Jason Donovan has announced the heartbreaking death of his beloved father, veteran Australian actor Terence Donovan, at the age of 90.

The Neighbours star shared the deeply emotional news alongside his brother Paul on Sunday, revealing that their father had died peacefully in Melbourne with his family close by.

But it was Jason’s moving description of the man behind the famous television roles that struck an especially powerful chord.

To millions of viewers, Terence was a familiar face who spent decades bringing memorable characters to Australian television.

To his sons, however, he was something far more important.

He was their “best friend”.

Their “world”.

And as Jason reflected on his father’s remarkable 90 years, he shared a final message filled not only with grief — but also gratitude for a life lived “to the max”.

‘It is with great sadness’

Jason confirmed his father’s death in an emotional statement shared alongside treasured family photographs.

“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,” he wrote.

The singer and actor acknowledged that the family was going through an “extremely emotional time” and asked for privacy as they mourned their loss.

He also expressed heartfelt gratitude to the medical team who cared for Terence during his final days.

“We want to pay tribute to all the wonderful staff at Cabrini Hospital, Melbourne who looked after him in his final days,” Jason said.

For Jason and Paul, there was at least one source of comfort amid the heartbreak: they had been able to remain close to their father during his final days.

‘Our dad was a huge character’

Jason’s tribute then became even more personal as he described the enormous presence his father had in their lives.

“Our dad was a huge character. Larger than life,” the statement continued.

“He was our best friend… Our world.”

Those few words revealed the depth of the bond between father and sons — one that extended far beyond their shared connection to the entertainment industry.

“We will desperately miss him but we take comfort knowing we were all here by his side in his final days,” Jason added.

The family also found comfort in knowing Terence had embraced life fully throughout his nine decades.

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

He ended the touching tribute with a simple but deeply moving reflection:

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

A familiar face to generations of television viewers

Terence Donovan enjoyed a long and distinguished acting career that made him a familiar face in households across Australia and beyond.

British and Australian soap fans may remember him best as Doug Willis in Neighbours, a role he played from 1990 to 1994.

The character became part of one of Ramsay Street’s memorable families, helping cement Terence’s place in the history of the hugely popular soap.

He also appeared in another iconic Australian series, Home and Away, playing Al Simpson.

But Terence’s career stretched far beyond those two internationally famous soaps.

His extensive television credits included appearances in major Australian productions such as Division 4 and Cop Shop, making him part of an era of television remembered fondly by generations of viewers.

His acting legacy also became intertwined with that of his son.

Jason Donovan would go on to achieve enormous fame of his own, becoming one of the biggest stars to emerge from Neighbours before building a successful career in music, theatre and television.

Yet behind the fame and success, Jason’s tribute made clear that Terence’s most important role was never one seen on screen.

It was being a father.

Fans remember a ‘legend of the screen’

Following news of Terence’s death, tributes began appearing on social media from viewers remembering the veteran actor and the characters he brought to life.

One tribute described him as “a legend of the screen” whose work had brought joy to millions over the decades.

Another remembered the warmth and unmistakable Australian charm he brought to television drama.

For longtime Neighbours viewers in particular, the news marks the loss of another familiar figure from the soap’s rich history.

But Jason and Paul’s words offered a much more intimate picture of the man they knew away from the cameras.

Not simply an actor.

Not simply a television personality.

But a larger-than-life father whose presence shaped their lives.

A life ‘lived to the max’

There is unmistakable sadness in Jason’s farewell, but there is also a powerful sense of celebration.

Terence reached the age of 90 after a long life, an extensive career and decades spent surrounded by the family who clearly adored him.

And when his final days arrived, those closest to him were there.

For Jason and Paul, that appears to have brought precious comfort at an extraordinarily painful moment.

Their father may have been known to audiences for the many characters he portrayed during his career, but the words chosen to remember him were strikingly simple.

“Our best friend.”

“Our world.”

And perhaps the most poignant tribute of all was Jason’s final reflection on the privilege of having Terence as their father:

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

Terence Donovan leaves behind a television legacy spanning decades — but for the family gathered around him at the end, his greatest legacy was something far more personal: a life lived fully, a father deeply loved, and memories his sons will carry with them forever.