Friends gather to farewell Foxtel boss, Brian Walsh

Fellow media stars and family have gathered to farewell Foxtel boss and “media titan,” Brian Walsh, after his unexpected death last month.

Celebrities have gathered at a church to farewell beloved “media titan” and Foxtel boss, Brian Walsh.

Walsh passed away in Sydney on March 16 aged 68, leaving behind a legacy of incredible achievements in Australia’s media industry.

Crowds packed into St Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney on Monday morning, with every seat filled with those grieving the entertainment industry legend.

Among the guests were well-known Australian media identities, including Richard Wilkins, Eddie McGuire and Lachlan and Sarah Murdoch.

Richard Wilkins with mourners at the funeral of Brian Walsh, at St Mary's Cathedral, in Sydney. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Justin Lloyd.

Lachlan and Sarah Murdoch also attended. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Justin Lloyd.

Mr Walsh’s sisters appeared distraught as they left the church on Monday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Justin Lloyd

The funeral began with a traditional Catholic procession, with guests singing along to hymn “Here I am, Lord,” paying tribute to Walsh’s religious upbringing.

In a touching act, the youngest members of his family stepped forward to place drawings on the table beside his casket.

Brian Walsh was farewelled in a packed service at St Mary's Cathedral in Sydney. Picture: Supplied via NCA NewsWire

Foxtel executive Brian Walsh died in March, leaving behind a “heartbroken” family. Picture: Supplied

Six men carried Mr Walsh’s coffin from St Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Justin Lloyd

Walsh’s older sister Jeanette kicked off a series of touching speeches, sharing childhood memories and reminiscing on the day their family got their first black and white TV.

“Brian, at the age of 11, demonstrated his forward thinking approach by sticking coloured cellophane on the screen,” she said.

She said he was a keen fan of going to the “pictures,” and would come home with movie posters at every opportunity.

The 68-year-old was widely regarded as a television “powerhouse”, and his name is linked to some of the nation’s biggest TV moments.

Walsh’s sisters share memories of his childhood. Picture: Supplied via NCA NewsWire

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Eddie McGuire was among the famous faces at the funeral. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Justin Lloyd

is younger sister Bernadette fought back tears as she shared joyful stories about Walsh's days as a child putting on productions in their back shed, where he would advertise goods such as Dunlop Tyres and Coca Cola.

“He did not seek the limelight. He just enjoyed seeing his thoughts come alive,” she said.

“I don’t know how I will navigate a life growing old without you in it.”

Walsh’s best friend of 40 years, Graham McNeice, said the man was a “titan of the Australian entertainment industry.”
“The launch of Fox Studios in 1999 was a passion project for Walsh,” he said.

“In his role leading Foxtel, Brian took us to places we’ll never forget.

“After 40 years of the most wonderful friendship, I am heartbroken to see him go. He was simply the best, and we might not see the likes of him again.”
In a notice of his funeral, the family wrote: “Brian was iconic in the world of media and entertainment and he enjoyed the love and friendship of countless people universally.

His casket was decorated with a spray of white flowers. Picture: Supplied via NCA NewsWire

Walsh began his career with ABC before going into feature film production and distribution at Palm Beach Pictures and promotions and publicity at Sydney Radio Station 2SM.

After five years at Radio 2SM, Walsh joined Network TEN, where he launched major network events, including the acclaimed Kennedy Miller miniseries Vietnam, The Bangkok Hilton, and The Dirtwater Dynasty.

He’s also responsible for some of Australia’s most iconic moments in television marketing and publicity, including the creation of the Simply The Best season launch for the National Rugby League that featured Tina Turner.

Walsh’s friends and family follow his casket out of the church. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Justin Lloyd

He was also the creative force behind a series of blockbuster grand final and State of Origin entertainment shows.

Walsh also was the much-loved publicist for the largest Australian international concert tours, including by Michael Jackson, Mariah Carey, Neil Diamond, Ricky Martin and Barbra Streisand.

Crowds farewelled him in style. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Justin Lloyd