Terence Donovan, famed Neighbours actor, dies at 90
British‑Australian star Terence Donovan—known for his roles in Neighbours and Home & Away—has died at 90 in Melbourne. The actor’s family confirmed the death via a post from son Jason Donovan, who said Dad had passed peacefully late Saturday night.
Jason, who has followed his father’s footsteps in acting, posted that “Our Dad was a huge character, larger than life. He was our best friend…our world! We will desperately miss him but we take comfort knowing we were all here by his side in his final days.”
Born in London, Donovan moved to Australia as a teenager, beginning his career as a singer before turning to acting in the early 1960s. Ten years later, he landed dual detective roles—Mick Peters in Division 4 and Vic Cameron in Cop Shop—setting the stage for a lengthy screen career.
In the 1990s, Donovan joined Neighbours as Doug Willis, following his son Jason’s departure from the cast. He also appeared as Al Simpson on Home & Away, keeping him a familiar face on Australian screens.
Beyond television, Donovan contributed to Australian film, appearing in classics such as The Man from Snowy River, Breaker Morant, Picnic at Hanging Rock and Strictly Ballroom.
The late actor also championed local production through the ‘T.V. MAKE IT AUSTRALIA NOW’ campaign in the early 1970s. His efforts helped secure a requirement for Australian stories on commercial broadcasters, bolstering the industry and paving the way for further successes in the 70s and 80s.
