Australia’s bright entertainment industry and sporting stars who died young and left us grieving
The tragic passing of Channel 7 reporter Nathan Templeton, 44, is among several untimely local celebrity deaths over the years. From sporting stars to TV personalities, many bright talents have been taken too soon.
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The death of father of two and longtime Channel 7 reporter Nathan Templeton, at age 44, in Geelong this week has devastated his family and friends, and shocked the entertainment world.
Believed to have suffered a medical episode while walking his dog by the Barwon River, Templeton had recently retreated from the limelight to deal with personal issues but the Melbourne correspondent for Seven’s morning talk show Sunrise was once a star in the network’s stable and remained much loved and respected within the media and sporting communities.
His tragic passing is one of a several untimely deaths to rock Victoria in recent years.
We look back at some of the country’s bright entertainment industry and sporting stars who died young and left many grieving.
Jesse Baird, 26, 19 February 2024
The alleged murder of former Network 10 presenter Jesse Baird by NSW police officer Beau Lamarre-Condon prompted an outpouring of grief in the tight-knit Victorian community of Diamond Creek, where he grew up.
Baird, a much-loved AFL goal umpire, was raised in Victoria and attended Loyola College.
He began umpiring Aussie Rules at grassroots level as a teenager before he made his AFL debut as a goal umpire in 2020.
Baird relocated from Queensland to Sydney last year to continue his career at the elite level, which spanned 62 matches, including two finals.
Network 10 aired a heartbreaking tribute to its former colleague, whose remains were found alongside the body of Luke Davies in regional NSW.
Police will allege Baird’s murder was premeditated by ex-NSW police officer Beau Lamarre-Condon, but Baird’s partner, Luke Davies, was killed only for being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
“We want to pay tribute to our friend and former colleague, Jesse Baird. His murder, alongside that of his partner, Luke Davies, has rocked Network 10. Our hearts go out to their family and friends,” Sandra Sully said in an emotional tribute.
Jock Zonfrillo, 46, died April 30, 2023
The MasterChef Australia judge and father was found dead in a Carlton hotel room when a welfare check was performed.
Zonfrillo’s wife, Lauren, now a single mother, and many others — including world famous chefs — posted heartbreaking tributes in the months after his death.
Fellow MasterChef judge and friend Andy Allen said life would “never be the same” after Zonfrillo’s shock death, and Australia was devastated by the loss.
Barry “Jock” Zonfrillo was a Scottish chef, TV presenter and restaurateur, who had spoken about his previous drug addiction and mental health issues.
He was the founder of the Orana Foundation, as well as a much-loved MasterChef judge.
His death was not treated as suspicious.
Charlie Newling, 36, died September 9, 2023
Former 2018 Bachelorette star Charlie Newling passed away aged 36 when his car plunged off a cliff in Sydney’s Dover Heights — just weeks after welcoming a baby girl.
Cal Wilson, 53, died October 11, 2023
Victoria was shocked and heartbroken to learn of the tragic death of comedian Cal Wilson.
The writer and actor died at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney, where she had been receiving treatment for an illness.
It’s understood doctors had diagnosed Wilson with a rare and aggressive form of cancer.
The New Zealand-born personality moved to Melbourne in 2003 to star in the sketch comedy series Skithouse, which ran on Channel 10 for more than a year.
A successful career followed, with Wilson later starring on satirical game shows Spicks and Specks, Good News Week and Would I Lie To You?
She then starred in her own Netflix special, Things I’ve Thought, Out Loud.
Other popular TV series featuring Wilson included The Project, Have You Been Paying Attention?, Hughesy, We Have A Problem, Thank God You’re Here, I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here! and Dancing With The Stars.
But Wilson was best known for her stand-up comedy and appeared at the Melbourne Comedy festival 14 times. She was also a member of its board.
More recently, she co-hosted The Great Australian Bake Off for Foxtel alongside Natalie Tran, which her managers said was in production when she was first admitted to hospital.
Johnny Ruffo, 35, died November 10, 2023
Much-loved Australian singer and actor Johnny Ruffo died after a long and hard battle with terminal brain cancer at the age of just 35.
Ruffo shared much of his brave journey with the public, but reportedly spent his final moments in private with those he loved most by his bedside.
