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Vivean Gray

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For the novel by Benjamin Disraeli, see Vivian Grey.

Vivean Gray
Born
Jean Vivra Gray

(1924-07-20)20 July 1924
Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire, England
Died29 July 2016(2016-07-29) (aged 92)
Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex, England
NationalityEnglish
Australian
OccupationActress
Years active1952–1988
Known for
ParentAllan & Doris Gray

Jean Vivra Gray (20 July 1924 – 29 July 2016), known professionally as Vivean Gray, also credited as Vivian Gray and Viven Gray, was an English television and film actress. She starred in the films Picnic at Hanging Rock and The Last Wave, but her best-known roles were in TV soap operas, after having appeared in numerous roles for Crawford Productions, she had regular roles in serials, The Sullivans, as Ida Jessup for its entire run from 1976 to 1983; in Prisoner, as Edna Pearson 1984, and in Neighbours, as Nell Mangel from 1986 to 1988.

Gray left the acting profession in 1988, and returned to her native England to Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex.

Early life

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Gray was born in Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire, England on 20 July 1924.[1] Gray was the daughter of Allan Gray and Doris (nee Simpson), who had been married the previous year in Grimsby, Lincolnshire.[2] She was the eldest of four children. Her father was a fish and chip shop owner at Grimsby Docks, and, just before WW2, the family moved to New Malden in Surrey where he owned the newly built Fish and Chip shop at 12, The Triangle.[3]

She initially worked as a local reporter, photographer's assistant and as a sales assistant in a department store, and later became a nurse, and served with the Women's Land Army.[4] In 1952 she visited Australia on holiday. Her acting career stemmed from work with an amateur theatrical group.[5]

Career

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In the 1970s, Gray appeared in a number of television dramas produced by Crawford Productions including Solo One, Bluey, Homicide, Division 4, Matlock Police, and Carson's Law. She also appeared in film portraying mathematics teacher Miss Greta McCraw in Peter Weir's adaptation of Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975) and in the television mini-series Anzacs and All the Rivers Run.

She worked with Weir again in 1977 in his film The Last Wave, playing the role of Aboriginal history expert Doctor Whitburn.[6][7]

The Sullivans

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Gray played Ida Jessop in the soap opera The Sullivans for its 16-season run from 1976 to 1983, winning two Logie Awards for her portrayal of the gossipy neighbour.[8][9]

Prisoner

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She appeared in serial Prisoner (known internationally as Prisoner: Cell Block H), as genteel poisoner Edna Pearson in 1984, in a seven-episode arc. After the initial showing of her episodes in Australia, a woman from South Australia named Emily Gertrude Phyllis Perry claimed the story was based on her real life experience of being accused of poisoning her husband Kenneth Warwick Henry Perry, by putting small doses of arsenic in his food and threatened to sue the producers, Grundy Television stating defamation.[10]

Perry became the central figure in allegations by the Crown that she attempted to poison her husband, during a trial lasting 72 days in 1981, her husband had also maintained that his wife was innocent during the trial, however Perry was initially sentenced to serve 15 years, but the following year the decision was overturned by the High Court, and the Government did not seek a retrial. Grundy's had stated in media reports the story line was actually based on a 1953 case and not the Perry case. She subsequently decided not to sue the company, despite the story bearing many similarities to her case, even down to the character's initials.[11]

As a result, any material that coincided with the woman's story was removed for subsequent episode screenings, including the full Australian DVD release of Prisoner. In 2010 a special DVD release of the full uncut "Edna" story was released, but only in the United Kingdom.[12]

Neighbours

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In 1986, Gray was cast for three weeks in the role of busybody "Nell" Mangel, better known as Mrs Mangel in the soap opera Neighbours. However, the character proved so popular that she remained on the show until 1988, appearing in 292 episodes.[8][13] The character was known for her constant feuding with Madge Bishop, played by Anne Charleston, and vying for the affections of Harold Bishop, played by Ian Smith. Gray left the role after receiving abuse from fans who disliked the character, with producers relocating Mangel to St. Albans, with a retired dentist, to live a happy retirement.[14] This was Gray's last acting role and she retired, returning to her native land and settling in Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex.[15] In the soap’s later years, Gray still had an onscreen presence as the painting of Mrs Mangel was put back on display in the character’s home. For the show’s final weeks in 2022, old scenes and photos included Gray as Nell. In the UK, the last three episodes, which contained Gray in a flashback, aired on the 6th anniversary of her death (29 July 2022).

