related reading

• The Spy Who Loved Me — another 80s classic with iconic leads
• Monsters, Inc. — how sequels changed Pixar’s franchise strategy

These related articles offer further context.

For a deeper look at Paul Hogan’s divorce and later years, you can read more at Paul Hogans divorce and later years.

Frequently asked questions

These answers address the most common questions about the film.