The news his fans had been dreading since he was first diagnosed in 2017 was confirmed via his social media pages.
“It is with a heavy heart that today we had to farewell our beloved Johnny,” the words read, along with a smiley picture of the loveable star.
“Surrounded by his partner, Tahnee, and his family, Johnny went peacefully with the support of some incredible nurses and doctors.”
The post went on to say how charming and courageous The X-Factor and Home and Away star had been throughout his cancer battle.
Bill Granger, 54, died December 25, 2023
Celebrity chef, restaurateur and writer Bill Granger passed away in a London hospital but is credited with raising the profile of Australian informal dining.
He wrote 14 cookbooks, made five TV series, and ran a successful global restaurant business. He was honoured with the Medal of the Order of Australia in January 2023.
Shane Warne, 52, died March 4, 2022
The beloved spin king died aged just 52 in his room at the Samujana Villas resort on the Thai island of Koh Samui on March 4, 2022 — devastating his loving family and many fans around the world.
New data shows that since the cricketing great’s death from suspected heart disease, there has been a 25 per cent increase in Australians getting heart checks.
Warne’s memorial at the MCG was a spectacular event, watched around the world.
Andrew Symonds, 46, died May 14, 2022
Australian cricket great Andrew Symonds died in a single-car accident, aged 46, outside Townsville — leaving the Australian cricket community reeling.
He played 26 Tests for Australia, as well as 198 one-day internationals and 14 Twenty internationals.
Social media was flooded with tributes for the talented all-rounder after news of his death spread, with Cricket Australia releasing a statement describing Symonds as “one of the most exciting and versatile all-rounders of his generation”.
NOT FORGOTTEN
Jane McGrath, 42, died June 22, 2008
The devoted mother of two died with her loved ones at her bedside at home in Sydney at the age of 42, after an 11-year battle with breast cancer, that she had tackled again and again.
Yet from that heart-wrenching adversity came much good, namely in the formation of the McGrath Foundation.
It was created when Jane was still in her initial recovery from surgery, and she realised that the health system had a shortage of breast cancer nurses.
Belinda Emmett, 32, died November 11, 2006
Emmett was just 32 when she died after a rigorous and public eight-year battle with breast cancer.
The former Home and Away actor and singer and wife of TV personality and funnyman Rove McManus continued to give inspiration even in death with an emotional video diary giving hope to others in their own battle against cancer.
TWO INTERNATIONAL DEATHS THAT SHOCKED US
Lisa Marie Presley, 54, died January 12, 2023
The only child of Elvis Presley died after suffering a cardiac arrest at her home in California.
She was found unresponsive in her home by a housekeeper, with reports that her ex-husband Danny Keough performed CPR until paramedics arrived.
It has been reported that Presley struggled to accept her son’s death before she died.
“Since the loss of her son, Ben Storm (Keough), Lisa did not go out,” Jerry Schilling recalled in an interview with People on the one-year anniversary of the singer’s death.
“I didn’t know she … was going to survive (his death).”
Keough was 27 when he died by suicide in July 2020, shaking his mother’s world.
“She survived that for two years because of the love and care for her three daughters,” Schilling said.
Presley shared Benjamin and daughter Riley Keough, 34, with her first husband, Danny Keough.
She was also the mother to twins Harper and Finley, 15, with her fourth ex-husband, Michael Lockwood.
After years of grieving, it wasn’t until the making of Baz Luhrmann’s 2022 film, Elvis, featuring Austin Butler, that Presley decided to enter back into the spotlight.
“When we were flying back to Memphis for a screening, I met her at the airport. I hadn’t seen her since Ben Storm’s funeral,” the talent manager said.
“She said to me, ‘Jerry, I will never be the same.’ She looked frail. But she was really trying.”
Sinead O’Connor, 56, died July 26, 2023
The Irish singer, best known for her 1990 single Nothing Compares 2 U, had a thriving music career that spanned almost four decades before her death.
O’Connor’s death comes 18 months after her son, Shane, 17, died in January.
He tragically took his own life after escaping hospital while on suicide watch.
Writing on social media following his death, she said he had “decided to end his earthly struggle” and requested “no one follow his example”.
In her last tweet, O’Connor posted a photo of her son Shane and said: ‘Been living as undead night creature since. He was the love of my life, the lamp of my soul”.
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