Lorrae Desmond, star of A Country Practice, dies at 91

Veteran Australian actor Lorrae Desmond has died. The celebrated star of shows including A Country Practice and Number 96 was 91.

Actor Lorrae Desmond, who has died at the age of 91, has been remembered as a talented “icon” whose influence in the industry was wide ranging.

Grieving friends and fans shared heartfelt tributes on social media to the late star of A Country Practice, who in the 1960s became the first woman to win a Gold Logie.

Playwright Melanie Tait, who was one of the last people to interview Desmond, said she had an “extraordinary life” while singer Kamahl, who met the actor years ago, described her as a natural-born star.

Lorrae Desmond with her TV husband Brian Wenzel from A Country Practice.

Desmond at the premiere of Buddy at the Lyric Theatre.

With a career spanning nearly 60 years, Desmond was a familiar face on Australian TV screens stretching back from iconic 1960s and ’70s cop series Homicide through to long-running soap Home And Away. She had many successful theatre credits as well.

This year, she received a Medal of the Order of Australia for her contribution to the performing arts.

Desmond said in an interview last year that she had not intended to become an actor let alone play a character – Shirley on A Country Practice – for close to a decade.

“(My first love) is cabaret, I love doing cabaret,” Desmond said in last year’s interview. “ I never wanted to be an actress.

“I didn’t think (A Country Practice) would go on for that bloody long.”

Lorrae Desmond with Gael Ballantyne.

Despite her versatility as an entertainer Desmond, who was born Beryl Hunt, was best known for her TV roles.

Last year she shared how she got the name Lorrae Desmond. “Well my dad’s first name is Desmond, and I love my dad, and when I was in hairdressing, there was a girl named Lorrae Ingraham and I said, ‘Do you mind if I borrow your name for a while?’ Well I never gave it back,” she said.

Desmond was born in Mittagong in NSW before moving to Britain as a child.

TRIBUTES FOR LORRAE DESMOND

Veteran Australian actor Lorrae Desmond has died.

The celebrated star of shows including A Country Practice and Number 96 was 91.

“Vale Lorrae Desmond,” Shane Whithington, who played Brendan Jones on A Country Practice, wrote on Twitter.

“Enormous Heart. Enormous Talent. We all loved her.”

Actor Di Smith, who played Dr Alex Fraser on the long-running soap, also paid tribute to the TV veteran.

“A wonderful woman,” Smith wrote.

Desmond was much loved for playing Shirley Gilroy on A Country Practice from 1981 to 1992.
Desmond alongside TV husband Brian Wenzel portrayed loveable opposites on the show, him as the straight talking cop Frank Gilroy and her as the colourful receptionist in the local medical practice.

She appeared in 816 episodes in total on the iconic TV drama that won countless awards and was a huge success around the world.

Her other television credits include Home and Away and Homicide.

Desmond was also an acclaimed stage performer, much lived in the industry who was born Beryl Hunt in Mittagong in 1929.

Actor Lorrae Desmond.

June Dally- Watkins and Lorrae Desmond.

In a career spanning more than 55 years, she won a coveted Gold Logie in 1962 for her work on Variety program, The Lorrae Desmond Show.

“Lorrae was an iconic actress, much loved to so many that watched her on A Country Practice,” TV commentator Rob McKnight said.

“Not many people enjoy so long in the business, 55 years is extraordinary and shows what a great talent she was.”

Wendy Strehlow, who played young nurse Judy Loveday on A Country Practice, also shared her condolences on Twitter.

“She was my mentor, my friend and an unending source of wisdom, grace and style,” Strehlow wrote.

Fan Kel Freitas also joined in the tributes on Whithington’s Twitter.

“She was the first representation of a liberated, empowered woman I ever saw on television,” she wrote. “I try to be like Shirley in my middle age.”