Six years after death TV great Reg Grundy finally to be remembered with life celebration

Australian television great Reg Grundy died six years ago. His life has not been celebrated until now, here is why.

Six years after his death, a memorial is finally able to be held to celebrate the life of Aussie TV great Reg Grundy.

The remembrance ceremony will be held for Grundy and late actor wife, Joy Chambers-Grundy, on September 15.

It comes several years after a dramatic battle over Grundy’s $900 million fortune spilt out into Sydney courtrooms.

The September 15 date was chosen by trustees of the estate as it marks a year since Chambers-Grundy died in Germany in 2023. She was 76.

Reg Grundy and wife Joy Chambers at Powerhouse Museum in Sydney for opening of 'On The Box' exhibition.

Grundy was known for his golden rule of not dating anyone he worked with. That was of course until he met the woman who became Chambers-Grundy, who was late for her audition for his TV show, I’ve Got A Secret.

She famously used to say, “I got the job and the man.”

His beloved wife was known for her decades on camera and also appeared on Neighbours, The Restless Years and The Young Doctors.

The couple renewed their vows five times during their 45 years together. All were presided over by Bishop Stephen Oliver, who is flying in from London for the occasion at The State Library of NSW in September.

It will be a private celebration of their lives with their nearest and dearest invited.

Grundy will forever be known as a pioneer of Australian television, who was a renowned workaholic responsible for more than 400 shows.

Joy Chambers (R) and her husband Reg Grundy at the launch at the launch of her book 'For Freedom' on the MV Boadicea, Garden Island, Sydney.

Reg Grundy.

Also a world-renowned wildlife photographer and conservationist, he was inducted into the Logie Hall of Fame in 2005.

Some of those programs included Prisoner, Wheel of Fortune, Blankety Blanks, Class of ‘74 and The Restless Years.

The National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) named a theatre after him.

Grundy was previously married to Patricia Lola C Powell.

Joy Chambers-Grundy arriving at court in 2019. Picture: Darren Leigh Roberts

In 2017, his only child, Kim Grundy, who changed her name to Viola La Valette, took legal action to dispute her father’s will as most of the estate was left to Chambers-Grundy.

It was a three-year-long court battle that ensued.

La Valette and Chambers-Grundy reached a confidential settlement in 2020 following several court hearings.

The legal drama dominated headlines at the time and, at one point, a man who claimed to be Grundy’s long lost son, Simon Russell, even tried his luck to acquire a slice of the estate.

But a paternity test Russell took came back negative.