Vale: Norman Yemm
Renowned Australian actor Norman Yemm, best known for Homicide and The Sullivans, has died.
- Published by David Knox
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Renowned Australian actor Norman Yemm, best known for Homicide and The Sullivans, has died, aged 81.
Yemm was prolific in Australian television appearing on many productions -particularly for Crawford Productions- including Hunter, Riptide, Boney, Homicide, Number 96, The Sullivans, Division 4, Matlock Police, Prisoner, A Country Practice, Neighbours, Possession, The Flying Doctors, Tandarra, Ryan, State Coroner, The Henderson Kids, A Fortunate Life, The Petrov Affair, G.P., Blue Heelers and Something in the Air.
But he was also at home on stage appearing in musicals such as Oklahoma, South Pacific, Paint Your Wagon, The Sound of Music, Gilbert & Sullivan and the Australian Opera Company.
“Homicide really was my first big break, I loved it,” he once said. “In those days we used to get a lot of fan mail sent to [the real] Russell Street police station. It just shows that people were convinced our roles were authentic.”
Lorraine Bayly, who performed with him on The Sullivans, told 3AW, “It’s a sad, sad thing. He was such a lovely, lovely man and such a good actor.
“You could just rely on him totally.”
A Seven spokeswoman said he was “a much loved member” of the Homicide cast.
“Norman was an understated person, who gave his best to each and every performance, which is why audiences loved his work,” she said.
A Channel Nine spokeswoman also paid tribute to Yemm as “an important part of the early years of drama at Nine”.
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- Tagged with A Country Practice, A Fortunate Life, Blue Heelers, Boney, Division 4, G.P., Homicide, Hunter, Matlock Police, Neighbours, Number 96, Possession, Prisoner, Riptide, Ryan, Something in the Air, State Coroner, Tandarra, The Flying Doctors, The Henderson Kids, The Petrov Affair, The Sullivans
12 Responses
I Best Remember Norman Yemm from Homicide And The Sullivans he was a great Australian Actor – R.I.P Norman
*sad*…another in a long line of recent losses of good people
And let’s not forget his performance of “losing my religion” on The Late Show (Norman Yemm > R.E.M.)
Sad news, he was a great actor and also sadder that your picture shows him with Megan Williams who passed away many years ago. I still remember he so well.
Sad news indeed. I remeber him most from playing Norm in The Sulllivans. He was one of a few that were in it from start to end. Also remember his Neighbours role as an early love interest for Madge and Ben Mendolson’s father.
Thanks David, just saw the SMH one!
The one in the Tele appears to have gone with a million articles on IACGMOOH.
Thanks God for your website David.
A disgrace that most of the newspapers and major websites have virtually ignored the passing of an icon.
Seems if you are not on I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here, it’s not worth a mention.
Both Fairfax and News Corp had obituaries by Michael Idato and Colin Vickery.
Also known for his centrefold in Cleo magazine when Ita Buttrose ran it in the 1970s.
This is very sad news, an entertainer has left our planet, thankyou Norman Yemm for all the fantastic work you did entertaining us. Godspeed to the great entertainers home in the sky
Great actor, RIP Norman Yemm …
Also know for the time Mick Molloy booked him instead of REM on The Late Show.