Lois Ramsey and Genevieve Picot in On Top of the World (MTC 1990)

Farewell Lois Ramsey

The Australian theatre community was saddened to hear of the recent death of veteran actor Lois Ramsey, who last appeared on stage for MTC playing Girlie Delaney in Hannie Rayson’s play Inheritance in 2003.

Her appearances at MTC included playing Emma in our 1995 revival and Australian tour of Summer of the Seventeenth Doll and as Baby in Michael Gow’s On Top of the World in 1990, which later toured to London.

One of Australia’s most experienced and versatile character actresses, Lois started in amateur theatre in Adelaide in the 1950s, playing a wide variety of roles in drama, comedy, musicals and revue. She only turned professional in her forties and soon began to get character parts on television, beginning with the sketch comedy The Mavis Bramston Show. Her regular appearances on Homicide, The Box, Prisoner, A Town Like Alice, Cop Shop, A Country Practice, Harp in the South, Poor Man’s Orange, GP, All Saints, Water Rats and Grass Roots made her familiar to Australian audiences, as did her performances playing eccentric old ladies in films such as Road to Nhill, Crackerjack, and Boy Town.

She was well-loved and respected in the entertainment industry and our condolences go to her family and friends.

Published on 8 February 2016