Celebrated Australian actor, and Neighbours and Home and Away star, Terence Donovan has died in Melbourne aged 90.
Actor Terence Donovan had a decades-long career, with roles in numerous iconic Australian television shows. (Instagram: jdonofficial)
His son, fellow actor Jason Donovan, announced the news on Sunday via social media, paying tribute to his beloved father as “larger than life” and “our world”.
“It is with great sadness but also a sense of celebration of a long full life that myself and my brother Paul announce our father Terence died peacefully last night here in Melbourne,” he wrote.
“Our dad was a huge character, larger than life.
“We will desperately miss him but we take comfort knowing we were all here by his side in his final days.”
Jason Donovan said his father lived ‘life to the max’.
“He was our best friend… our world” he said.
In a birthday post for his father, Jason Donovan remembered family road trips to Sydney and boogie boarding with Terence Donovan at Bondi Beach. (Instagram: jdonofficial)
Born in England in 1935, Terence Donovan moved to Australia with his family as a teenager.
He was a singer and stage actor before launching what would be a decades-long career on Australian television with guest roles in Consider Your Verdict in 1961.
His prolific portfolio featured television, movies and mini-series appearances, including playing Henry Craig in the 1982 movie The Man From Snowy River.
He was best known for roles in Division 4, Cop Shop, Breaker Morant and Power Without Glory.
He had an uncredited role as a policeman in the 1968 movie Oliver! before landing roles in iconic 1980s Australian TV series such as Sons and Daughters, Prisoner, A Country Practice, The Flying Doctors and Blue Heelers.
In 1986, he took on the role of Doug Willis in Neighbours and Al Simpson on Home and Away.
Terence Donovan on the set of Neighbours. (Instagram: jdonofficial)
Jason Donovan posted a tribute to his father on social media on his 90th birthday last year, describing him as his hero.
He remembered boogie boarding with him at Bondi beach when he was a child and family road trips between Melbourne and Sydney in the 1970s playing the Beatles Abbey Road album in their car.
“Dad you are complicated yet so simple, unique and limited edition,” Jason wrote.
“You’ve always placed me higher than you, always wanted me to do better than you.
“You’ve been a best friend, a wing man, biggest critic, a pain in the arse, a nightmare!
“Outrageously outspoken .. and most of the time just outrageous.
“I can’t begin to tell you how many times people say ‘god you look like your father’. I’ll take it !!”
Jason thanked the staff at Cabrini Hospital Melbourne for looking after his father in his final days.