Jack Karlson, who shot to fame after ‘succulent Chinese meal’ arrest, dies aged 82

Karlson immortalised the phrase ‘this is democracy manifest’ in what has been described as Australia’s pre-eminent meme

Jack Karlson immortalised the phrase ‘this is democracy manifest’ in what has been described as Australia’s pre-eminent meme. Picture: 7News

The man who immortalised the phrase “this is democracy manifest” while starring in what has been described as the pre-eminent Australian meme, Jack Karlson, has died aged 82.

Mr Karlson — although there are debates as to whether this was his real name or one of many aliases — was a serial prison escaper and small-time crook who shot to fame in 2009 after a news clip of his arrest at a Chinese restaurant in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley in 1991 was uploaded on to the internet.