The Australian entertainment world is in mourning today following the announcement of the death of veteran Aussie screenwriter Tony Morphett.
While his name may not immediately ring a bell, he’s the man behind some of the most gripping scripts to ever have aired on Australian television, with some of his biggest hits including The Sullivans, The Flying Doctors and Blue Heelers.
The ABC reported that Morphett passed away over the weekend of a heart attack at the age of 80 in the Blue Mountains.
In a writing career spanning 45 years, some of the other big shows Morphett wrote for include Dynasty, Certain Women and Water Rats, while more recently he worked on A Place to Call Home and Packed to the Rafters. If his extensive television work wasn’t enough, he also worked on an array of movies, with some of his most popular including The Last Wave, The Shiralee and Robbery Under Arms.
He also wrote seven books, and numerous Logies for his television scriptwriting.
Fans paid their respects to the former journalist on social media. “Sad to hear the news of #TonyMorphett’s passing. He ‘wrote or co-wrote 7 features, 10 telemovies, 12 mini-series, and hundreds of episodes of TV drama, as well as devising or co-devising 7 TV series. He has won 14 industry awards for TV screenwriting.’ Wow. What a career,” one admirer wrote on Twitter.
Another message read: “Tony Morphett gave me advice, guidance and overwhelming support when it came to writing for television. He had a brilliant story mind and even better sense of humour. Thanks for everything, mate. Vale Tony”.
Morphett is survived by his second wife, Inga Hunter, six children and 11 grandchildren.