The crashing fall of an iconic Aussie actor who has confessed to driving under the influence of drugs has been warned he could be in prison by Christmas.
A beloved Australian actor may soon be swapping his career for time behind bars after he confessed to charges which could land him in prison.
Vince Colosimo, known for his role as gangland figure Alphonse Gangitano in the hugely successful TV series Underbelly, did not face Melbourne Magistrate’s Court on Thursday as his lawyer indicated he would be pleading guilty.
The 55-year-old actor was charged with driving unlicensed and drug driving after he was pulled over on St Kilda Road at St Kilda in April 2021.
The drug in his system was methylamphetamine, otherwise known as ice, and his car was impounded on the spot.
On May 27, prosecutor Bianca Muleta said Colosimo could be facing a term of imprisonment as it is the actor’s fourth set of charges and second time driving under the influence of meth.
It is a stark fall from grace since the actor graced Australian television screens.
Colosimo shot to fame in 2009 in his role in the Underbelly series and starred alongside stars Russell Crowe and Leonardo DiCaprio in Body of Lies.
But the actor faced a tough time in the limelight in 2007 when his partner of 11 years, Jane Hall, ended their relationship.
Colosimo faced court for a messy and public battle as the actors fought over a $890,000 Northcote home where they once lived and raised their daughter Lucia.
It was during this time he landed the role which would see him shoot to stardom across Australia as the underworld gangster nicknamed “The Prince of Lygon Street”.
He was nominated for a Logie for his performance but claimed the popularity of the role harmed his career.
In 2013, Colosimo was back before the courts and in headlines when a law firm claimed he owed a $30,000 debt and the actor faced bankruptcy proceedings.
The proceedings were dropped, but it wasn’t his last time before a court.
Colosimo was caught driving with a suspended licence in May and July 2014 and was fined $1000.
In court his lawyer revealed he had taken to working on building sites to make money, despite appearing in television shows such as Schappelle, Fat Tony & Co and It’s A Date.
“Acting life is not highly remunerative,” his lawyer, Patrick Dwyer, told the court at the time.
“He sands, he paints, he cleans building sites in between acting roles.”
In January 2017 the actor was again fined $1000 and placed on a 12-month good behaviour bond after he was caught with a small amount of ice but was not convicted.
It is believed this incident, which Colosimo claimed was a “wake up call”, led to him losing a place on I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here! in 2017.
However, months later in July he was caught driving with a suspended licence a third time, but this time he was under the influence of ice.
Colosimo was on a good behaviour bond after the incident six months earlier and a Magistrate warned him a fourth time in court “wouldn’t be pretty”.
Now, the actor will front court for the fourth time for a plea hearing on October 19.
But not before he fronts the red carpet for two movies due to be released this year.
Originally published as Vince Colosimo: Inside Underbelly star’s fall from grace
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