Vale: Doug McLeod

Gifted writer Doug MacLeod, whose credits included Full Frontal, SeaChange, Col’n Carpenter and Dogstar, has died aged 62.

He died in Melbourne this week after several years of ill-health, including a stroke in 2011 and a diagnosis of the autoimmune disease discoid lupus in 2014.

MacLeod enjoyed a varied career as screenwriter, script editor, children’s author and playwright.

He studied Drama at the Victorian College of the Arts, graduating in 1982. His first book, Hippopotabus – a collection of comedic poetry – was published when at just 16, thanks in part to the mentoring of editor Michael Dugan.

In later life MacLeod would mentor many young writers himself, especially in television.

He served as the head writer of The Comedy Company and script editor of Kath & Kim and Big Girls Blouse.

He wrote scripts for Fast Forward, Totally Full Frontal, SeaChange, The Bob Downe Show, Col’n Carpenter, Wedlocked, Open Slather, and Bligh and Dogstar both of which he created / co-created.

In 2008 he received the Fred Parsons Lifetime Achievement Award for Contribution to Australian Comedy at the Australian Writers’ Guild Awards.

There were numerous children’s books, and stage plays including My Son the Lawyer is Drowning, Snugglepot and Cuddlepie, Call Girl the Musical, Margaret Fulton: Queen of the Dessert.

MacLeod was a mentor to many, remembered as gentle, funny and an enormous talent.

Writer Lorin Clarke, creator of podcast The Fitzroy Diaries, said, “For me, Doug MacLeod was one of these very important people, at a time I needed both a sharp but thoughtful critic, and someone who got what I was trying to do … I am forever grateful to him, and will never forget him.”

Doug MacLeod is survived by his family and his partner Stephen. A celebration of his life will be held on 3 December.

Vale the wonderfully clever comedy writer Doug Macleod
The iconic shows he worked on as sketch writer and editor – The Comedy Company, Fast Forward, Full Frontal, Kath &Kim ( and ABC 's SeaChange ) changed how we saw ourselves.
Condolences and thanks for all the laughs, Doug wx

— Wendy Harmer (@wendy_harmer) November 26, 2021

Vale Doug Macleod.
A generous generous man
of words and comedy.
A beautiful piece from @richardthewatts https://t.co/0JbAsAte4L

— Julia Zemiro (@julia_zemiro) November 26, 2021

 

Source: Arts Hub