Reg Grundy’s daughter and widow fight for TV king’s estate
LIKE a plot from one of his many soap operas, the late TV king Reg Grundy’s daughter Viola La Valette and her stepmother, actor Joy Grundy, are facing off in court in a fight over his millions.
NSW
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LIKE a plot from one of his many soap operas, the late TV king Reg Grundy’s daughter Viola La Valette and her stepmother, actor Joy Grundy, are facing off in court in a fight over his millions.
When the Sons And Daughters, The Young Doctors and Neighbours creator died aged 92 in May 2016 at his idyllic Bermuda home, he was believed to be worth $715 million.
Ms La Valette, 61, who was born Kim Grundy, is the extremely private Grundy’s daughter from his first marriage to Lola Powell, which ended in divorce.
She has made a claim in the NSW Supreme Court under the Succession Act for provision from his estate, but suppression orders keep secret the details of her claim and of the media mogul’s will.
It can be revealed that how much the estate is worth will be in dispute in the case.
Yesterday the case was adjourned by Justice Geoff Lindsay to a date to be fixed.
While Ms Grundy, 71, lives at the couple’s sprawling 1.6ha Bermuda estate, she was back home in Sydney for the brief court appearance.
She married Reg Grundy in 1971, four years after the pair met when the young model and actor was a panellist on the Brisbane edition of his quiz show I’ve Got A Secret.
Ms Grundy went on to star in some of his best-remembered soaps including The Restless Years, The Young Doctors and Neighbours, before they moved to Bermuda in 1982.
Grundy married his first wife Lola Powell in 1954, and she and daughter Viola were with him as he moved on from a radio sports presenter and commentator to build his global television empire.
Among the many stars Grundy’s shows launched are the likes of Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan, Liam Hemsworth, Natalie Imbruglia, Russell Crowe and Guy Pearce.
In 1977, he co-produced ABBA: The Movie after flying the band to Australia to appear in a special episode of Bandstand and stitched up a lucrative exclusive license for all ABBA merchandise in Australia.