'Sullivans' Richard Morgan dead

December 30, 2006 12:00


FAMILY, friends and the acting community yesterday remembered The
Sullivans star Richard Morgan in a moving memorial service.


More than 400 people packed the Williamstown Town Hall in Melbourne to
pay tribute to the actor, who died last week after battling motor
neurone disease.
Morgan, 48, who played Terry Sullivan in the much-loved TV series,
leaves wife Lisa and daughters Ella, 8, and Zoe, 7.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sullivans

Mourners yesterday remembered Morgan as a loving father, loyal friend
and keen supporter of the Hawthorn AFL team, and spoke of his
courageous battle against the devastating disease.

A Hawks flag and guernsey were draped at the front of the hall and the
Hawthorn cheer squad led the crowd in a rendition of the club song.

Morgan's on-screen parents, actors Lorraine Bayly and Paul Cronin, were
both unable to attend the service.

Friend and fellow actor Jeremy Kewley said Cronin was filming a TV
series interstate and Bayly was nursing a broken leg in Sydney.

A loving tribute from Bayly was read to the crowd by actor Nick
Holland.

"Although I was only a pretend mother to Richard, he's the first child
I have lost," she said. "We who followed the journey of his life are so
blessed."

The Sullivans' creators Crawford Productions' Ian Crawford said he
would always remember Morgan as the "gangly" kid in shorts from his The
Sullivans days.

After finding fame in The Sullivans, Morgan starred in the hit movie
Phar Lap and TV series including Sons and Daughters, Home and Away,
Blue Heelers and MDA.

When he took a break from acting, he ran a successful computing
business.

His last acting role was as Reg Masters in Stingers in 2004.

Singer and longtime friend Paul Kelly ended the memorial service with
his song Meet Me in the Middle of the Air, before children released
balloons outside the Town Hall.


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