Terence Donovan returned to his soap opera stomping ground before his death at age 90 on Saturday.
The British-Australian actor first appeared on Neighbours in 1990, starring as iconic character Doug Willis.
He would continue to appear as a series regular until 1994, but returned to reprise the role in 2005.
A final storyline between 2014 and 2016 culminated in the character’s death in the infamous Lassiters hotel explosion.
But as any soap fan knows, death is not forever on Neighbours, and in 2022, Terence showed up for an ‘alternative reality’ sequence in the show’s finale.
Doug appeared alongside other deceased fan-favorites like Madge Bishop (Anne Charleston), Sonya Rebecchi (Eve Morey) and Finn Kelly (Rob Mills).
Terence Donovan appeared as his iconic character Doug Willis (right) in an ‘alternative reality’ sequence in the Neighbour’s finale in 2022 alongside Madge Bishop (Anne Charleston, centre)
The 2022 finale featured a cavalcade of returning stars, including Terence’s son Jason Donovan, who came back for a cameo as his legendary character Scott Robinson, alongside Kylie Minogue who played Jason’s onscreen wife Charlene. Both pictured
The 2022 finale was an emotional last hurrah for the soap, which had been cancelled that year.
It featured a cavalcade of returning stars, including Terence’s son Jason Donovan, who came back for a cameo as his legendary character Scott Robinson, alongside Kylie Minogue who played Jason’s onscreen wife Charlene.
Neighbours was saved from cancellation and it returned the following year, only to be axed again, this time for good, in 2025.
Terence died in Melbourne on Saturday, aged 90.
The star’s death was announced on Instagram by his actor son Jason in a statement.
‘It is with great sadness but also a sense of celebration of a long, full life that myself and my brother Paul announce our father Terence died peacefully last night here in Melbourne,’ Jason began.
‘Obviously this is an extremely emotional time and we ask you to respect our privacy.
‘We want to pay tribute to all the wonderful staff at Cabrini Hospital, Melbourne who looked after him in his final days.’
A final storyline between 2014 and 2016 culminated in Doug Willis’ death in the infamous Lassiters hotel explosion. Pictured in the 2022 finale
Terence died in Melbourne on Saturday, aged 90. The Neighbours star’s death was announced on Instagram by his actor son Jason in a statement
Jason went on to reveal exactly what his legendary father meant to him.
‘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,’ Jason added.
‘Knowing that he lived life to the max. Knowing that in life it’s either a daring adventure… or nothing at all! How lucky are we to have a dad like you.’
Terence was one of Australia’s most renowned actors, with a career that spanned almost seven decades, beginning in the early ’60s.
Some of his most famous roles include the movies Breaker Morant and The Man from Snowy River and the TV shows Homicide and Sons and Daughters.
He also appeared on Home and Away, A Country Practice, Blue Heelers and The Flying Doctors.
Terence was born in London in October 1935 and moved to Australia in the late ’50s, which is where he began his celebrated acting career.
He was married to Australian TV presenter Sue McIntosh from 1965 to 1972, with the pair welcoming their son Jason in 1968.
Jason and Terence have acted alongside each other many times, including on Neighbours, the ABC drama MDA and the 2003 comedy film Horseplay.
The veteran performer turned 90 on October 28.
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