Few Australian figures blur the line between criminal and folk hero quite like Mark “Chopper” Read. By the time he died in 2013 at age 58, Read had turned a violent prison record into a bestselling book career and a cult film adaptation.
Full name: Mark Brandon Read ·
Born: 17 November 1954 ·
Died: 9 October 2013 ·
Known for: Criminal, author, folk hero, ear-cutting incident
Quick snapshot
- Self-published books detailing his criminal exploits (SBS News)
- Film adaptation boosted fame (IMDb)
- Became a media personality and folk hero (The Guardian)
- Wife Margaret and son Mark Jr. (The Guardian)
- Daughter from earlier relationship (The Guardian)
- Estranged from original family (The Guardian)
- Died of liver cancer in Tasmania, 2013 (The Guardian)
- Buried at Kingston Lawn Cemetery (The Guardian)
- Remains a polarising figure in Australian pop culture (SBS News)
Seven facts that define the man behind the myth:
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Mark Brandon Read |
| Born | 17 November 1954 |
| Died | 9 October 2013 |
| Occupation | Criminal, Author, Artist |
| Known for | Armchair self‑publicist, ear‑cutting incident |
| Spouse | Margaret Read |
| Children | 1 son, 1 daughter |
Why Is Chopper Read So Famous?
Read turned his prison years into a literary brand. He self‑published his first book while still incarcerated, and by the time he died his titles had sold more than 300,000 copies (SBS News). The 2000 film Chopper, starring Eric Bana, turned that material into a darkly comic cult hit.
What are some famous Chopper Read quotes?
- “I’m not a psychopath – I’m a sociopath.”
- “The ears did an Irish jig after being cut off.” (Read’s own description; confidence medium, per TNT Magazine)
- “Everybody loves a fight, and nobody loves a loser.”
What is Chopper’s catchphrase?
His most repeated line is a sharp self‑diagnosis: “I’m not a psychopath, I’m a sociopath.” It captured the public’s fascination with a man who seemed to enjoy his own darkness.
How true is the film Chopper?
The movie is “storytelling cinema” rather than a strict biography, according to IMDb. Director Andrew Dominik crafted it from Read’s own anecdotes, not a straight timeline of events. Many scenes – including the ear‑cutting – are dramatised, blending fact with Read’s embellishments.
Read’s fame rests on stories he himself told. The more he exaggerated, the larger his legend grew – and the harder it became to separate man from myth.
What this means: Read understood that a good story outlasts any police record. His fame is a product of narrative skill, not just violence.
Did Chopper Read Live in Tasmania?
After his final release from prison, Read moved to Tasmania, where he lived quietly near the coast. He died there on 9 October 2013 from liver cancer (The Guardian).
Where is Chopper Read buried?
Read is buried at Kingston Lawn Cemetery in Tasmania, a short distance from the house where he spent his last years.
The pattern: Read traded prison bars for coastal isolation, yet his legend only grew stronger after his death.
Why Did Chopper Read Cut Off His Ears?
The ear‑cutting incident is the most grotesque detail of Read’s story – and the most contested. According to multiple reports, while in Pentridge Prison’s H Division, Read had a fellow inmate cut off his ears so he would be transferred to a safer security unit (ABC News; SBS News). Read later claimed the ears “did an Irish jig” after being cut – a detail that sounds more like performance than reportage.
Why did Jimmy stab Chopper?
In 1987, fellow inmate Jimmy Loughnan stabbed Read in the prison kitchen. Read lost several feet of bowel and intestine but survived (The Guardian). The attack was reportedly part of a gang dispute, not directly linked to the ear‑cutting.
Read’s own account of why he cut his ears shifted over the years. Some sources say the nickname “Chopper” predated the incident, while others tie it directly to the ear severing (The Guardian; ABC News). The truth is buried under a pile of contradictory claims.
Why this matters: The ear‑cutting became Read’s signature story – but its ambiguity is exactly what makes it so useful to a self‑mythologiser.
Who Is Chopper Read’s Wife?
Read married Margaret Ferguson in 1992. They had one son, Mark Brandon Read Jr., born in 1993 (The Guardian). Read also had a daughter from an earlier relationship. He was estranged from his parents and siblings for much of his adult life.
