Moya O'Sullivan

Moya O'Sullivan Macarthur (8 June 1926 – 16 January 2018)[1] was an Australian television actress best known for her long-running role between 1994 and 1997 of popular character Marlene Kratz in the soap opera Neighbours.[2] Alex Fletcher from Digital Spy made Marlene their "DS Icon" on 7 January 2011, calling her a legendary and special character.[3] Fletcher also stated that: "Marlene, played by the delightful Moya O'Sullivan, was a crucial cog in the Golden Age of Neighbours in the '90s."[3]

Early career

O'Sullivan started her career as a stage performer in the 1950s. With the advent of television she became a familiar face in televised plays, as well as featuring in commercial adverts, before briefly working in England. After then returning to Australia, she became known as a feature player in roles in television serials and soap operas, occasionally popping up in made for TV films, starting with her small screen role in The Story of Peter Grey.

Television roles

O'Sullivan's early roles included playing several parts in 1960s series Homicide and Division 4, Number 96 as Phyllis Pratt in the 70s, Sons and Daughters as Aileen Keegan, and several roles in A Country Practice throughout the 1980s. She continued appearing in roles throughout the 2000s including Home and Away in 2002, several guest appearances in All Saints from 2001 and 2008. O'Sullivan never had any other long-standing roles. She was a well-recognized feature player as a prominent guest artist of many a television series spanning over 60 years, of later portraying hapless old grannies.

In 2005, she reprised the role of Marlene, along with many ex-cast members, for an episode commemorating the Neighbours 20th anniversary reunion special.[4]

She also became popular in memorable guesting appearances in Cop Shop as Lorna Johnson (later O'Reilly),[5] and Hey Dad..! as Grandma Lois Kelly,[6] and later in The Adventures of Skippy as Thelma Woods in the 2000s. She had previously appeared in the earlier 1960s original series in television's younger days as Mrs Mason.[7]

Her final part was in Tricky Business in 2012.

Death

Moya O'Sullivan, died aged 91 in Bondi Junction, New South Wales, Australia on 16 January 2018.[1]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1960 Farewell, Farewell, Eugene TV movie
1961 The Story of Peter Grey Anne Vail TV series
1963 Jonah Pompy Episode: "Ship of Fame"
1964 ITV Play of the Week Grace Martin Episode: "The Offence"
1965 Undermind Edith Bishop Episode: "Onset of Fear"
1969–74 Division 4 Eileen Vickers Six episodes
1977–78 Cop Shop Lorna Johnson/O'Reilly
1982 Sons and Daughters Aileen Keegan
1986 Playing Beatie Bow Granny Bow
1987–91 Hey Dad..! Grandma Lois Kelly
1992–93 Skippy the Bush Kangaroo Thelma Woods
1994–97 Neighbours Marlene Kratz Regular role
2001 Home and Away Gladys Adams
2012 Tricky Business Lorraine Webb Episode: "Skyrockets in Flight"

References

  1. 1 2 "Notices". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  2. ↑ Herbison, Jason (9–22 August 1997). "Marlene's moving out!". Inside Soap (81): 38.
  3. 1 2 Fletcher, Alex (7 January 2011). "DS Icon: Marlene from 'Neighbours'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 7 January 2011.
  4. ↑ Green, Kris (14 April 2005). "More Neighbours returns confirmed". Digital Spy. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
  5. ↑ "Thursday TV". The Age. 15 June 1978. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
  6. ↑ Oliver, Robin (13 May 1990). "From the page to stage". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
  7. ↑ Beck, Ken; Clark, Jim (2002). The Encyclopedia of TV Pets: A Complete History of Television's Greatest Animal Stars. Thomas Nelson. ISBN 978-1-55853-981-5.
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