Actress Leila Hayes, known for her role as Beryl Palmer on Sons and Daughters, has died aged 85.
According to a Facebook post from the Leila Hayes Drama Studio, the screen and radio personality passed away peacefully at the Northern Beaches Hospital over the weekend, following an extended period of health challenges.
Born in Dimboola, Victoria, on January 12, 1940, Hayes began her television career as a singer on The Don Lane Show and the Bert Newton Show, before expanding into acting in the 1970s, during which she had recurring roles in the Homicide, Power Without Glory, The Sullivans, and Cop Shop.
After a brief stint on Prisoner, she took on the role of Melbourne mum Beryl Palmer in Sons and Daughters, appearing in nearly 1000 episodes across the series’ five-year run and receiving international recognition for her portrayal.
Hayes is also known for hosting the midnight-to-dawn program ‘New Day Australia with Leila Hayes’ on Radio 2UE, frequently rebroadcast throughout 2UE’s daily programming, as well as founding the Leila Hayes Drama Studio in Melbourne in 1979, later opening up a Sydney base in 1987.
She has also run voluntary drama programs for both youth and senior citizens through the Ryde Council, earning her Rotary International’s Paul Harris Fellow Award and a Premier Award for Service to the Community.
Posting on social media, her brother Jeff described her as a “fighter to the end” whose life was “somewhat mixed with happy times and turbulent times”.
“She was a great actress – a great singer – a loving sister and a loving mother,” he wrote.
“I have vivid memories of her singing career both on National TV and live performances throughout Australia. Whenever she performed live her audiences would always call to sing more after each of her performances.”
Hayes is survived by her daughter Melissa, son-in-law Erik, and grandsons Lucian and Liam.