Moya O'Sullivan Macarthur (8 June 1926 – 16 January 2018) was an Australian-born actress who worked both locally and briefly in the United Kingdom. She was best known for her stint as the popular character Marlene Kratz in the soap opera Neighbours between 1994 and 1997.
Early life O'Sullivan was born to Eugene and Nancy O'Sullivan (née Morgan) and had an older brother, Peter. She was raised in the Sydney suburb of Randwick. Having graduated from school, she was tutored in drama classes under Dorothy Hemingway and started her career as a stage performer in the 1950s with the Mosman Theatre Company.
Career O'Sullivan trained in radio under Rosalind Kennerdale, and through her, gained agent John Cover, the husband of actress Queenie Ashton, who had a company, Central Casting. She received her first acting role in a Caltex Theatre production of Chance of a Ghost on 2GB and 4BH. O'Sullivan appeared in numerous other radio productions, such as Dr. Paul, When a Girl Marries, Blue Hills, In a Sunburnt Country and Life with Dexter.
With the advent of television, O'Sullivan became a familiar face in televised plays, as well as featuring in television advertisements. She made her debut in 1960 in the ABC production Farewell, Farewell Eugene, and appeared in The Slaughter of St Teresa's Day. She then began appearing in Australian soap operas and serials, beginning in 1961 with the daytime soap The Story of Peter Gray, playing the role of Anne Vail.
In the mid-1960s, O'Sullivan tried her luck in the United Kingdom, where she featured in radio, television and on the West End stage circuit. Notable credits included James Patrick Donleavy's production A Singular Man, in which she played the role of Mrs Martin and Miss Sheily in a 1964 BBC Television of The Harp in the South.
O'Sullivan returned to Australia in 1965, where she featured in the theatrical production Inadmissible Evidence, alongside Anne Haddy. Her television roles included playing Mrs Mason in the 1960s original series of Skippy the Bush Kangaroo, guesting in Homicide and Matlock Police and playing the recurring role of Eileen Vickers in Division 4.
In 1975, O'Sullivan had a three-month stint in the serial Number 96 playing the prominent role of Phyllis Pratt. She then featured in medical soap opera The Young Doctors opposite Paula Duncan and Gwen Plumb, before making guest appearances as Lorna Close in Crawford Productions police drama Cop Shop. Her character was mother to Valerie Close-Johnson (Joanna Lockwood), mother-in-law to Jeffrey Johnson and eventual wife of Eric O'Reilly (Terry Norris).
After leaving Cop Shop in 1982, O'Sullivan featured in Sons and Daughters as Aileen Keegan. She appeared in Patrol Boat, Kingswood Country, 1986 miniseries Whose Baby and had several guest roles in A Country Practice throughout the 1980s. She played Grandma Lois Kelly in Hey Dad..!, and had further guest roles in Bodysurfer, G.P., Water Rats, Home and Away, Blue Heelers and All Saints. From 1992 to 1993, she had a regular role in the Skippy reboot, The Adventures of Skippy, as Thelma Woods.
In 1994, O'Sullivan secured an ongoing role on long-running soap opera Neighbours as Marlene Kratz, bringing her international recognition. Her character was mother to Cheryl Stark (played by Caroline Gillmer) and she shared scenes with Tom Oliver, Richard Grieve and Kimberley Davies. She departed the series in 1997, when her character went on a three month cruise. In 2005, alongside many other former cast members, O'Sullivan reprised the role of Kratz, for a reunion special, commemorating Neighbours' 20th anniversary.
O'Sullivan continued acting throughout the 2000s, with a role in Home & Away in 2002, and several guest appearances in All Saints in 2001 and 2008. She never held any other long-standing roles; remaining a well-recognised guest artist, who often played hapless old grannies in her later years. In 2004, she performed in the stage show Leading Ladies: Off the Cuff alongside Carmen Duncan, Judy Nunn, Rowena Wallace and Justine Saunders.
O'Sullivan's final role was in Tricky Business in 2012. The following year, she was awarded a lifetime achievement award at the Glugs Theatrical Awards.
Personal life and death O'Sullivan was married to Ben Macarthur until their divorce. She frequently undertook volunteer work, particularly in schools.
