Mary Ward obit

Veteran Aussie actress Mary Ward dies at 106

 

She was not on the list.

Australia's oldest living actress Mary Ward has died at 106.

Shannon Ward confirmed the sad news that her great aunt had died on July 19.

"She turned 106 in March and she passed away peacefully this morning," Shannon said in a statement to 9Honey Celebrity.

"She has been an incredible pioneer in many aspects of her life, it would be great if you could run something about Mary to acknowledge her extraordinary life."

The late actress had a career that spanned six decades. She was best known for her role as Mum in the Australian crime drama Prisoner (1979-1981). She also starred as Dee Morell in the series Sons and Daughters (1983).

In the late-1980s, she had supporting roles in movies Jenny Kissed Me and Backstage.

However, she continued to do TV with smaller parts in Neighbours and Blue Heelers. Mary ultimately retired from acting in 2000.

"I really enjoyed acting very much. But I've left my acting days behind me and I am enjoying my retirement," she told The Senior in June 2017.

Her career started with her being hired as one of the first female radio announcers at ABC. She went on to appear in several theatre productions in England.

Ward lived through two world wars and two global pandemics — she was a child during the Spanish Flu (1918-1920).

Filmography

Film

Year     Title            Role            Notes

1949    Eureka Stockade            Lady Hotham            Feature film

That Dangerous Age      Nurse            Feature film, UK. Released in the US as If This Be Sin

1975    Born To Run aka 'Harness Fever'            Aunt Marian Castle            Feature film

1976    Cry Your Purple Heart Out            Mike            Feature film, US. Also known as How To Score With Girls

1985    Jenny Kissed Me            Grace            Feature film

1986            Backstage            Geraldine Wollencraft            Feature film

1997    Amy            Mrs. Mullins Feature film

Television

Year     Title            Role            Type

1951    I Was a Stranger            Official            TV film, UK

1954    The Vise     Guest role: Mrs Diana Campbell            TV series UK, 1 episode

1955    The High-Flying Head    Mrs Taylor  TV film, UK

1957            Roundabout     The Wife            Teleplay

1957    The Twelve Pound Look    Kate            ABC Teleplay

1958    Gaslight            Elizabeth          TV play

1958    Captain Carvallo            Smila Darde            Teleplay

1959    The Lark     Queen Yolande            Teleplay

1962            Marriage Lines[12]            Lysette Eggerton            TV film

The Teeth of the Wind            Mary Vender            Teleplay

1963    The Hot Potato Boys            Millicent Mayne            ABC Teleplay

1965    The Tower  Hester Fortescue            ABC Teleplay

Otherwise Engaged            Dorothy          TV film

1974    This Love Affair            Guest role: Hannah Galbraith            ABC TV series, 1 episode 9: "This Year, Next Time

1974    Rush            Guest role: Mrs Hawk            ABC TV series, 1 episode

1975–1976            Homicide        Guest roles: Mrs Parsons / Margaret Lennox / Mrs Phillips  TV series, 3 episodes

1976    The Judging Ring            Role unknown            ABC TV film

1976    Power Without Glory            Guest role: Edith            ABC TV miniseries, 1 episode

1978    Cop Shop            Recurring Guest role: Emma Hudson            TV series, 2 episodes

1979; 1981            Prisoner           Regular role: Janette 'Mum' Brooks            TV series, 33 episodes aka 'Prisoner: Cell Block H' and 'Caged Women'

1979    The Franky Doyle Story    Mum Brooks TV film

1979    The Wonderful World of Disney  Aunt Marian Castle            TV series US, 2 episodes 'Born To Run' aka 'Harness Fever'

1980            Skyways         Joan Sloan    TV series

1981    The Young Doctors            Recurring Guest role: Mrs Wilson            TV series

I Can Jump Puddles            Mrs Birdsworth            ABC TV series, 1 episode

1982    A Country Practice            Thelma Thomas            TV series, 2 episodes: The Seeds of Discontent (Parts 1 & 2)

1983    Sons and Daughters            Recurring role: Dee Morrell TV series, 22 episodes

1984    Hot Pursuit  Role unknown            TV series, 1 episode: Steel Trap

1985    The Henderson Kids            Recurring Guest role: Mrs Cathcart            TV series, 2 episodes

1987    The Henderson Kids II            Recurring Guest role: Mrs Cathcart            TV series, 2 episodes

1989            Neighbours            Recurring Guest role: Mrs Granger            TV series, 3 episodes

G.P.     Guest role: Jessie McLean            ABC TV series, 1 episode

Darlings of the Gods            Barbara Ward ABC TV mini-series

1992    The Late Show            Lady Frontbottom            ABC TV series, 1 episode of The Olden Days (edited from Rush)

1994    The Damnation of Harvey McHugh            Guest role: Ivy            ABC TV series, 1 episode

1999–2000            Blue Heelers            Recurring Guest role: Betty Withers            TV series, 3 episodes