A Country Practice And Neighbours Star Joan Sydney Dies At 83.
The performer from England and Australia, diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, passed away on December 28 at her home in Sydney. Sally-Anne Upton, a fellow actor and her longtime friend announced the news on social media on Friday.
For her portrayal of the matron Margaret “Maggie” Sloane in A County Practice, a character she portrayed throughout the 1980s, Joan Sydney earned a Logie in 1989 for most outstanding actor.
She started appearing in Neighbours as Valda Sheergold in the early 2000s. She appeared in episodes of Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries and Mother and Son on Australian television.
Recent post:
- Double Olympic Skiing Champion Rosi Mittermaier Dies At 72!
- Apollo 7 Astronaut Walter Cunningham Dies At 90!
After graduating from Manchester’s Oldham Repertory Theatre, Joan Sydney launched her acting career. She made her screen debut in the 1957 movie When We Are Married at 19.
She immigrated to Australia from the UK in 1965, settling in Perth before relocating to Sydney.
She recurred in the A Country Practice role that made her famous in 1993, four years after the Seven Network had canceled the program and the rival network Ten had brought it back.
“Thank you for all you have taught me, love, companionship, and many moments shared that will be kept forever,” wrote Sally-Anne Upton, who first met Joan Sydney at a fundraiser in the 1990s.
Oh no..This is terrible news indeed.
Comedy is never as easy as it looks and this lady made it look effortless.
I adored her.
Vale Joan Sydney. https://t.co/dF4TrLfW6K— Shane Withington. (@ripperriver) January 5, 2023
Shane Withington, a costar from A Country Practice, tweeted: “This is sad news. Comedy is never as simple as it seems, but this woman made it seem simple. I cherished her.
Maggie King, an actress who frequently costarred with Joan Sydney and was her younger sister, passed away two years ago.
A daughter and two sons are left behind in the wake of Joan Sydney.
When Was Joan Sydney Born?
Joan Sydney, born on September 5, 1936, in London, England, grew up in Wales and received her training at the Oldham Repertory Theatre before moving to Australia in 1965. She had a long career in the entertainment industry, working in radio, television, miniseries, and made-for-television movies.