The Sullivan’s and Play School star Lorraine Bayly has died aged 89. The Sullivan’s icon died at her Sydney care facility on Saturday morning. Close friend and journalist Craig Bennett announced her death on Sydney’s radio station 2GB on behalf of her relatives.
She achieved fame portraying Grace in The Sullivans and presenting beloved children’s programme Play School. The acclaimed series aired from 1976 to 1983. Following her departure from The Sullivans, Lorraine secured a part that had been specially created for her.
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She portrayed solicitor Jennifer Carson in Carson’s Law. In an emotional social media tribute, the actress’s friend Craig described Lorraine as a “showbiz legend, a bona fide star of stage and screen, a triple Logie winning TV treasure and beautiful friend to many”.
He highlighted that the award-winning performer had only stepped away from acting a decade ago.
The beloved star of The Sullivans died on Saturday morning at a Sydney care facility, according to friend and broadcaster Craig Bennett.
“Sad to say we’ve lost another showbiz legend, a bona fide star of stage and screen, a triple Logie winning TV treasure and beautiful friend to many,” he posted on Facebook.
“Her much-loved nephew Brad Connelly and his wife Janelle called with the news, and asked me, as a close friend, to make the announcement on behalf of the family. Lorraine had enjoyed a stellar 62-year career on stage and screen, until her retirement 10 years ago.”
“She told me [that], as a kid growing up in Narrandera, she’d sing and dance around draped in the curtains.”
Lorraine became a household name through her portrayal of matriarch Grace Sullivan in Nine’s acclaimed drama The Sullivans between 1976 and 1979.
Her career highlights also included the leading role of solicitor Jennifer Carson in the television drama Carson’s Law from 1982 to 1984, alongside her memorable turn as Faye Hudson in Channel Ten’s popular soap Neighbours.
Her exceptional talent earned her three Silver Logies in 1978, 1979 and 1983 for Most Popular Actress in The Sullivans and Carson’s Law.
In his tribute, Bennett noted that Lorraine had faced significant health challenges throughout her retirement years.
“After years of gruelling health issues, she’s now free and off onto her next wild adventure. Big block of chocolate in hand!” he shared. “LB was a self-confessed chocaholic!”
Speaking candidly in 2021, the actress revealed she had endured multiple health problems spanning a two-year period. She was diagnosed with pneumonia in 2018, resulting in a partially collapsed lung.
Following her recovery from pneumonia, she was then diagnosed with breast cancer and had a mastectomy. Though she completed her cancer treatment, she subsequently spent several months self-isolating at home during the coronavirus pandemic.
“I’ve spent the past two-and-a-half years going from one illness to another,’ she reflected at the time. But I don’t complain because for the first 80-odd years of my life, I got through without any serious illness at all.”
“You look at the little kids on television who are fighting cancer and all sorts of problems… They’re the ones my heart breaks for.”
Prior to becoming a familiar face across the nation, Bennett disclosed that Lorraine had begun her professional journey training at Sydney’s Ensemble Theatre during the 1950s. She performed piano on radio before making her television debut on The Bobby Limb Show in 1962.
“In 1966 she became an original presenter on Play School…and then came an avalanche of stage and screen roles,” he explained. “She worked with Kirk Douglas in The Man From Snowy River and Edward Woodward on stage. Little-known fact: she hosted her own morning TV show, Clean As You Slim with Lorraine!”
Bennett informed his followers that Lorraine had died just one month after celebrating her 89th birthday.
“She loved spending time with Brad, Janelle and their kids Laura and Patrick on their macadamia farm at Maclean Ridge,” he said. “Every decade Lorraine would learn something new, from playing tennis to the saxophone, to ballroom dancing!”
Bennett co He concluded his remarks by saying ‘Vale to a most kind, remarkable and beautiful person’.
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