Rory O’Donoghue brought multiple talents to Aunty Jack Show

Rory O’Donoghue, star of ABC TV’s early seventies comedy, Aunty Jack Show, has died aged 68.

Grahame Bond, left, as Aunty Jack and Rory O'Donoghue as Thin Arthur in the Aunty Jack Show.

Back in 1966, as he prepared to perform in a Sydney University revue, Grahame Bond was introduced to a teenage musician called Rory O’Donoghue. Despite his age, O’Donoghue was already something of a veteran of the stage. Bond knew at once that he had found a collaborator unlike any other.

“It was a magic that just happened,” he says. “It’s something I’ll never experience again, the joy of being on stage with him. He was just such a consummate professional.”

O’Donoghue, best known for his work with Bond on the Aunty Jack Show on the ABC, died in a Sydney hospital last Wednesday. He was 68.

A widely admired musician, actor, teacher and athlete, ­O’Donoghue teamed up with Bond for the Aunty Jack Show in 1972-73. The show was a surreal comedy that startled conservative tastes, ending each week with Bond telling viewers to tune in again or he would “come round to your house and I’ll rip yer bloody arms off”.

O’Donoghue, who played Thin Arthur in the series, went on to write music for television, film and advertising jingles, and taught music at schools across Sydney.

A father of four and a grandfather of seven, he also played numerous concerts over the years with his daughter Jessica and son Ben.

In recent years he broke fitness barriers that eluded most men half his age, competing regularly in ironman triathlons across Australia. He also recently represented Australia in the Duathlon World Championships in Adelaide.

Rory O'donoghue was superfit, breaking barriers that eluded men half his age.

Bond described O’Donoghue as a generous collaborator, a wonderful musician and a perfectionist, as well as a highly valued mentor to younger musicians. In 1981, O’Donoghue and Bond won an AFI award for their music in the film Fatty Finn.

The pair caught up late last month in Sydney for the launch of Bond’s new book, along with a mutual friend, broadcaster Doug Mulray. “The wonderful thing about Rory was that he always watched my back on stage and off,” Bond says. “He was a beautiful man. He was kind and he was gentle and he was sweet.”

Mulray first met O’Donoghue two decades ago, having sought out a guitar teacher — only to discover, upon arrival, that his prospective mentor was one of his favourite entertainers.

“I was a fan,” Mulray says. “People of my age loved Aunty Jack. It was this anarchic, fabulous dangerous festival of comedy and ideas.”

Those lessons never really went anywhere but a great friendship developed, and Mulray found himself treated like family.

“He was a gentle soul. A gentleman and a prodigious talent who really was not as recognised as he deserved to be. He was a brilliant writer and player of music, a brilliant sponsor of other musical talents too.”

In a rare move, O’Donoghue’s family revealed that he had taken his own life after struggling with mental illness for many years.

“We hope that by sharing this we can bring more awareness to the serious issue of mental illness and that we can support those in need,” his daughter Jessica wrote on Facebook.

“He touched so many people with his light and talent. He was surrounded by so much love, it’s such a tragedy that his illness prevented him from feeling it.”

If you or someone you know may be at risk of suicide, call Lifeline (13 11 14) or the Suicide Call Back Service (1300 659 467), or see a doctor