Australian actor Gerard Kennedy has died aged 93.
The award-winning star was best known for his parts in a number of soap operas in his home country – including Neighbours, Prisoner and Blue Heelers.
A family friend confirmed in a statement: ‘Vale Gerard Kennedy. 1932 – 2025. An iconic Australian actor of many decades.
‘Well-remembered by Prisoner fans for his portrayal as terrorist Al in The Wentworth Siege episodes.’
The two-time Gold Logie winner also had parts in Underbelly, Division 4, The Flying Doctors and A Country Practice.
Born in Perth in 1932, he played six different characters in Crawford Productions television series Homicide, before finding fame in the spy drama Hunter.
His portrayal became so popular that his character, Kragg, became the central figure of the series following the departure of co-star Tony Ward.
Flying Doctors star Liz Burch has led tributes, sharing: ‘Vale Gerard, a lovely man.’
2DayFM newsreader Geoff Field wrote: ‘RIP Gerard Kennedy who’s died aged 93.
‘He had many roles but I will always remember him as Detective Frank Banner in Division 4.’
One of his most memorable performances was in Prisoner (known in the UK as Prisoner: Cell Block H) in 1985.
His character, Al, was a terrorist who broke into the famed jail to try and free Ruth Ballinger (Lindy Davies).Gerard joined the cast of Neighbours in 2002, playing Pat Scully – the estranged father of regular face Joe (Shane Connor).
Joe accused his dad of stealing money from wife Lyn’s (Janet Andrewartha) purse, but it later transpired that he was actually gifting the family some cash.
In more recent years, he appeared in children’s series The Saddle Club and ABC’s 2015 drama Glitch, which was his final role.
Gerard is survived by his daughter Chrisanya.
