Colleen Anne Fitzpatrick

Colleen Anne Fitzpatrick (5 January 1938 – 12 August 2017) was an Australian model, actress and filmmaker.

Early life

Fitzpatrick was born in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, and was of Irish descent. Fitzpatrick trained as an actor with American Hayes Gordon at The Ensemble Studios of Sydney's Ensemble Theatre. Later in life, she completed a Bachelor of Arts (Communications) majoring in film at the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS).

Career

Modelling A prominent international catwalk, television and photographic model from 1959 to 1972, Fitzpatrick appeared in over 200 commercials, on countless magazine covers, and was contracted for various campaigns including Ford cars, becoming famous for her comedic flair working with the likes of John Cleese.

Theatre She was a company member of The Sydney Theatre Company, formerly The Old Tote Theatre Company from 1972 to 1974 appearing in productions of King Lear, Threepenny Opera, Playboy of the Western World, Richard II, Macbeth and David Williamson's What If You Died Tomorrow? opening at the Sydney Opera House in 1973. Other theatre work included Pride and Prejudice, The House of Bernarda Alba, In the Boom Boom Room, Crimes of the Heart for the Ensemble Rep, When in Rome for the Ensemble Theatre, and 'night, Mother and A Day in the Death of Joe Egg for Belvoir St Theatre.

Film and television Film and television work includes lead roles in The Pleasure Girls made in 1965 about a model finding herself swept up in swinging sixties London, Games for Parents and Other Children, A Girl's Own Story by Jane Campion, Rebel, starring Matt Dillon, the miniseries Bodyline as Don Bradman's mother, Police Rescue, 12 episodes of the Australian series Sons and Daughters as the evil Jean Hopkins, Home and Away, Outbreak of Hostilities, The Four Minute Mile, A Country Practice, Whipping Boy and Soldier Soldier.

Personal life and death Fitzpatrick was formerly married to actor Max Cullen from 1973 to 1987. Together they have one daughter, actress Katharine Cullen (born 9 June 1975), and a grandson William Richards (born 17 August 2013).

Fitzpatrick died peacefully on 12 August 2017 from Motor Neurone Disease.

Filmography + Colleen Anne Fitzpatrick film and television credits Year Title Role Notes 1965 The Pleasure Girls Cobber Theatrical film 1975 Games for Parents and Other Children Television film 1983 Outbreak of Hostilities Barbara Benton Television film 1984 A Girl's Own Story Mother Short film 1984 Bodyline Mrs Bradman Television miniseries 1985 A Country Practice Mrs Kirby 2 episodes 1985 Rebel Nosy neighbour's wife Theatrical film 1986 Sons and Daughters Jean Hopkins 12 episodes 1988 Home and Away Helen Patterson 1 episode 1988 The Four Minute Mile Elva Landy Television miniseries 1992, 1993 Police Rescue Fay McClintock 2 episodes 1994 Heartbreak High Bibi Taggart 1 episode 1995 Soldier Soldier Mary Jane Harvey 1 episode 1996 Whipping Boy Cass's mother Television film

Theatre + Colleen Anne Fitzpatrick theatre credits Year Title Role Notes 1973 King Lear Cordelia / Regan Sydney Theatre Company 1973 Threepenny Opera Sydney Opera House for Old Tote Theatre Company 1973 Playboy of the Western World Sydney Opera House for Old Tote Theatre Company 1973 Richard II Queen Isabel Sydney Opera House for Old Tote Theatre Company 1973 What If You Died Tomorrow? Sydney Opera House for Old Tote Theatre Company 1974 Macbeth Sydney Opera House for Old Tote Theatre Company Pride and Prejudice Ensemble Rep The House of Bernarda Alba Ensemble Rep In the Boom Boom Room Ensemble Rep Crimes of the Heart Ensemble Rep 1976 Falling Apart New Theatre, Sydney 1981 When in Rome Margaret Reilly Phillip Street Theatre & Ensemble Theatre 1990 The Compositor & Twenty Minutes With an Angel Lookout Theatre 1992 'night, Mother Belvoir St Theatre A Day in the Death of Joe Egg Belvoir St Theatre