Waddell was a fixture of the Australian film and TV industry for decades, often playing roles that felt so real viewers might swear they had met the character before. He burst onto the scene in Bert Deling's cult classic drug drama "Pure Shit," a production whose first public screening in 1976 was raided by the vice squad.
"Pure Shit" has been described as the best film ever made about heroin addiction and subculture in Australia, though it was famously called "the most evil film I've ever seen" by Melbourne Herald critic Andrew McKay. The film remains a thrilling piece of social realist cinema, full of drug-taking, petty crime and tomfoolery. Waddell's character, Lou, arrives five minutes in, grousing about how he "hasn't had a hit for 10 hours."
Waddell's ability to turn small roles into great ones made him a memorable presence in Australian storytelling. While he was rarely given the screen time he deserved, his performances left a gooseflesh-raising impression on audiences and colleagues alike.