IN MEMORY OF: Home And Away star horrifyingly collapsed on stage before dying at 65
Actor Russell Kiefel, who was one of the original Home and Away stars and played Roy O'Neale in the Australian show, sadly passed away in 2016 after collapsing on stage
Home And Away has been on TV screens since 1988, with dozens of familiar faces appearing in the Australian soap over the years. One star who will always be remembered for his role in Home and Away is the late Russell Kiefel, who appeared in the soap in the early 1990s. Russell portrayed Roy O’Neale in Home And Away before leaving in 1994 to pursue a career on stage. He’s also remembered for portraying Russell Brennan in Neighbours, having taken on the role in 2015. Elsewhere, he appeared in Stingers, SeaChange, Heartbreak High, Schapelle, along with several other hit TV shows and films.
Russell Kiefel passed away following a theatre performance (Image: Picselect)Sadly, Russell collapsed in 2016 while performing in a theatre production at Brown’s Mart Theatre in Darwin, Australia. He passed away shortly afterwards on 20 November, at the age of 65. As a mark of respect, the remaining shows were cancelled by the director, Sean Pardy. He told NT News at the time: “I met Russell in the first week of rehearsals and immediately recognised that he was a generous, funny and cheeky man. It was an honour to meet him and a privilege to see him perform on the Brown’s Mart stage.”
Tributes from both Home And Away and Neighbours stars were paid to the late actor, with Neighbours Sheila Canning actress Collette Mann saying on social media: “I am very very sad to say that the wonderful actor, Russell Kiefel who played Russell Brennan in 2015 on @neighbours passed away yesterday. All our prayers and thoughts are with his wife Katrina and his beloved boys #gonetoosoon #russellbrennan #vale.”
Travis Burns, who played his onscreen son in Neighbours also added: “So sad to hear the passing of Russell Kiefel today. It was an absolute honour to work with you. Rest in peace.”
As well as TV and film, Russell boasted an incredible career in theatre. During his teenage years, he acted with Twelfth Night Theatre and La Boite Theatre Company. He then relocated to Sydney to attend the National Institute of Dramatic Art, graduating in 1974.
Throughout his career, Russell worked with various theatre companies, including Sydney Theatre Company (STC), Bell Shakespeare, and Queensland Theatre Company. He starred in productions including Macbeth, Twelfth Night, Night and Day, The Winter’s Tale, The Tempest among many, many others.
Dad-of-two Russell is survived by his wife, actress Katrina Foster, their two sons and his sisters, one of which is Australian barrister Susan Kiefel.
