Sit up alone a bench overlooking the ocean, the man with his Jack Russell Terrier in his arms looks solemnly at the water as the waves crash against the rocks.
Anyone passing by probably wouldn’t look at him a second time.
But in the late 1980s and early 1990s, he was famous all over the world. His career as a comedic actor was once so promising that he was dubbed the next Jim Carrey.
But Greg Pead – better known as Yahoo Serious – did not achieve lasting success. The Australian actor, known for his 1988 cult hit Young Einstein and his 1993 film Reckless Kelly, disappeared from the spotlight decades ago.
After a few failed attempts to restart his career, he was evicted from his Sydney rental property in 2020 for failing to pay rent and was ordered to pay $15,000 to his landlord.
In the latest development, 71-year-old Serious was photographed last Thursday looking frail and bald – despite only being seen with long hair in April – a worrying sign that the reclusive comedian’s health may be deteriorating.
A former Hollywood actor was spotted taking a lonely coastal walk in Sydney last Thursday
Anyone passing by probably wouldn’t look at him a second time. But Greg Gomez Pead, then known by another name, was famous around the world in the late 80s and early 90s
The man better known as Yahoo Serious did not achieve lasting fame and fortune and now lives an anonymous life in Sydney, Australia
While walking with his beloved Jack Russell near his home on Sydney’s northern beaches, Serious wore a green corduroy cap that was slightly too big for his head and bright blue glassesa collared shirt and navy blue shorts.
Serious stood aloof as he strolled his small dog through the quiet streets and along a rocky beach path. At one point he took a break on a park bench, where he held his pup and sipped a takeaway coffee.
He was later seen doing some shopping at a Woolworths supermarket before getting into his car and heading home.
The latest quiet sighting follows a series of setbacks for the former filmmaker.
In 2020, he was evicted from his Avalon Beach home for failing to pay rent.
He previously got divorced in 2007. And when his career stalled around the turn of the millennium, he launched an unsuccessful lawsuit against the search engine Yahoo!
In late 1988, he first received praise for his leading role in Young Einstein, which he also directed, produced and wrote.
At the time of its release, the film was the second most successful Australian film in box office history, after Crocodile Dundee, grossing $33 million worldwide.
The Australian actor, best known for his 1988 cult hit Young Einstein (photo) and his 1993 film Reckless Kelly, disappeared from the spotlight decades ago.
Serious was photographed last Thursday looking frail and bald – despite only being seen with long hair in April – a worrying sign that the reclusive comedian’s health may be deteriorating
Serious wore a green corduroy cap that was slightly too big for his head, bright blue glasses, a collared shirt and navy blue shorts
Serious kept to himself as he strolled through the quiet streets and along a rocky beach path
The success landed Serious, then 34, on the cover of Time and MAD magazines.
As his popularity soared in the US, he hosted the Yahoo Serious Show on MTV. Hollywood started to take notice and he did Young Einstein followed up with another wacky comedy, Reckless Kelly, in 1993. It was a local box office success, but failed to make a dent in the United States.
His promising career collapsed around him after the release of his third film, Mr Accident, in 2000, which received lukewarm reviews.
That same year, things took a tumultuous turn for Serious when he tried to launch the website Yahoo! in court for trademark infringement.
The judge dismissed the case because the actor could not prove that he sold products or services under the name Yahoo – and therefore could not prove that his career had been damaged or confused by the then popular search engine.
Serious cradled and cuddled his pet before heading home
In April, Serious looked happy and healthy with longer hair
Serious had his last success in 2007, when he appeared in the short documentary In the Cannes, but his career never got off the ground again.
After disappearing completely from the spotlight in 2010 and splitting from his wife Lulu Pinkus of twenty years, Serious was only seen a handful of times.
At the time of his expulsion in 2020, It was reported that Serious was struggling to make ends meet after not paying his rent for five months.
The NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal ordered him to pay his landlords Tanya and Andrew Barlow $15,000 – less than what he owed – and vacate the property.
Serious and its production company, Serious Productions Pty Ltd, had started renting the property in March 2017 for $1,350 per week.
At the height of his career, he stood out from the rest with his bold and untamed red hair
The Cardiff-born actor was later seen shopping in Woolworths
He loaded his groceries into his silver BMW before getting into his car
After disappearing from the spotlight in 2010 and divorcing his wife Lulu Pinkus after twenty years, Serious was only seen a handful of times.
The tribunal found that he had fallen into arrears in November 2019 and had not paid any money since February 25, 2020.
Serious argued that his income had been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, like most people working in the artistic and creative industries.
However, the bank statements submitted during the proceedings failed to prove that he had any income before the coronavirus pandemic.
When asked if he had applied for rental assistance, Serious told the hearing that he had gone to Centrelink and had been advised to apply for the age pension as he was about to turn 67.