O'Sullivan died aged 91 in Bondi Junction, Sydney on 16 January 2018. Her funeral was held at St Joseph's Church in Edgecliff. She was survived by her sister-in-law Kaaren, nephew Mark, nieces Cait and Bridget and two grandchildren.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Type 1965 Never Mention Murder Theatre Sister Feature film 1969 Color Me Dead Maid Feature film 1982 The Best of Friends Mrs. Malone Feature film 1983 Midnite Spares Caravan Lady Feature film 1986 Playing Beatie Bow Granny Tallisker Feature film 1992 Garbo Freda Feature film 1999 Two Hands Mrs Fletcher Feature film 2008 The View from Greenhaven Tottie Feature film
Television Year Title Role Type1960 Thunder on Sycamore Street TV movie (episode of The General Motors Hour) Farewell, Farewell, Eugene TV movie The Slaughter of St Teresa's Day Sister Mary Mark TV movie 1961 The Story of Peter Grey Anna Vail1963 Jonah Pompy Episode "Ship of Fame" Drama 61-67 Miss Wilson 1 episode1964 Story Parade Miss Shelly 1 episode ITV Play of the Week Grace Martin 1 episode The Edgar Wallace Mystery Theatre Theatre Sister 1 episode1965 Hugh and I Herself Undermind Edith Bishop 1 episode 1965–1975 Homicide Mrs. Watson / Lillian / Rose Murphy / Gwen / Vivienne Sekora / Ruth Gold 6 episodes 1966 Australian Playhouse 2 episodes1967 You Can't See Round Corners Guest role 1 episode Love and War She 1 episode 1968 Hunter Miss Corey 1 episode 1969–1974 Division 4 Eileen Vickers 6 episodes1970 Skippy Mrs. Mason 1 episode Delta Margaret 1 episode 1971; 1973 The Comedy Game 2 episodes 1971 Dead Men Running Miniseries, 1 episode 1971–1972 Matlock Police Sarah McKenzie / Nora / Elsie Cummings 3 episodes1972 A Nice Day at the Office 1 episode Birds In The Bush Hotel Receptionist 1 episode Behind the Legend 1 episode 1974 The Champion TV movie1975 Certain Women 1 episode Number 96 Phyllis Pratt 6 episodes1977 Say You Want Me Julie's Mother TV movie Going Home TV movie The Young Doctors Eadie Brooks 5 episodes Hotel Story 1 episode 1978–1981 Cop Shop Lorna Close/O'Reilly 96 episodes1979 Ride on Stranger Ada Jones Miniseries, 2 episodes A Place in the World Miniseries, 1 episode 1981 Daily at Dawn 1 episode1982 Jonah Miniseries, 4 episodes Sons and Daughters Aileen Keegan 11 episodes1983 Great Expectations Voice Animated TV movie David Copperfield Voice Animated TV movie Outbreak of Hostilities Lillian Starling TV movie 1983–1993 A Country Practice Daphne Marshall / Gwen Jones / Kath Thompson 6 episodes1984 Kingswood Country Errol's Mum 1 episode A Tale of Two Cities Voice Animated TV movie 1985 Flight into Hell Miniseries 1986 Whose Baby? Amelia Williams Miniseries, 2 episodes1987 Danger Down Under (aka Harris Down Under) Ethel TV movie Olive Saleslady TV movie 1987–1991 Hey Dad..! Grandma Lois Kelly 7 episodes1988 Richmond Hill Beatrice White 10 episodes Hiawatha Voice Animated TV movie Alice in Wonderland Duchess / Queen of Hearts (voice) Animated TV movie1989 The Saint in Australia (aka Fear in Fun Park) Madge TV movie Rafferty's Rules 1 episode Bodysurfer Mrs. Mortimer Miniseries, 2 episodes1992 The Main Event Herself 1 episode The Time Game Mrs. Brown TV movie 1992–1993 The New Adventures of Skippy Thelma Woods 39 episodes 1993 G.P. Myra Drummond 1 episode 1994–1997; 2005 Neighbours Marlene Kratz 393 episodes 1995 Neighbours: A 10th Anniversary Celebration Marlene Kratz (archive footage) TV special 1998 House Gang Shopkeeper 1 episode 2000 Water Rats Denise Ford 1 episode2001 Flat Chat Herself 1 episode Outriders Mrs. Churchill 4 episodes Home & Away Gladys Adams TV series, 1 episode 2001–2008 All Saints Grace Belden / Jean Blight / Margaret Milligan 4 episodes2002 Blue Heelers Grannie Gibson 1 episode Don't Blame the Koalas P & C Lady 1 episode 2012 Tricky Business Lorraine Webb Episode "Skyrockets in Flight"
Theatre Year Title Role Type Ref.1952 Saint Joan Shavian Playhouse, Sydney How He Lied to Her Husband / The Man of Destiny 1953 Back to Methuselah 1961 The Women Independent Theatre, Sydney with J. C. Williamson's Period of Adjustment The Rope Dancers Mrs Farrow 1963 Talk to the Moon Florrie Heath Hampstead Theatre, London 1964 A Singular Man Mrs Martin Cambridge Arts Theatre, Theatre Royal, Brighton, Comedy Theatre, London with Richard Rhys & Spur Productions 1965 Inadmissable Evidence UNSW Old Tote Theatre, Sydney 1966 O'Flaherty V.C. AMP Theatrette, Sydney with Q Theatre A Walk Among the Wheeneys Summer of the Seventeenth Doll 1969 The Women Independent Theatre, Sydney with J. C. Williamson's 1972 La Musica AMP Theatrette, Sydney with Q Theatre 2004 Leading Ladies: Off the Cuff
Radio Year Title Role Type Ref. 1957 Chance of a Ghost Caltex Theatre on 2GB / 4BH 1958 In a Sunburnt Country Clare ABC Radio 1959 The Guiding Light Jan Carter 2UW 2013 Sonic Tales Season 3, episode 2: "Elegy Delivered in a Country Pub" on Eastside Radio 89.7FM, Sydney Life with Dexter Jessie 2GB Blue Hills ABC Radio Dr. Paul When a Girl Marries 2CH
Awards Year Work Award Category Result Ref. 2013 Moya O'Sullivan Glugs Theatrical Awards Lifetime Achievement Award
References
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