One of Australia’s longest-serving actors has died.
Leslie Dayman, who had a showbiz career spanning five decades, died this month at the age of 85 from unknown causes.
He is survived by his wife Rose Dayman, whom he married in 1961, and sons Nicholas Andrew and Timothy Paul, whom he shares with his ex-wife, actress Diane Chamberlain.
The Victoria-born star began his acting career in the theater in 1955 before landing his first television role as detective Bill Hudson in the 1960s crime series Homicide.
Dayman became a soap star in the 1980s and ’90s, landing roles on several popular series, including “Sons and Daughters,” “Prisoner” and “E Street.”
Australian actor Leslie Dayman (pictured), best known for his roles in E Street and Prisoner, has died aged 85.
In “Sons and Daughters” he played the unscrupulous businessman Roger Carlyle, while in “Prisoner” he was cast as prisoner Geoff MacRae.
He also played Sergeant Major George Sullivan on “E Street” from 1989 to 1993, appearing in all but one of the series’ episodes.
Dayman had previously joked about being mistaken for another actor at the height of his E Street fame.
The Victoria-born star began his acting career in the theater in 1955 before landing his first television role as detective Bill Hudson in the 1960s crime series Homicide
“One of the more hilarious consequences of public recognition was the fact that I was often mistaken for Brian Wenzel, who starred on the long-running TV show A Country Practice, and vice versa,” he told EdenStreet.net
“We’re about the same age and both play police sergeants in small communities – we both came from Adelaide, South Australia, where we did amateur theater in the early ’60s,” he mused.
Other TV credits include A Country Practice, Water Rats, Stingers, All Saints and Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries.
Dayman also made several film appearances, including in the iconic Australian drama Gallipoli, and appeared regularly in local theater productions.
His last known appearance was in All Saints in 2008.
Dayman became a soap star in the 1980s and ’90s, landing roles on several popular series, including “Sons and Daughters,” “Prisoner” and “E Street.” (Pictured left: Prisoners actors Peter Bensley, Leslie Dayman, Frank Burke)
Dayman had previously joked about being mistaken for another actor at the height of his E Street fame. (Pictured left: E Street actors Leslie Dayman, Marianne Howard, Chelsea Brown and Vic Rooney)