Australian soap Neighbours has sadly seen the loss of many of its great actors since the series began in 1985 – including the death of actress Miranda Fryer earlier this year.
Actresses including Anne Haddy and Cathy Godblod, who played fan favourites Helen Daniels and Sondra Pike respectively, along with Miranda Fryer, are just three of the stars to have died in the decades since the soap first aired.
Fans and fellow cast members have been left devastated by the deaths, some of which occurred suddenly while the stars were still appearing in Neighbours.
Here, Daily Star looks back on the Neighbours stars who have sadly died.
Anne Haddy (Helen Daniels)
(Image: BBC)
Anne Heddy was one of the longest reigning on-screen matriarchs in Neighbours – with both her on-screen and real life deaths leaving fans devastated.
During her time in Ramsay Street, Helen had romances with residents including Reuben White and James Condon, saw members of her family mysteriously disappear, and left viewers in tears following her tragic death in her sleep while watching Scott and Charlene’s wedding in 1997.
Her portrayal of the character Helen won the Penguin Award for Sustained Performance by an Actor in a Series in 1987.
Away from our screens though, Anne had encountered multiple health battles including a heart attack that led to multiple bypass operations, angina and kidney troubles – leading the actress to retire in 1997.
However the actress died on June 6, 1999 at the age of 69 years old, just two years after she left Neighbours.
Cathy Godbold (Sondra Pike)
Cathy Godbold was one of Australia’s most famous TV actresses, having appeared in both Home And Away and Neighbours during her career – as well as playing Deborah Hale Regnery in The Saddle Club.
In 1997, she was cast as Sondra Pike in Neighbours, who was involved in story lines such as her famous love triangle with Darren Starke and Libby Kennedy.
However in 2007, the actress was diagnosed with cancer and underwent surgery to remove a brain tumour, along with chemotherapy.
Sadly in 2018, the cancer returned and a second tumour had grown, with the actress dying on May 4, 2018 at the age of 43 years old.
(Image: Facebook)
Paying tribute to the actress, one of her close friends told 9 News: “Cathy was a wonderful, young woman and a very talented young actress.
“But like all brain tumours, it eventually took over and it was just a tragic, tragic end.
“We also had her scrapbooks there and were reading to her – so there were some beautiful, poignant moments as well.”
Cathy was buried alongside her mum, the Australian TV star Rosemary Margan, who also died in December 2017 last year at the age of 80 years old from cancer.
Myra De Groot (Eileen Clarke)
Myra De Groot was one of the Neighbours OGs when the soap launched in 1985, with the actress becoming a fan favourite as the meddling Eileen Clarke.
During her time on the soap she become well known for shouting “Desmond” in a high pitched voice, much to the disgruntlement of her son – and many of the Ramsay Street residents.
However three years later on April 4 1988, the actress died from cancer at the age of 50 years old.
Miranda Fryer (Sky Mangel)
There have been a few actresses to play Sky Mangel in Neighbours throughout the years, including Miranda Fryer, who rose to fame as a child actress on the soap.
She was only 18 months old when she took on the role of Sky, opposite on-screen parents played by Mark Litte and Linda Hartley-Clark.
Miranda later left the soap and decided not to pursue a career in acting – instead training to become a nurse.
However Miranda died in her sleep at her home in Melbourne on January 6, 2022, at the age of 34 years old, with her family reporting that the actress had suffered heart problems – but the cause of death was not confirmed.
In a statement her family said: “True soulmates, Miranda and [husband] Arthur were making plans to start their family, when one day last week she went to sleep and never woke up. We do not know why.
“She had had some health issues with her heart. Maybe her beautiful persona was just too good for this world of ours. We, who all loved her so much, shall treasure the memories she has left us with and mourn our loss forever.”
Stewart Adam (Aaron Barkley)
Stewart Adam joined Neighbours as hunky mechanic Aaron Barkley between 2003-2004, with his fellow Neighbours cast members and fans left shocked following news of his sudden death.
In 2004, the actor died after falling ill at his parent’s home and a post-mortem discovered he had developed deep vain thrombosis, with Steward dying from a blood clot on June 21, 2004 at the age of 24 years old.
A spokesperson for Neighbours said following his death: “The cast was stunned.
“They were all shocked when the announcement was made in the Green Room. I don’t think anyone quite believed what they were hearing.”
Gerda Nicolson (Robyn Taylor)
In 1989, Gerda Nicolson arrived on Ramsay Street as Robyn Taylor, who although only appearing in the soap for 10 episodes, certainly made a lasting impression – including a moment where viewers thought she was going to have an affair with Harold Bishop.
Along with her role in Neighbours, the actress was also famous for playing the Governor of Wentworth Prison in soap opera Prisoner.
However only three years after her Neighbours appearance, Gerda collapsed backstage while preparing for a theatre performance, and died aged 54 on June 12, 1992.
Val Jellay (Connie O’ Rourke)
(Image: BBC)
Val Jellay was another of Australia’s beloved actresses, having appeared in Vaudville shows as a youngster, before landing roles in TV series such as The Flying Doctors.
She also played Connie O’ Rourke in Neighbours for multiple episodes in 2000.
Following a long acting career, the star retired but in May 2017, she died at the age of 89 years old, following complications from contracting pneumonia.
Announcing her death, her son Marty Fields posted a Twitter tribute saying: “My mum, Val, passed away today of pneumonia. She lived an amazing life.
“She’s back with her beloved Maurie now. I will miss her very much.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
