Vale: Vivean Gray
Vivean Gray, best known for her nosy neighbour characters on The Sullivans and Neighbours, has died.
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Veteran performer Vivean Gray, best known for her nosy neighbour characters on The Sullivans and Neighbours, has died, aged 92.
Gray’s iconic character Mrs. Jessup on The Sullivans in the mid 1970s was succeeded by her role as Mrs. Mangel on Neighbours a decade later.
The UK born actress epitomised the neighbourhood gossip on both soaps, despite both being rooted in different eras. But it led to some fervent TV fans hurling abuse at her in real life, causing Mrs. Mangel to be her last screen credit.
The bulk of her television work was in 1970s dramas including Bluey, Solo One, Power Without Glory, Homicide, Division 4, Matlock Police, Carson’s Law, plus 1980s roles on Prisoner, All the Rivers Run and ANZACs.
Her film credits include Picnic at Hanging Rock and The Last Wave.
Rick Maier, Head of Drama, Network TEN said, “Mrs. Mangel and Mrs. Jessup were two of our most iconic characters from one our very best character actors. Ramsay Street changed forever, and certainly no secret was ever safe, with Mrs. Mangel on the lookout. Vivean’s contribution to Australian drama will never be forgotten. It is a very sad day for the Neighbours’ family.”
Guy Pearce once said, “Funnily enough, the actress who played Mrs Mangel – Vivean Gray – was the most sweet and delightful lady you could ever come across.
“So it was an amazing testament to her acting ability that she played one of the most harrowing characters on Australian television.”
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- Tagged with All the Rivers Run, ANZACS, Bluey, Carson's Law, Division 4, Homicide, Matlock Police, Neighbours, Power Without Glory, Prisoner, Solo One, The Sullivans
9 Responses
They say typecasting is a bad thing but she had a great later part to her career playing two similar characters. Mrs Mangel made me seethe as a kid too – very much thanks to Vivean’s excellent delivery
Poor Mrs Mangel. Such a nosy neighbour but a character you enjoyed watching. RIP Vivean
As a kid, Mrs Mangel made me absolutely seethe – a true testament to a dedicated and talented actress.
I always wondered what happened to Ms Gray as I hadn’t heard about her since she left Neighbours. Her Mrs Jessup was a lot more likeable than Mrs Mangle, its a pity she wasn’t in neighbours for longer. RIP
Vivean Gray was in The Sullivans from 1976 till 1983 which is the complete run of the series and was a great character actress R.I.P Vivean
I didn’t realise Mrs Jessup was only in a dozen episodes of The Sullivans.Thought she was in it for years.
IMDb is not always comprehensive.
She was in the The Sullivans from the start to the end 1976-1983. Where does it say a dozen episodes?
Ah,bloody IMDB wrong again.
Thought she was in a lot of eps of The Sullivans.