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Valerie Muriel Jellay (born Valerie Jelly; 25 September 1927 – 6 May 2017) was an Australian vaudevillian, actress, soubrette, dancer, author and TV personality. At the time of her death, she was the widow of fellow Australian vaudevillian, actor and comedian Maurie Fields; together they were in general considered to be a duo act in the entertainment industry. She was the mother of comedian and actor Marty Fields.
Val Jellay | |
|---|---|
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| Born | Valerie Muriel Jelly 25 September 1927 Sydney, NSW, Australia |
| Died | 6 May 2017 (aged 89) |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1931-2010 |
| Spouse | Maurie Fields (1960–1995) |
| Children | Marty Fields |
Her early career had been in vaudeville and on stage before becoming a staple on the small screen in 1957. She started performing at just four years old and was still performing in her 80s.
Career
editJellay's life in show business began in vaudeville, working with the Tivoli circuit in Australia. Her career began with dance lessons in 1931. She later moved into comedy and drama in the different media of stage, radio, film and television.
She appeared together with husband Maurie Fields as comedy regulars on HSV 7's Sunnyside Up, along with Hal Lashwood, Syd Heylen and Honest John Gilbert, then later as husband and wife in the television series The Flying Doctors.
She was also a regular on Good Morning Australia with Bert Newton, reviewing the latest movies, and also appeared on Hey Hey It's Saturday with her son Marty.
She appeared in serial Prisoner in four different character roles most notably as landlady Mabel Morgan, and in Neighbours as Connie O'Rourke.[1] She appeared in many guest roles in Australian soap operas.
Personal life
editShe married Australian actor Maurie Fields in 1960 and was married until his death in 1995.
Death
editJellay died on 6 May 2017 after having slipped into a coma and being on life support arising from complications of pneumonia; she was 89.[2]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Title | Year | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Dimboola | Aggie | Feature film |
| 1999 | Sweet Coincidence | Film short |
Television
edit| Title | Year | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1963-1964 | Sunnyside Up | Guest (with Maurie Fields) | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1966-1975 | Homicide | Guest roles: Mrs. Roberts / Mrs. Callaghan / Florence Fraser / Mrs. Tucker / Landlady / Jane Clark / Hilda Lorenzo / Joyce Wright | TV series, 9 episodes: "No Licence to Kill", "Don' Be Lonely", "I Had a Dream", "The Last Bastian", "An Axe for Tommy", "Assassin", "I Couldn't Sleep...I Couldn't Sleep at All", "The Last Enemy" |
| 1970 | The Long Arm | Guest role: Landlady | TV series, episode: "Whispers in the Mic" |
| 1971-1975 | Division 4 | Guest roles: Neighbour / Mrs. O'Hara / Murna Johnston / Mrs. Stone / Lydia Benton / Gary's Mother / Neighbour's Wife / Neighbour / Mrs. Moore | TV series, 10 episodes: "They Walk the Night", "Deadfall", "Unfit to Plead", "Sat'dy Arvo", "The Munich Job", "Talk Back", "Once a Crim", "Simon Says", "Room for Danger", "The Oracle" |
| 1973-1975 | Matlock Police | Guest roles: Mrs. Allenby / Mrs. Cartini / Mrs. Mac / Mrs. Clark | TV series, 4 episodes: Jeff's Missing", The Highwayman", They'll Fix You Up, "No Worries", "The Great Equalizer " |
| 1976 | No Thanks, I'm on a Diet | Regular role | TV series, 6 episodes |
| 1977 | Bluey | Guest roles: Ida Berry / Mrs. Bonnici | TV series, 2 episodes: "Final Devotion", "Stop the Press" |
| 1977 | Young Ramsay | Guest role: Mrs. Foster-Lloyd | TV series, episode: "Ostrich Philosophy" |
| 1978-1981 | Cop Shop | Guest roles: Margaret Kirby / Mrs. Flannigan / Landlady / Beryl | TV series, 5 episodes |
| 1979-1986 | Prisoner | Guest roles: Mabel Morgan / Saleswoman / Mrs. Bessie / Mrs. Gibson | TV series, 12 episodes |
| 1981 | The Saturday Show | Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1983 | Carson's Law | Guest role: Mrs. King | TV series, episode: "A Family Concern" |
| 1983 | The Mike Walsh Show | Guest (with Maurie Fields) | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1984 | Infinity Limited | Guest role: Margaret Abernathy | TV series, episode: "Melting Moments" |
| 1985 | The Flying Doctors | Regular role: Nancy Buckley | TV miniseries, 3 episodes |
| 1986 | The Morning Show | Guest (with Maurie Fields) | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1986-1992 | The Flying Doctors | Regular role: Nancy Buckley | TV series, 189 episodes |
| 1988-1992 | Hey Hey It's Saturday | Herself | TV series |
| 1989 | Couchman in Australia | Guest - Herself with Jan Adele, Rosie Sturgess & Wendy Harmer | ABC TV series, 1 episode |
| 1989; 1990 | In Melbourne Today | Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1990 | Tonight Live with Steve Vizard | Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1990 | TV Celebrity Dance Party | Guest performer (singing "Only Way to Go" with Maurie Fields) | TV special |
| 1992 | Burke's Backyard | Celebrity gardener (with Maurie Fields) | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1993 | Good Morning Australia | Guest movie reviewer | TV series |
| 1993-1994 | R.F.D.S. | Regular role: Nancy Buckley | TV series, 13 episodes |
| 1994 | Homicide... 30 Years On | Herself | TV special |
| 1995 | Good Morning Australia | Guest performer (singing "Only Way to Go" with Maurie Fields) | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1995 | The Crawford Story | Herself | TV special |
| 1996 | 40 Years of TV Stars... Then and Now | Herself | TV special |
| 1999 | Funny By George: The George Wallace Story | Herself | TV special |
| 2000 | Good Morning Australia | Guest (with Bud Tingwell) | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2000 | Neighbours | Recurring role: Connie O'Rourke | TV series, 8 episodes |
| 2005 | Blue Heelers | Guest role: Marjorie Price | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2006 | Spicks and Specks | Herself | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2007 | Bert's Family Feud | Contestant (with Toni Lamond, Noeline Brown & Val Lehman) | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2007 | Dancing with the Stars | Audience member | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2010 | The Librarians | Guest role: Senior Citizen | TV series, 1 episode |
Bibliography
edit- Jellay, V., Stagestruck: An Autobiography, Spectrum Publications, (Richmond), 1994. ISBN 0-86786-148-7
- Jellay, V., After You've Gone: My Life after Maurie Fields, Spectrum Publications, (Richmond), 1998. ISBN 0-86786-268-8
- Jellay, V., So You Want To Be in Showbusiness, JoJo Publishing, (Docklands), 2007. ISBN 978-0-9802836-3-1
References
edit- ^ Courtis, Brian (16 April 2000). "Another round, another dream". The Age. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
- ^ "Val Jellay: The Flying Doctors actor dies of pneumonia aged 89". ABC News. 6 May 2017. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
External links
edit- Val Jellay at IMDb
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