Beloved Aussie TV legend dies

Paul Cronin, once one of the most recognisable faces on the small screen, with a list of hits including The Sullivans, has passed away.

Australian actor Paul Cronin, once one of the most recognisable faces on television, has died in Melbourne at the age of 81.

The small screen legend, famed for playing Dave Sullivan in the acclaimed series The Sullivans, was surrounded by his loved ones when he passed away last night.

Cronin won five TV WEEK Logie Awards over the span of his long career, which included a long list of credits in much-loved series like Matlock Police, The Flying Doctors and Homicide.

His daughter Susanne told The Herald Sun on Saturday that the family was immensely proud of his achievements, both professional and personal.

“He was the most wonderful father, he was protective, he would have done everything for his girls. We loved him so much, he adored mum so much,” she said.

Paul Cronin with Lorraine Bayly, Susan Hannaford, Andrew McFarlane and Richard Morgan in The Sullivans.Source:News Corp Australia

Norman Yemn, Lorraine Bayly and Paul Cronin in the The Sullivans.Source:News Corp Australia

She and sisters Katherine, Jules and Jane were by his side on Friday evening during his final moments, she said.

Cronin was left devastated by his wife Helen’s death in 2013. It was his lifelong companion, who he “still called his bride after 50 years of marriage”, who encouraged his leap into show business, she revealed.

“The story goes he was watching TV one night with mum and he said ‘I reckon I could do that’, and she said, ‘why don’t you?’,” Susanne told the newspaper.

“He got a walk on role in one of the Crawford Productions and then he got Matlock and the rest is history.”

Paul Cronin had a long list of credits and starred in a number of Aussie TV hits.Source:News Limited

Prior to that, Cronin had been working as a semi-trailer truck driver and a draftsman after moving to Melbourne from his home state of South Australia, where he has earnt a name for being a champion gymnast.

“We’re so proud of what he achieved in his career. He was determined to follow through on anything he set his mind to. He wanted to start a football team and he did it with the Brisbane Bears.”

Paul Cronin was five TV WEEK Logie Awards over his career.Source:News Corp Australia

Cronin lobbied the AFL — a code he adored — for a licence to establish a team in Brisbane in 1986 and was president of the Bears for its first two years.

In a statement today, Brisbane Lions chairman Andrew Wellington expressed his condolences to the club’s inaugural leader.

“We at the Brisbane Lions are saddened by the passing of Paul Cronin,” he said.

“Paul played an important role in bringing AFL to Queensland through leading the consortium that established the Brisbane Bears.

“A national Australian Rules football competition exists today because of the passion and energy of people like Paul and we are very grateful for his contribution to this legacy.”

Lions players facing the GWS Giants tonight will wear a black armband in honour of Cronin’s contributions to the game.

South Australian MP Frank Pangallo took to Twitter to pay tribute to the icon, who he’d crossed paths with “many times”.

“Above all else he was one of the most affable and genuine people you could meet in show business,” he wrote.

“A loss but what a legacy.”

Source: News Australia

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