Perth Lord Mayor and the ‘Face of Telethon’ Basil Zempilas has made an impassioned plea for Hollywood legend Nicolas Cage to take part in the charity weekend while he’s in WA.
The Academy award-winning actor and his family are in Yallingup to film the psychological thriller The Surfer, which follows a man’s turf war with a gang of locals after he returns to his hometown beach.
The 59-year-old touched down in Perth on Monday morning with his wife Riko Shibata and one-year-old daughter August in tow.
With the Telethon blockbuster weekend on our doorstep, Zempilas suggested the line-up could do with one more international draw-card.
In his column for The West Australian on Friday, Zempilas — who is taking on his 30th Telethon this year and hosting for the 14th time — invited Cage to “become part of history”.
“Hey Nicolas Cage, if you’re reading this down south, fancy a drive up to Perth this weekend?” Zempilas said.
“It’s an easy gig, you sit on a panel for about an hour, read a few donations, and become part of history.”
Zempilas even recommended the Ghost Rider actor and his young family attend the Telethon Family Festival should he make the drive up to Perth.
In past years Telethon has seen several global megastars take the stage, from Sammy Davis Jr in 1982 to Sir Cliff Richard in 1991.
More recently, Telethon has welcomed Elton John in 2012 and Marcia Hines in 2016 — with Hines set to return to the stage on Saturday night to open the iconic weekend.
“Sammy Davis Jr did it, so did Whitney Houston and Elton John. And you can bring your daughter to the Telethon Family Festival. It’s free. What do you reckon, Nic?”
It’s a cheeky bid for a good cause, with all funds raised over the 26-hour live broadcast to go directly to this year’s more than 100 beneficiaries who work tirelessly to support WA’s children in need.
“At more than $500 million raised since 1968 and a phenomenal $72 million record total last year, now our Telethon is the most successful television fundraiser anywhere in the world, full stop. And it’s ours. How proud does that make you feel?” Zempilas said.
The Telethon live broadcast kicks off Saturday night at RAC Arena from 7pm and wraps up on Sunday evening with headliner and Australian rock icon Jimmy Barnes.
Tickets are available to the opening and closing shows at RAC Arena via the Telethon website.