AusCelebs Forums

Liz Jackson, former ABC journalist, dies aged 67

Former ABC journalist and presenter Liz Jackson has died aged 67.

The Walkley Award-winning journalist joined the ABC in 1986, and has worked for many flagship programs including Four Corners and Media Watch.

She left the organisation in 2013.

Jackson struggled in recent years with Parkinson's disease and yesterday died peacefully in her sleep while on holiday in Greece with her husband, Martin Butler, by her side.

In a statement, her family said they were deeply saddened by the loss of a loving partner, mum and grandma.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-06-28/l ... es/9921518

Harry M Miller, celebrity agent and theatrical producer, dies aged 84

Australian impresario and celebrity wrangler Harry M Miller has died in Sydney, aged 84.

During his 50 years in the business, Miller boosted the careers of people including Alan Jones, Deborah Hutton, Maggie Tabberer and Marcia Hines.

He also worked with Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton, Gai Waterhouse and Thredbo landslide survivor Stuart Diver.

Miller had been battling dementia since 2011.

In a statement, his family said he "died peacefully" yesterday in Sydney.

Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, dies aged 76

Aretha Franklin, whose gospel-rooted singing and bluesy yet expansive delivery earned her the title "the Queen of Soul," has died, a family statement said Thursday. She was 76.

Franklin died at 9:50 a.m. at her home in Detroit, surrounded by family and friends, according to a statement on behalf of Franklin's family from her longtime publicist Gwendolyn Quinn.
The "official cause of death was due to advanced pancreatic cancer.

https://edition.cnn.com/2018/08/16/ente ... index.html

Actress Judy McBurney, best known for The Young Doctors and Prisoner, has died aged 70.

She died following a four-year battle with cancer on Friday.

Following an early career in modelling, McBurney (pictured right) moved into acting with appearances

She played Nurse Tania Livingstone for five years on The Young Doctors marrying Dr. Tony Garcia (played by the late Tony Alvarez). Their wedding made them one of Australia’s most popular TV couple’s, with fans showering them with wedding presents.

In 1983, McBurney she joined Prisoner as Pixie Mason playing the role for two years. Character traits such as Pixie’s make-up, pink clothes, hair-ribbons, and the pink items in her cell, as well Women’s Weekly magazines and photos of Princess Diana on the walls, were all her idea.

Other credits included in Catwalk, Barrier Reef, Seven Little Australians, Behind The Legend, The Box, Homicide, Bluey, Bellbird, Number 96, A Country Practice, Always Greener and Home and Away.

Although she retired from acting, she continued to teach acting and modelling.

Former Neighbours star Darius Perkins has died after a fight with cancer.

His family confirmed the 54-year-old died on Wednesday.

Mr Perkins appeared as the original Scott Robinson in Neighbours in 1985 and starred in more than 50 episodes before Jason Donovan took over the part.

Mr Perkins went on to play Gary Samuels in Home And Away and also appeared in The Sullivans, Prisoner, A Country Practice and The Flying Doctors.

In 2013, he returned to Neighbours to play Marty Kranic - a shady associate of villain Paul Robinson (played by Stefan Dennis), who is the brother of his original Neighbours character - in a month-long guest role.

Mr Perkins won the 1984 Logie award for Best Juvenile Performance for his role in the series All The Rivers Run.

Mr Perkins was remembered on Saturday by former Neighbours co-star and close friend David Clencie as a great mate with a beautiful soul.

“We had this incredible bond. We were mates to the very end,” Mr Clencie told The Herald Sun.

“He was completely selfless. We had a wonderful time when we last saw each other, spending five hours talking in a local restaurant.

“I am so sad, really devastated to lose my mate.”

A fan site dedicated to Jason Donovan tweeted: “Such sad news that #dariusperkins the original #ScottRobinson has died after battling cancer #RIP #Neighbours thoughts with all that knew him.”

Another fan wrote: “Genuinely sad to hear about the death of Darius Perkins. I actually preferred his version of Scott Robinson in Neighbours to Jason Donovan’s. Condolences to all who knew him.”

Veteran journalist Mike Willesee dies at 76 after long battle with throat cancer

Veteran Australian journalist Mike Willesee has died at the age of 76 after a long battle with throat cancer.

Willesee became a household name after fronting the ABC's Four Corners for two years from 1969 and was described as a "trailblazer" of Australian journalism.

He then left the national broadcaster, persuading Channel Nine to allow him to start his own nightly program in November 1971 — A Current Affair.

During his time as host he discovered and launched the career of a young comedian called Paul Hogan and famously cornered then Liberal leader John Hewson during the 1993 Federal Election campaign with a simple question on the GST.

He asked: "If I buy a birthday cake from a cake shop, and GST is in place, do I pay more or less for that birthday cake?"

Political commentators say Mr Hewson's long-winded reply was the turning point in the 1993 election, which he lost.

Today, Mr Hewson paid tribute to Willesee and described the encounter as a "good question, bad answer — that's what history shows".

"Mike was a passionate journalist," he said, adding: "He will be remembered particularly fondly — even by me!"

The line of questioning was Willesee's trademark, with long pauses used tactfully to make interviewees squirm.

Fellow veteran journalist and former colleague Ray Martin said in an interview scenario in the television studio he was "the best" with the "Willesee pause" his signature move.

"You give a politician a moment's silence and they feel like they had to talk," Martin said.

"They often said things they didn't want to say to Mike Willesee.

"But he had charisma and there was a touch of class about what he did in his journalism."

Martin said Willesee pioneered a style of current affairs that was accessible to ordinary Australians.

Luke Perry of Beverly Hills, 90210 and Riverdale dies at 52

US actor Luke Perry has died in California at the age of 52, less than a week after suffering a massive stroke.

His publicist said Perry died surrounded by his family and friends.

Perry rose to fame on Beverly Hills, 90210 and had been starring as Fred Andrews on the CW show Riverdale.

He was taken to hospital on Wednesday in Los Angeles, where he had been shooting scenes for Riverdale at the Warner Bros film lot.

Perry's children, Jack and Sophie, fiancée Wendy Madison Bauer, ex-wife Minnie Sharp, mother Ann Bennett, step-father Steve Bennett, and his siblings, Tom Perry and Amy Coder, were with him when he passed, publicist Arnold Robinson said in a statement.