Moya O'Sullivan
Moya O'Sullivan Macarthur (8 June 1926 – 16 January 2018)[1] was an Australian-born actress who worked both locally and briefly in the United Kingdom. She was best known for her long-running role as the popular character Marlene Kratz in the soap opera Neighbours between 1994 and 1997.[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]
Moya O'Sullivan | |
|---|---|
| Born | Moya O'Sullivan MacArthur 8 June 1926 Melbourne, Australia |
| Died | 16 January 2018 (aged 91) Bondi Junction, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | c.1950-2012 |
| Known for | Neighbours |
Early life and career
O'Sullivan was born to Eugene and Nancy O'Sullivan (née Morgan) and had an older brother, Peter. Having graduated from school, she was tutored in drama classes under Dorothy Hemingway and started her career as a stage performer in the 1950s with the Mosman Theatre Company.[4]
Radio, theatre, teleplays and telemovies
She trained in radio under Rosalind Kennerdale, and through her gained agent John Cover, the husband of actress Queenie Ashton, who had a company, Central Casting. O'Sullivan appeared in numerous radio productions, such as Dr. Paul, When a Girl Marries, Blue Hills and Life with Dexter.[4]
With the advent of television, she became a familiar face in televised plays, as well as featuring in commercial adverts. She made her debut in 1960 in the ABC production Farewell, Farewell Eugene, and appeared in The Slaughter of St Teresas Day, occasionally popping up in made-for-TV films.
Career in England
By the mid-1960s, O'Sullivan had decided to try her luck in England, where she featured in radio, television and on the West End stage circuit. Notable roles were in J.P. Donleavy's production A Singular Man, and A Harp in the South for BBC TV. She returned to Australia in 1965, where she featured in the theatrical production Inadmissible Evidence.
Television roles
O'Sullivan was a staple on the small screen in soap operas and serials in Australia, beginning in 1961 with the daytime soap opera The Story of Peter Gray. Her early roles included playing several parts in Homicide and Division 4. A prominent role was her three-month stint in the serial Number 96 as Phyllis Pratt in the 1970s.
She subsequently appeared in Sons and Daughters as Aileen Keegan, and had several roles in A Country Practice throughout the 1980s.
She continued acting throughout the 2000s, including Home and Away in 2002, and 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, later portraying hapless old grannies.
In 2005, she reprised the role of Marlene Kratz, along with many ex-cast members, for an episode commemorating the Neighbours 20th anniversary in a reunion special.[5]
O'Sullivan also became popular via memorable guesting appearances in Cop Shop as Lorna Close (later O'Reilly), mother to Valerie Close-Johnson and mother-in-law to Jeffrey Johnson,[6] and in Hey Dad..! as Grandma Lois Kelly,[7] 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.[8]
Her final part was in Tricky Business in 2012.
Death
O'Sullivan died aged 91 in Bondi Junction, New South Wales, Australia on 16 January 2018.[1]
Filmography
FILM
| Year | Title | Role | Type |
| 1965 | Never Mention Murder | Theatre Sister | Feature film, UK |
| 1969 | Color Me Dead | Maid | Feature film |
| 1982 | The Best of Friends | Mrs. Malone | Feature film |
| 1983 | Midnite Spares | Caravan Lady | Feature film |
| 1986 | Playing Beatie Bow | Granny | Feature film |
| 1992 | Garbo | Freda | Feature film |
| 1999 | Two Hands | Mrs Fletcher | Feature film |
| 2008 | The View from Greenhaven | Tottie | Feature film |
TELEVISION
| Year | Title | Role | Type |
| 1960 | Thunder On Sycamore Street | Role unknown | TV movie |
| 1960 | Farewell, Farewell, Eugene | Role unknown | TV movie |
| 1961 | The Story of Peter Grey | Regular role: Anna Vail | TV series |
| 1963 | Jonah | Guest role: Pompy | TV series, 1 episode "Ship Of Fame" |
| 1963 | Drama 61-67 | Guest role: Miss Wilson | TV series UK, 1 episode |
| 1964 | Story Parade | Guest role: Miss Shelly | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1964 | ITV Play of the Week | Guest role: Grace Martin | TV series UK, 1 episode |
| 1964 | The Edgar Wallace Mystery Theatre | Guest role: Theatre Sister | TV series UK, 1 episode |
| 1965 | Hugh and I | Herself | TV series UK |
| 1965 | Undermind | Guest role: Edith Bishop | TV series UK, 1 episode |
| 1965-1975 | Homicide | Guest roles: Mrs. Watson / Lillian / Rose Murphy / Gwen / Vivienne Sekora / Ruth Gold | TV series, 6 episodes |
| 1966 | Australian Playhouse | Roles unknown | ABC TV series, 2 episodes |
| 1967 | You Can't See Round Corners | Guest role | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1967 | Love and War | Guest role: She | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1968 | Hunter | Guest role: Miss Corey | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1969-1974 | Division 4 | Guest roles: Eileen Vickers | TV series, 6 episodes |
| 1970 | Skippy | Guest role: Mrs. Mason | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1970 | Delta | Guest role: Margaret | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1971;1973 | The Comedy Game | Guest roles | ABC TV series, 2 episodes |