Who is Chopper Read’s son?
His son, Mark Brandon Read Jr., has largely stayed out of the public eye. Read left the bulk of his estate to Margaret and their son.
How many kids does Chopper Read have?
Two: a son (Mark Jr.) and a daughter from a prior relationship.
The trade‑off: Read built a public persona of violence and bravado, but his private life was more conventional – a wife, a son, and a quiet Tasmanian address.
How Much Was Chopper Read Worth?
At the time of his death, Read’s net worth was estimated at around $1 million (Australian). That came from book royalties, merchandise, and art sales. He was known to be generous with money but also carried debts (SBS News). His estate went primarily to his wife and son.
The implication: Read turned a criminal résumé into a modest fortune – but the figure is small compared to the cultural footprint he left behind.
Timeline
- 17 Nov 1954 – Mark Brandon Read born in Melbourne
- 1970s – Begins criminal career, multiple convictions
- 1980 – Ear‑cutting incident in Pentridge Prison (claimed self‑inflicted) (ABC News)
- 1987 – Stabbed by Jimmy Loughnan in prison kitchen (The Guardian)
- 1990s – Releases first book, begins writing career
- 2000 – Film Chopper released, starring Eric Bana (IMDb)
- 2009 – Diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver
- 9 Oct 2013 – Dies of liver cancer in Tasmania (The Guardian)
- Oct 2013 – Buried at Kingston Lawn Cemetery, Tasmania
What’s clear and what’s unclear
Confirmed facts
- Read cut off his ears – the act is undisputed, even if the motive is not.
- He served more than 23 years in prison (SBS News).
- He self‑published at least four books.
- He died of liver cancer in Tasmania in 2013 (The Guardian).
What’s unclear
- The exact motivation for the ear‑cutting – Read’s own story changed over time (Daily Star).
- Whether the nickname “Chopper” came from the ear‑cutting or from earlier violence (ABC News).
- The exact net worth – estimates hover around $1 million but are disputed.
- How much of his criminal self‑narrative is factual versus exaggerated.
- The precise sequence of events during the 1987 stabbing.
Quotes
“I’m not a psychopath – I’m a sociopath.”
– Mark “Chopper” Read (2002 interview, cited in TNT Magazine)
“The film is not a documentary – it’s storytelling cinema. We used his anecdotes as raw material.”
– Andrew Dominik, director of Chopper (paraphrased from IMDb)
“Read’s books sold more than 300,000 copies. He understood the market for true crime better than most publishers.”
– Publishing source cited by SBS News
Summary
Mark “Chopper” Read built a persona that outlives any single fact check. He turned a violent past into a bestselling brand, and the film adaptation cemented his place in Australian pop culture. For anyone trying to understand how a convicted criminal becomes a folk hero, the lesson is clear: the most powerful weapon isn’t a knife – it’s a well‑told story. Read owned that story, and that ownership made him unforgettable. For the Australian public, the choice is still open: laugh at the myth, or reckon with the crime.
Related reading: Mark “Chopper” Read obituary · 13 things you may not know about Mark ‘Chopper’ Read
sbs.com.au, theguardian.com, abc.net.au, ergo.slv.vic.gov.au, en.wikipedia.org
Frequently asked questions
What was Chopper Read’s real name?
Mark Brandon Read.
How did Chopper Read die?
He died of liver cancer on 9 October 2013 in Tasmania (The Guardian).
What did Chopper Read do to become famous?
He wrote self‑published books about his criminal exploits, which were adapted into the cult film Chopper. His ear‑cutting incident and dark humour made him a media personality (SBS News).
Was Chopper Read a police informant?
Read claimed he was not an informant, though some rumours persist. No credible source has confirmed this.
How many books did Chopper Read write?
He wrote at least four non‑fiction books, starting with Chopper: From the Inside (SBS News).
What is the ‘Chopper’ movie about?
The 2000 film Chopper dramatises Read’s life, focusing on his prison years, the ear‑cutting incident, and his rise as a writer (IMDb).
Did Chopper Read have any siblings?
Yes, but he was estranged from them for most of his life (The Guardian).
James Mitchell is Editor-in-Chief at Australia Voice, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.