Tributes to the late John Clarke have flooded social media, with many of Australia’s highest profile personalities sharing their fond memories of the comedian.

Friends, sportspeople, politicians and members of the public paid their respects to the comedy legend after news of his deaths spread on Monday.

Mr Clarke, 68, died of natural causes while hiking in the Grampians National Park in Victoria on Sunday.

Comedian Wil Anderson described him on Twitter as “the greatest” and “still the funniest satirist on TV”.

Shane Jacobson, best known for his role in Kenny, said, “Australia has just lost its dry comic genius … I stand amongst all fans applauding a great man and an outstanding career.”

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said Australian TV would “never be the same”, while Greens leader Richard Di Natale called him a leading light of satire.

So sad to hear of the passing of the brilliant John Clarke. The sharpest, driest wit on Aussie TV. 6:56 on Thursdays will never be the same.

— Bill Shorten (@billshortenmp) April 10, 2017

Vale John Clarke. A leading light of Australian comedy and political satire.

— Richard Di Natale (@RichardDiNatale) April 10, 2017

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull released a statement in tribute to Mr Clarke, saying: “John Clarke was more than a satirist”.

“With the keenest eye and wit he understood the very essence of Australia,” Mr Turnbull wrote on Facebook.

“His laconic wit was rarely wide of the mark. I should know. With lethal accuracy he made politicians and prime ministers his prey.”

Mr Clarke’s influence wasn’t limited to Australia, as hearts across the Tasman bled for the New Zealand-born comedian and writer, including Prime Minister Bill English.

Even New Zealand’s national museum, Te Papa, emphasised Clarke – and his famous character in laconic farmer Fred Dagg’s – place in the cultural landscape with a pair of Dagg’s trusty gumboots placed in the history collections.

John Clarke was and is a satirical king. Like no one else could, he told us where to look, without ever actually telling us where to look.

— Ryan Shelton (@Ryan_Shelton) April 10, 2017

Vale John Clarke. Brilliantly funny man.

— Dave Hughes (@DHughesy) April 10, 2017

Vale John Clarke. I will miss terribly our chats about politics and law and comedy. What a delightful man. What a shocking, terrible loss.

— Corinne Grant (@corinne_grant) April 10, 2017

No one skewered our double-thinking, double-speaking politicians better than John Clarke. He will be dearly missed.

— Paul Dempsey (@PaulDempsey) April 10, 2017

Shocked and saddened that John Clarke, a wise and funny man, has left us. Australia will miss him. JG

— Julia Gillard (@JuliaGillard) April 10, 2017

https://twitter.com/wendy_harmer/status/851242935379083266

Goodbye John Clarke. This mocumentary he made in 1974 still makes me laugh. So subtle and hilarious.https://t.co/7n5uXd7h7y

— Jemaine Clement (@AJemaineClement) April 10, 2017

Clarke was born in New Zealand but made his name as a comedian and political satirist in Australia after arriving in the 1970s.

For 27 years, he appeared on Australian television conducting mock interviews and skewering politicians with his comedy partner, Bryan Dawe.

The pair was best known for the Clarke and Dawe sketches that appeared on ABC TV and, earlier, on Channel Nine’s A Current Affair.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5T9DSgEclPA

He came to attention in his native New Zealand in the 1970s when he created the iconic character, Fred Dagg, a country bloke dressed in a black singlet, shorts and gumboots.

He co-wrote the multi-award winning mockumentary The Games, about the Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games, which aired in 1999 and 2000.

He also co-wrote stage musicals The Adventures of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie and Little Ragged Blossom.

His books included ‘A Dagg at My Table’, ‘The Howard Miracle’ and ‘The 7.56 Report’.

Clarke is survived by his wife Helen, children Lorin and Lucia, grandchildren Claudia and Charles and son-in-law Stewart Thorn.

– with AAP and ABC