A beloved figure on Australian  TV screens has died aged 89.

Not SuppliedNot Supplied Credit: Herald Sun

Beloved Australian actress Lorraine Bayly AM has died aged 89.

00:00

00:00
00:00

Powered by
GliaStudios

The Sullivans star’s death was confirmed to 2GB on Saturday by her close friend and journalist Craig Bennett on behalf of her family.

recommended by

Olavita
Costco Shoppers Say This Serum “Removes Wrinkles Like Crazy”

Learn more

Bayly died in a Sydney care home on Saturday morning.

She was best known for her role as Grace Sullivan in The Sullivans, which ran from 1976 to 1983, as well as her time as a presenter on popular children’s show Playschool and a guest role on Neighbours.

Lorraine Bayly died in a Sydney care home on Saturday morning.Lorraine Bayly died in a Sydney care home on Saturday morning. Credit: Herald Sun

After leaving The Sullivans, Bayly took a starring role in Carson’s Law that was written specifically for her, playing solicitor Jennifer Carson.

She won Silver Logies for most popular actress for both The Sullivans and Carson’s Law.

In an emotional post to social media, Mr Bennett said Bayly was a “showbiz legend, a bona fide star of stage and screen, a triple Logie winning TV treasure and beautiful friend to many”, noting she had only retired 10 years ago.

He said her love of the arts had been strong from a young age. As a child in Narrandera, she would cloak herself in the curtains and sing and dance around, before training more formally at Sydney’s Ensemble Theatre in the 1950s.

Bayly had an illustrious TV career, but her “big love” was for the stage. Picture: Adam Yip / Manly DailyBayly had an illustrious TV career, but her “big love” was for the stage. Adam Yip / Manly Daily Credit: News Corp Australia She won a silver Logie for most popular actress off the back of her work on "The Sullivans". rShe won a silver Logie for most popular actress off the back of her work on “The Sullivans”. r Credit: News Corp Australia

Despite an illustrious television career, Mr Bennett said Bayly’s “big love” was the stage, where she starred in more than 50 plays and musicals.

Bayly turned 89 last month, and had been enjoying her retirement by spending time with her nephew Brad, his wife Janelle and their children on the family’s macadamia farm at Maclean Ridge.

She never slowed down though, Mr Bennett said, using all of her years to their full potential.

“Every decade Lorraine would learn something new, from playing tennis to the saxophone, to ballroom dancing,” he said.

“Vale to a most kind, remarkable and beautiful person.

“After years of gruelling health issues, she’s now free and off onto her next wild adventure. Big block of chocolate in hand! LB was a self confessed chocoholic!”

Originally published as Beloved Aussie TV icon Lorraine Bayly dies age 89