Bad news for the film industry: renowned actress Joy Chambers-Grundy died this Sunday at the age of 76. The family has made it public through a statement that recalled some of the Australian's most notable feats.
"Joy passed away in her sleep this morning surrounded by loved ones. Joy will be remembered as a Logie Award-winning actress, a best-selling author, a poet, a philanthropist and an exceptional businesswoman who worked alongside her husband to build one of the largest independent production companies in the world," the message read.
Born in Ipswich, Queensland, in 1947, Joy Chambers-Grundy enjoyed a long professional career. She was known for her roles in various soap operas, playing Rita in The Restless Years, Dr. Robyn Porter in The Young Doctors and Rosemary Daniels in Neighbors.
There have been many who have echoed his death, such as his former teammate Stefan Dennis. In a post on Instagram he wrote: "Very sad to hear of the death of dear Joy (Chambers/Grundy) when I woke up this morning. She was an exceptional woman and very dear to me as a friend and 'Aunt Rosemary' on Neighbors. Bless you Joy, rest in peace with your best friend/husband.”
Dennis mentions her ex-husband, television mogul Reg Grundy. The actress and Grundy met at an audition in the 1960s, when she was 18 and he was around 40. At the time, Grundy was married to Patricia Powell, but after they divorced, Roy became his second wife in 1971.
It was a very long relationship, as they remained together until Grundy's death at age 92 in May 2016. The two renewed their wedding vows several times over more than four decades.
Joy was, in short, a very successful woman, a business woman, a poet, art collector, actress and writer, since she wrote a total of seven historical fiction novels.
