Ruth Cracknell

One of the most beloved figures in Australian television history, actress Ruth Cracknell was equally comfortable in such diverse arenas as radio, stage, television, and film. Born in Maitland, Australia, in July of 1925 and educated at North Sydney Girls High School, Cracknell began her career as a radio actress in 1945. Joining the John Alden Company three years later and taking the stage in numerous Shakespeare stage productions, Cracknell made a brief move to England in the early '50s before returning to her native land to seek work in various mediums. Later taking the lead in such popular Australian films as The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith (1978) and Night of the Prowler (1979), Cracknell would find great success as the senile mother of a hapless son (Gary McDonald) in the long-running Aussie television staple Mother and Son (1983-1994). Enduring as one of the most popular television duos Down Under throughout its run, Cracknell would continue to appear to much acclaim in such theatrical releases as Spider and Rose (1994) and Lillian's Story (1995) (turning in a touching performance as legendary Australian eccentric Bea Miles in the latter). Awarded both the Golden Logie Hall of Fame Award and a lifetime achievement award at the Helpman Awards for the performing arts in 2001, Cracknell also published an autobiography entitled A Biased Memoir in 1997, and a documentation of her last holiday with her late husband, entitled Journey From Venice, a few short years later. Cracknell was also honored by the National Trust as one of Australia's Living National Treasures in 1998. After bowing out of stage performances in the early years of the new millennium due to deteriorating health, Cracknell died of respiratory illness in a Sydney nursing home in May of 2002. She was 76.

~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide