The story of Noelene Edwards isn't just about being the "first wife" of a Hollywood legend. It’s a story of gritty Australian resilience, five kids, and surviving one of the most brutal public breakups in the history of show business. If you grew up watching Crocodile Dundee, you probably remember the headlines when Paul Hogan left her for his co-star, Linda Kozlowski. It was a scandal that felt personal to millions of Australians who saw Noelene as the "battler" who stood by Paul when he was just a rigger on the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
But naturally, as the decades pass and the spotlight shifts, people start to wonder. You see her name pop up in trivia or old news clips, and the big question follows: is noelene edwards still alive today?
Honestly, it's a valid question. She has stayed out of the limelight for so long that she’s basically become a ghost to the paparazzi. While her ex-husband Paul is still making headlines for his health struggles in the U.S., Noelene has lived a much quieter, more private life back home in Australia.
The Truth About Noelene Edwards Today
To set the record straight: Yes, as of early 2026, Noelene Edwards is still alive.
She’s currently in her mid-80s—born on October 8, 1939—and by all accounts, she is still living in Sydney. She isn’t walking red carpets or giving "exclusive" interviews every week. Instead, she’s surrounded by her massive family, including her five children—Brett, Todd, Scott, Clay, and Justine—and at last count, at least ten grandchildren.
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Living to see your 80s after surviving the "ugliest divorce in Australian history" is no small feat.
You’ve gotta remember, this woman didn't just marry Paul Hogan once. She married him twice. They first tied the knot in 1958, way before he was a household name. They divorced in 1981, realized they couldn't stay apart, and remarried in 1982. It wasn't until the late 80s, when Crocodile Dundee became a global phenomenon, that things truly fell apart for the final time.
Why the Confusion About Her Status?
People often get confused about whether Noelene is still with us because of a few high-profile mix-ups in the Aussie media.
Back in 2017, a major magazine published a "happy" photo of Noelene out shopping, claiming she was with her second husband, Reg Stretton. It sounded like a lovely update. Except, it was a total disaster. The man in the photo wasn't Reg; it was one of her sons.
The real kicker? Reg Stretton had actually been dead for years at that point.
Noelene's granddaughter, Mylee Hogan (who is a well-known journalist in her own right), had to go on social media to blast the magazine for being disrespectful. She made it very clear: Reg passed away a long time ago, and the media was essentially "inventing" a happy marriage that didn't exist anymore. When major publications get those kinds of facts wrong, it’s no wonder people start questioning if the person they're writing about is even still around.
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Life After the "Hoges" Storm
Noelene didn't let the bitterness of the 90s define her entire life. While Paul moved to the States and started a new life with Linda Kozlowski, Noelene stayed rooted in Australia.
She eventually found love again with Reg Stretton, a man described as her "rock." They married in 2000 in a ceremony that felt like a fresh start. Even though Reg is no longer with us, that period of her life was a quiet victory over the tabloid drama that had dogged her for so long.
Nowadays, her life is focused on her kids.
A few years ago, reports surfaced that she had moved in with one of her adult sons to help care for him after he suffered a health setback. It’s classic Noelene—always the matriarch, always the one holding the family together. Even Paul Hogan has softened over the years. Despite not speaking to her for 17 years after their final split (yeah, you read that right—17 years of silence), they eventually reached a point of civil communication for the sake of their children.
Setting the Record Straight
One thing that still gets people talking is how she feels about the past. She once famously said that she had Paul when he was "young, virile, and handsome," while Linda got him in his "older times."
It was a classic bit of Aussie shade, but it also showed she hadn't lost her sense of humor.
While the 2017 TV miniseries Hoges brought her name back into the public eye, she wasn't exactly thrilled about it. She was worried about how she’d be portrayed. To her, she isn't a character in a drama; she’s a real person who lived through a very public heartbreak and came out the other side.
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What You Should Know About Her Legacy
If you’re looking for Noelene Edwards on Instagram or TikTok, you’re not going to find her. She belongs to a generation that values actual privacy.
She is:
- A mother of five who raised her family in the shadow of extreme fame.
- A woman who survived two divorces from the same man.
- A grandmother who remains the anchor for the Hogan clan in Sydney.
Is noelene edwards still alive? Yes. But she’s living on her own terms, far away from the "shrimp on the barbie" caricatures and the Hollywood gossip mill.
She’s basically the ultimate example of how to handle being a "celebrity ex." You don't have to keep chasing the cameras. You can just go home, be with your family, and let the world wonder.
If you're interested in the Hogan family history, it's worth looking into her granddaughter Mylee Hogan's work, as she often provides the most accurate "inside look" at the family's values today. For now, Noelene is exactly where she wants to be: out of the news and into the quiet life she earned.
Keep an eye on Australian legacy media like Now To Love or The Australian for the most reliable updates, but ignore the clickbait—Noelene is doing just fine.