They are describing
the character played by this actor.
For all we know when not acting this actor could be a chatterbox with the STOP button jammed ...
BTW, a question for Sjaatoul
where this came from:
"The campaign was launched by
laconic film star, Chips Rafferty." ???
Is this actually in the ST you're translating?
The only "context" you gave is about
a character played by this actor [NOT the actor himself!] being "laconic" (the role of a "laconic tall bushman" in the movie "Forty Thousand Horsemen").
OTOH
John William Pilbean Goffage MBE (26 March 1909 – 27 May 1971), known professionally as Chips Rafferty, was an Australian actor. Called
"the living symbol of the typical Australian",[1] Rafferty's career stretched from the late 1930s until his death in 1971,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chips_RaffertyI don't know many people who would say that a "typical Australian" is anywhere near being "laconic" in the way they express themselves.
so "laconic film star, Chips Rafferty"
simply makes no sense.
BUT
the "
iconic film star, Chips Rafferty"
could make perfect sense.