Chopper, affectionately dubbed “Uncle Chop Chop” in his native Australia, was indeed a man of many layers and glaring contradictions.

Despite being notorious as a stand over man, this criminal figure charmed millions globally.

He penned not only a quirky children’s book but also a slew of bestsellers for adults, carried out the extreme act of having his ears sliced off behind bars, and even threw his voice into hip-hop music creations.

Mark “Chopper” Read dabbled in stand-up comedy, endured lengthy stints in prison, and made a wildly audacious attempt to kidnap a judge with a shotgun. His life was a tapestry of vibrant and shocking episodes, capturing the attention of many and ultimately inspiring a cinematic account of his escapades.

While certain aspects of Australia’s most infamous modern-day outlaw are well-documented, the line between fact and fiction was often blurred—frequently by Chopper himself, reports the Mirror US.

His autobiographical works skillfully intertwined authenticated criminal exploits with exaggerated tales, aimed at amplifying his fearsome persona. Chopper candidly conceded to embellishing his escapades, embracing a saying akin to one attributed to Mark Twain: “Never let the truth get in the way of a good yarn.”

Chopper’s grasp on the allure of infamy proved lucrative; his published stories and interviews catered to a ravenous public curiosity about rogues, effectively magnifying his image. The celebrity that came with his renown carried him far, ensuring that despite criticism, he received significant respect from a diverse array of Australians.

Mark Brandon Read, born on 17 November 1954 to a former army and World War Two veteran of Irish descent, Keith Read, and a mother who was a devout Seventh-day Adventist, had a troubled upbringing that led him to become a ward of the state at just 14. He was placed in mental institutions and claimed he was subjected to electroshock therapy.

Chopper’s life took a dark turn as he began robbing drug dealers, knowing they wouldn’t report him to the police.

Read later claimed to have escalated his criminal activities to kidnapping and torturing members of the criminal underworld. He alleged that he often used a blowtorch or bolt cutters to remove his victims’ toes as a means of persuading them to pay up so he would spare their lives.

Publicity photos of Read lighting a cigar with a blowtorch or posing with two large handguns underscored his menacing image. Despite his claims, he was never charged with torture.

Some figures from the underworld, like Sid Collins, whom Read later confessed to killing, accused him of torture. Victorian Police recognised Read’s violent tactics, but most of his convictions were for assault, armed robbery, and kidnapping.

Notorious ex-convict Mark ‘Chopper’ Read led a life of vehement crime, racking up only 13 months of freedom between the ages of 20 and 38 due to convictions ranging from arson to armed robbery. Throughout his 58 years, he spent an astonishing 23 years incarcerated.

Chopper’s murder confessions became legendary; he once claimed to have ended the lives of 19 people, later modifying that figure in a candid chat with The New York Times in 2013: “Honestly, I haven’t killed that many people. Probably about four or seven, depending on how you look at it.”

As liver cancer claimed his health, Read’s final testament on 60 Minutes Australia was unequivocal: “Four is all you’re getting… That’s it. I haven’t killed any more than that.”

His self-proclaimed body count sometimes caused relief among Melbourne’s true criminals—who were quite content to let Chopper take credit for their own dark deeds.

Known for crafting one of Australia’s most notorious antihero images, Chopper Read was as much a storyteller as he was a criminal. A closer look reveals a man whose legacy fused fact, hyperbole, and sheer fantasy in equal measure.