Joan Sydney, Neighbours star, dies at age 83

Joan Sydney, a British-American actor who starred in soaps such as Neighbours and A Country Practice, has passed away at age 83.

Joan Sydney, a well-known British-Australian actor, passed away last Wednesday at her home in Sydney, Australia at the age of 83. Sydney had been suffering from a long illness. Her death was confirmed on Facebook by her friend and fellow actor, Sally-Anne Upton, who also starred in Neighbours for some time.

Sydney began her acting career in the Oldham Repertory Theatre and made her screen debut in the 1957 film version of the play When We Are Married at the age of 21. She emigrated to Perth in 1965 and later moved to New South Wales. Throughout her career, Sydney appeared in numerous films and television shows, but she was perhaps best known for her roles in the long-running soaps A Country Practice and Neighbours.

In A Country Practice, which aired in the 1980s, Sydney played Margaret Sloan, a stern matronly figure in the show. She received the award for Most Outstanding Actress for this role at the Logie Awards in 1989. In 2002, she joined the cast of Neighbours as Valda Sheergold.

Sydney’s fellow actors and fans have taken to social media to pay tribute to the late actor. Upton wrote on Facebook, “Thank you for all you have taught me, love, friendship, many memories shared that will be treasured forever.” Shane Withington, who also starred in A Country Practice, tweeted, “Comedy is never as easy as it looks and this lady made it look effortless. I adored her.”

Sydney’s talent and contributions to the entertainment industry will not be forgotten by those who worked with her. Her passing is a loss for the acting community and for fans of her work.

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