Jason Donovan has shared the heartbreaking news that his father, celebrated Australian actor Terence Donovan, has died at the age of 90 — leaving behind an extraordinary acting legacy spanning generations and a family mourning the loss of the man they described as their “best friend” and their “world.”

Terence, whose remarkable career stretched across almost seven decades and included appearances in some of Australia’s most memorable television dramas, died peacefully in Melbourne over the weekend.

For millions of television viewers, he will be remembered as a familiar face from shows including Neighbours, Home and Away, Homicide and Sons and Daughters.

But behind the famous roles and decades in the spotlight was another story — that of a deeply loved father whose presence meant everything to his sons.

Jason announced the sad news in an emotional statement shared on behalf of himself and his brother Paul, revealing that their father had been surrounded by family during his final days.

“It is with great sadness but also a sense of celebration of a long, full life that myself and my brother Paul announce our father Terence died peacefully last night here in Melbourne,” they shared.

The words carried both grief and gratitude.

While the family is facing an intensely emotional loss, Jason made clear that they are also choosing to remember the extraordinary life their father lived — a life filled with adventure, family and an acting career that endured for generations.

‘He Was Our Best Friend… Our World’

Perhaps the most moving part of Jason’s tribute came when he spoke not about Terence Donovan the actor, but Terence Donovan the father.

“Our dad was a huge character. Larger than life. He was our best friend… Our world,” Jason wrote.

It was a simple description that revealed just how profound the loss is for the family.

Jason said they would “desperately miss him,” while finding comfort in knowing they had been able to remain by his side during his final days.

The family also expressed their gratitude to the hospital staff who cared for Terence toward the end of his life.

For Jason and Paul, those final moments appear to have brought an important sense of peace: they were together with their father when it mattered most.

Jason’s tribute ended with a philosophy that seemed to perfectly capture the way his father approached life.

“Knowing that he lived life to the max. Knowing that in life it’s either a daring adventure… or nothing at all!”

He then added one final, deeply personal thought:

“How lucky are we to have a dad like you.”

A Television Career Spanning Nearly Seven Decades

Terence Donovan leaves behind an extraordinary body of work.

Born in London in October 1935, he later moved to Australia in the late 1950s and went on to establish himself as one of the country’s most recognisable character actors.

His acting career began in the early 1960s and continued for decades across television and film.

Among his notable screen credits were Breaker Morant and The Man from Snowy River, while television audiences knew him from productions including Homicide and the hugely popular drama Sons and Daughters.

He also became part of the history of two of Australia’s most internationally recognised soap operas: Home and Away and Neighbours.

His connection to Neighbours was particularly special because the programme was already deeply woven into the Donovan family story.

Terence played Doug Willis, a character who became familiar to generations of viewers.

But years earlier, it was his son Jason who had become one of the show’s biggest breakout stars.

The Donovan Family’s Extraordinary Neighbours Connection

Jason Donovan became a household name playing Scott Robinson on Neighbours, with his on-screen romance with Charlene Mitchell — played by Kylie Minogue — becoming one of the most iconic storylines in Australian television history.

Their characters’ relationship captivated audiences far beyond Australia and helped transform both young actors into international stars.

For Jason, however, Neighbours would eventually become much more than the programme that launched his career.

It became part of a remarkable family legacy.

His father Terence later appeared as Doug Willis, while Jason’s daughter Jemma Donovan would eventually join the soap herself as Harlow Robinson.

Three generations of one family became connected to the same television institution.

Terence even returned to the role of Doug Willis in later years, demonstrating his enduring connection to acting long after many performers might have chosen to retire completely.

He continued working into his later life, with one of his final Neighbours appearances coming in 2022.

Three Generations In The Spotlight

The Donovan family’s relationship with acting did not end with Terence and Jason.

Jemma Donovan followed in the footsteps of both her father and grandfather when she joined Neighbours as Harlow Robinson, appearing in the soap between 2019 and 2022.

Jason previously spoke emotionally about seeing his daughter become part of the programme that had played such an important role in his own life.

For the family, it created an extraordinary circle.

Terence had built a respected acting career long before Jason became famous.

Jason then became an international star through Neighbours.

Years later, Terence himself became part of the soap’s history as Doug Willis.

Then Jemma carried the family name into Ramsay Street once again.

Few acting families can claim such a unique connection to a single television programme across three generations.

Jemma later expanded her career beyond Neighbours, appearing in Hollyoaks before pursuing further opportunities in entertainment, including performing as a backing singer during Gary Barlow’s Songbook tour.

It is another chapter in a creative family story that began many decades earlier with Terence.

A Life Far Bigger Than Any Single Role

Although Terence Donovan will inevitably be remembered for the characters he played, Jason’s farewell makes clear that his greatest role existed away from the cameras.

To his family, he was simply Dad.

A “huge character.”

“Larger than life.”

Their “best friend.”

Their “world.”

Those words perhaps say more about the man behind the actor than any list of television or film credits ever could.

Terence’s personal life also became intertwined with Australian entertainment history. He married television presenter Sue McIntosh in 1965, and the couple welcomed Jason in 1968 before their marriage later ended.

Jason would go on to build his own extraordinary career across acting, music and theatre, becoming one of the most recognisable Australian entertainers of his generation.

Yet in announcing his father’s death, there was little emphasis on fame.

Instead, the tribute was about family, presence and gratitude.

It was about having the chance to be together during those final days.

And it was about recognising how fortunate they felt to have shared their lives with him.

‘How Lucky Are We To Have A Dad Like You’

There is something especially powerful about the way Jason chose to announce his father’s passing.

Rather than allowing the message to be defined entirely by sadness, he framed it as both a farewell and a celebration.

Terence Donovan lived to 90.

He built a career that lasted almost seven decades.

He appeared in productions remembered by generations of viewers.

He watched his son become an international star.

He saw his granddaughter continue the family’s entertainment legacy.

And, according to the emotional words shared by his sons, he lived fully and adventurously until the end.

For fans, the loss marks the passing of a familiar figure from Australian television history.

For the Donovan family, however, the loss is far more personal.

They have lost the man they called their best friend.

Their world.

And while the cameras will remember Terence Donovan through the many characters he brought to life, Jason’s final words offer perhaps the most fitting tribute to the man behind them all:

“How lucky are we to have a dad like you.”