Sitting alone on a bench overlooking the ocean, the man cradling his Jack Russell Terrier solemnly looks out towards the water as the waves crash against the rocks.
Anyone passing by probably wouldn’t give him a second look.
But in the late ’80s and early ’90s, he was famous around the world. His career as a comic actor was once so promising he was dubbed the next Jim Carrey.
But Greg Pead – better remembered as Yahoo Serious – didn’t achieve lasting success. The n actor, known for his 1988 cult hit Young Einstein and his 1993 film Reckless Kelly, faded from the spotlight decades ago.
After a few unsuccessful attempts to restart his career, in 2020 he was evicted from his Sydney rental for failing to pay rent and ordered to pay his landlords $15,000.
In the latest development, 71-year-old Serious was pictured last Thursday looking frail and bald – despite being seen with long hair as recently as April – in a worrying sign the reclusive comedian’s health may be in decline.
A former Hollywood actor was spotted last Thursday on a solitary coastal stroll in Sydney
Anyone passing by probably wouldn’t give him a second look. 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 didn’t achieve lasting fame and fortune, and now leads an anonymous life in Sydney,
Walking 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, bright blue glasses, a collared shirt and navy shorts.
Serious kept to himself as he strolled the quiet streets and along a rocky beachside path with his small dog. At one stage, he took a break on a park bench, where he held his pup and sipped on a takeaway coffee.
He was later seen grocery shopping at a Woolworths supermarket before getting into his car and heading home.
The latest low-key sighting follows a string of setbacks for the erstwhile filmmaker.
In 2020, he faced eviction from his Avalon Beach home for not paying rent.
Earlier, he went through a divorce in 2007. And as his career stalled at the turn of the millennium, he launch an unsuccessful lawsuit against the search engine Yahoo!
He first earned plaudits in late 1988 for his starring role in Young Einstein, which he also directed, produced and wrote.
At the time of its release, the movie was the second most successful Aussie film in box office history, behind Crocodile Dundee, grossing $33million worldwide.
The n actor, best known for his 1988 cult hit Young Einstein (pictured) and his 1993 film Reckless Kelly, faded from the spotlight decades ago
Serious was pictured last Thursday looking frail and bald – despite being seen with long hair as recently as April – in a worrying sign the reclusive comedian’s health may be in decline
Serious wore a green corduroy cap that was slightly too big for his head, bright blue glasses, a collared shirt and navy shorts
Serious kept to himself as he strolled the quiet streets and along a rocky beachside path
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Its success landed Serious, then 34, on the cover of Time and MAD magazines.
As his popularity soared in the U.S., he hosted The Yahoo Serious Show on MTV. Hollywood started to take notice and he was able to follow up Young Einstein with another zany comedy, Reckless Kelly, in 1993. It was a local box office success but failed to make a dent in the States.
His promising career came crashing down around him following the release of his third film, Mr Accident, in 2000 to lukewarm reviews.
That same year, things took a tumultuous turn for Serious when he tried to take the website Yahoo! to court for trademark infringement.
The judge dismissed the case because the actor couldn’t prove he sold products or services under the name Yahoo – and therefore couldn’t demonstrate that his career had suffered harm or confusion due to 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 final crack at stardom in 2007, when he appeared in the short documentary film In the Cannes, but his career never took off again.
After disappearing from the spotlight completely and divorcing his wife of 20 years, Lulu Pinkus, in 2010, Serious has only been spotted a handful of times.
At the time of his eviction in 2020, it was reported Serious was struggling to make ends meet after failing to pay 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 his production company, Serious Productions Pty Ltd, had begun renting the property in March 2017 for $1,350 per week.
At the height of his career, he stood out amongst the rest with his bold and untamed red hair
The Cardiff-born actor was later seen grocery shopping at Woolworths
He loaded his groceries into his silver BMW before getting into his car
After disappearing from the spotlight and divorcing his wife of 20 years, Lulu Pinkus, in 2010, Serious has only been spotted a handful of times
The tribunal found he had fallen behind on his payments in November 2019 and had not paid any money since February 25, 2020.
Serious argued his income had been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, like most who worked in the artistic and creative industries.
However, bank statements tendered during the proceedings failed to provide proof he had any income prior to the coronavirus pandemic.
When asked whether he had applied for rental assistance, Serious told the hearing he had gone to Centrelink and been advised to apply for the age pension as he was about to turn 67.