Later life and recognition

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Gray won two Logie Awards for her role as Ida Jessup in The Sullivans: in 1978 for Best Sustained Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role, and in 1981 for Best Support Actress in a Series.[9] In 1995, Gray was featured on an Australian postage stamp, depicting her role in Picnic at Hanging Rock.[16]

Death

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Gray died on 29 July 2016, aged 92.[8][17] She never married or had any children.

Filmography

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Film

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Year Film Role Type
1971 A City's Child First Neighbour Feature film
1973 Libido Elderly nun (segment "The Priest") Feature film
1975 The Great Macarthy Mrs Thompson Feature film
1975 Picnic at Hanging Rock Miss Greta McCraw Feature film
1977 The Last Wave Dr Whitburn Feature film
1989 Come And Get It Saturday (as Vivien Gray) Feature film

Television

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Year Film Role Type
1969-74 Homicide Brigitte Solerno / Irene King / Jean Jackson / Shop Customer / Hilda Mercer / Grace Marshall TV series, 6 episodes
1970-75 Division 4 Mrs Badger / Phyllis Read / Helen Anderson / Ida Green / Diane Andrews / Mrs Greer / Miss. Parsons / Carmel Adams / Emily Adams / Mrs Liscard / Spinster TV series, 11 episodes
1967-72 Adventure Island Mother Sparkle / Mother’s Tinkle TV series
1972-76 Matlock Police Gwen Bracegirdle / Mrs Hill / Mrs Evans TV series, 3 episodes
1974 This Love Affair Mrs Gibson TV series, 1 episode
1975 Lucky Colour Blue TV series
1976 Power Without Glory Jane TV series, 1 episode
1976 Bluey Mrs Jenkins TV series, episode 10: And Then There Were None
1976 Solo One Mrs Jupp TV series, 1 episode 9: The Man From Happy Valley
1976-81 The Sullivans Mrs Ida Jessup TV series, 885 episodes
1978 The 20th Annual TV Week Logie Awards Herself TV special
1983 All The Rivers Run Alicia Raeburn TV miniseries, 2 episodes
1984 Prisoner Edna Pearson TV series, 6 episodes
1984 Carson's Law Mrs Garrick TV series, 1 episode
1985 Anzacs Matron TV miniseries, 2 episodes
1986-88 Neighbours Nell Mangle TV series, 260 episodes

References

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  1. ^ Gray, Jean V (September 1924). "Birth Index, 1916–2005". www.ancestry.co.uk. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  2. ^ Gray Allan A; Simpson, Doris M (June 1923). "England & Wales, Marriage Index, 1916–2005". www.ancestry.co.uk. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  3. ^ "1939 Register". www.ancestry.co.uk. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
  4. ^ "Neighbours star Vivean Gray, aka Mrs Mangel, has died". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  5. ^ Dale Plummer "Mrs Jessup's Green Thumbs" Sydney Sun-Herald 9 July 1922 p. 53.
  6. ^ "Neighbours actress Vivean Gray dies aged 92". Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  7. ^ Knox, David (29 July 2016). "Vale: Vivean Gray". TV Tonight. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  8. ^ a b c Harmon, Steph (29 July 2016). "Neighbours' Mrs Mangel, actor Vivean Gray, dies aged 92". The Guardian. Guardian News and Media Ltd. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  9. ^ a b "Australian Television: 1978–1981 Logie Awards". www.australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  10. ^ "Subtitles » Prisoner Cell Block H: The Edna Pearson Story (1984) (Retail/Rental)". dvd-subtitles.com. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  11. ^ Bourke, Terry (1990). Prisoner Cell Block H: Behind the Scenes. London: Angus and Robertson (UK).
  12. ^ "Prisoner: The Edna Pearson Story". thesoapshow.com. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  13. ^ "Neighbours Mrs Mangal actress Vivean Gray has died". Independent.co.uk. 29 July 2016. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  14. ^ Ward, Rachel (29 July 2016). "Neighbours' Mrs Mangel, actress Vivean Gray, dies aged 92". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  15. ^ "What's happened to... Vivean Gray?". The Scotsman. Johnston Publishing Ltd. 14 January 2009. Retrieved 29 July 2009.
  16. ^ O'Brien, Kerrie (29 July 2016). "Best-known as Mrs Mangel, actor Vivean Gray has died". Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  17. ^ "Vivean Gray, actress who played Mrs Mangel in Neighbours – obituary". telegraph.co.uk. The Daily Telegraph. 29 July 2016. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
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