Australian Actress Lorraine Bayly AM Passes Away at Age 89
Beloved Australian actress Lorraine Bayly AM has died at the age of 89 following a period of gruelling health issues. The star, best known for her role in The Sullivans, passed away on Saturday morning at a care home in Sydney, as announced by friend and broadcaster Craig Bennett.
A Stellar Career and Personal Tributes
In a heartfelt Facebook post, Bennett described Bayly as a showbiz legend, a bona fide star of stage and screen, and a triple Logie-winning TV treasure. He shared that her nephew Brad Connelly and his wife Janelle requested he make the announcement on behalf of the family. Bayly enjoyed a remarkable 62-year career in entertainment before retiring a decade ago.
Reflecting on her early life, Bennett noted that as a child growing up in Narrandera, she would sing and dance around draped in curtains, hinting at her future in performance. Her career highlights include:
- Playing matriarch Grace Sullivan in Nine's drama The Sullivans from 1976 to 1979.
- Portraying solicitor Jennifer Carson in the television drama Carson's Law from 1982 to 1984.
- Appearing as Faye Hudson in the popular Channel Ten soap Neighbours.
Bayly won three Silver Logies in 1978, 1979, and 1983 for Most Popular Actress, cementing her status as a television icon.
Health Battles and Resilience
Bennett acknowledged that Bayly faced serious health challenges during her retirement. In his statement, he wrote, After years of gruelling health issues, she’s now free and off onto her next wild adventure. Big block of chocolate in hand! He added that she was a self-confessed chocoholic.
In 2021, Bayly opened up about her health struggles over the previous two-and-a-half years. She was diagnosed with pneumonia in 2018, which led to a partially collapsed lung. After recovering, she discovered she had breast cancer and underwent a mastectomy. Following cancer treatment, she spent months isolating at home during the coronavirus pandemic.
Despite these hardships, Bayly maintained a positive outlook, stating, I don't complain because for the first 80-odd years of my life, I got through without any serious illness at all. She expressed empathy for children battling illnesses, saying her heart broke for them.
Early Career and Personal Life
Bayly's career began with training at Sydney’s Ensemble Theatre in the 1950s. She played piano on radio and made her TV debut on The Bobby Limb Show in 1962. In 1966, she became an original presenter on Play School, leading to numerous stage and screen roles. She worked with notable figures like Kirk Douglas in The Man From Snowy River and Edward Woodward on stage.
A little-known fact, as shared by Bennett, is that she hosted her own morning TV show, Clean As You Slim with Lorraine! Bayly passed away just a month after her 89th birthday. She cherished time with family on their macadamia farm at Maclean Ridge and was known for learning new skills every decade, from tennis to the saxophone and ballroom dancing.
Bennett concluded his tribute with, Vale to a most kind, remarkable and beautiful person, honouring her legacy as a cherished figure in Australian entertainment.