| 1971 | Dead Men Running | Role unknown | TV miniseries, 1 episode |
| 1971-1972 | Matlock Police | Guest roles: Sarah McKenzie / Nora / Elsie Cummings | TV series, 3 episodes |
| 1972 | A Nice Day At The Office | Guest role | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1972 | Birds In The Bush | Guest role: Hotel Receptionist | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1972 | Behind the Legend | Guest role | ABC TV series, 1 episode |
| 1974 | The Champion | Role unknown | ABC TV movie |
| 1975 | Certain Women | Guest role | ABC TV series, 1 episode |
| 1975 | Number 96 | Recurring role: Phyllis Pratt | TV series, 6 episodes |
| 1977 | Say You Want Me | Recurring role: Julie's Mother | TV movie |
| 1977 | Going Home | Role unknown | ABC TV movie |
| 1977 | The Young Doctors | Recurring Guest role: Eadie Brooks | TV series, 5 episodes |
| 1977 | Hotel Story | Guest role | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1978-1981 | Cop Shop | Recurring role: Lorna Close / Lorna O'Reilly | TV series, 96 episodes |
| 1979 | Ride on Stranger | Recurring role: Ada Jones | ABC TV miniseries, 2 episodes |
| 1979 | A Place in the World | Guest role | ABC TV miniseries, 1 episode |
| 1981 | Daily at Dawn | Guest role | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1982 | Jonah | Recurring role | ABC TV miniseries, 4 episodes |
| 1982 | Sons and Daughters | Recurring role: Aileen Keegan | TV series, 11 episodes |
| 1983-1993 | A Country Practice | Guest roles: Daphne Marshall / Gwen Jones / Kath Thompson | TV series, 6 episodes |
| 1983 | Great Expectations | Herself - (Voice) | Animated TV movie |
| 1983 | David Copperfield | Herself - (Voice) | Animated TV movie |
| 1983 | Outbreak of Hostilities | Recurring role: Lillian Starling | TV movie |
| 1984 | A Tale of Two Cities | Herself - (Voice) | Animated TV movie |
| 1984 | Kingswood Country | Guest role: Errol's Mum | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1985 | Flight into Hell | Recurring role | ABC TV miniseries |
| 1986 | Whose Baby? | Lead recurring role: Amelia Williams | TV miniseries, 2 episodes |
| 1987 | Danger Down Under aka 'Harris Down Under' | Recurring role: Ethel | TV movie |
| 1987 | Olive | Guest role: Saleslady | ABC TV movie |
| 1987-1991 | Hey Dad..! | Recurring Guest role: Grandma Lois Kelly | TV series, 7 episodes |
| 1988 | Hiawatha | Herself - (Voice) | Animated TV movie |
| 1988 | Alice in Wonderland | Herself - Duchess / Queen of Hearts (Voice) | Video |
| 1988 | Richmond Hill | Recurring role: Beatrice White | TV series, 10 episodes |
| 1989 | Rafferty's Rules | Guest role | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1989 | The Saint in Australia aka 'Fear In Fun Park' | Support role: Madge | TV movie |
| 1989 | Bodysurfer | Recurring role: Mrs. Mortimer | ABC TV miniseries, 2 episodes |
| 1992 | The Main Event | Herself | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1992 | The Time Game | Recurring role: Mrs. Brown | TV movie |
| 1992-1993 | The New Adventures of Skippy | Regular role: Thelma Woods | TV series, 39 episodes |
| 1993 | G.P. | Guest role: Myra Drummond | ABC TV series, 1 episode |
| 1994–1997; 2005 | Neighbours | Regular role: Marlene Kratz | TV series, 393 episodes |
| 1995 | Neighbours: A 10th Anniversary Celebration | Marlene Kratz (archive footage) | TV special |
| 1998 | House Gang | Guest role: Shopkeeper | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2000 | Water Rats | Guest role: Denise Ford | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2001 | Flat Chat | Herself | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2001-2008 | All Saints | Guest roles: Grace Belden / Jean Blight / Margaret Milligan | TV series, 4 episodes |
| 2001 | Outriders | Recurring role: Mrs. Churchill | TV series, 4 episodes |
| 2001 | Home and Away | Guest role: Gladys Adams | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2002 | Blue Heelers | Guest role: Grannie Gibson | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2002 | Don't Blame the Koalas | Guest role: P & C Lady | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2012 | Tricky Business | Guest role: Lorraine Webb | TV series, 1 episode "Skyrockets In Flight" |
References
- "Notices". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
- Herbison, Jason (9–22 August 1997). "Marlene's moving out!". Inside Soap (81): 38.
- Fletcher, Alex (7 January 2011). "DS Icon: Marlene from 'Neighbours'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 7 January 2011.
- "Moya O'Sullivan, actor whose career reached from Skippy to the West End". 21 March 2018.
- Green, Kris (14 April 2005). "More Neighbours returns confirmed". Digital Spy. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
- "Thursday TV". The Age. 15 June 1978. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
- Oliver, Robin (13 May 1990). "From the page to stage". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
- 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.