British-Australian actor Terence Donovan, renowned for his roles in the television series Neighbours and Home and Away, died peacefully at the age of 90 on Saturday night, July 19, 2026, in Melbourne, Australia, his family confirmed.

Donovan's son, actor Jason Donovan, shared the news on social media, expressing the family's deep loss: "Our Dad was a huge character, larger than life. He was our best friend ... our world! We will desperately miss him but we take comfort knowing we were all here by his side in his final days."

Born in London, Donovan moved to Australia as a teenager and began his career as a singer before transitioning to acting in the early 1960s. He gained popularity for his roles in Australian police dramas Division 4 and Cop Shop during the 1970s and 1980s, portraying Detective Mick Peters and Detective Senior Sergeant Vic Cameron respectively.

In the 1990s, Donovan joined the cast of Neighbours as Doug Willis, shortly after his son Jason had left the show.

Jason and his brother Paul reflected on their father's life, saying they take comfort in "knowing that he lived life to the max. Knowing that in life it's either a daring adventure or nothing at all!"

They also acknowledged Donovan's impact on the Australian entertainment industry, stating, "Without people like my Dad we might not have seen the growth in the industry during the 70s and 80s and indirectly, Australian films such as The Man From Snowy River, Breaker Morant, Picnic at Hanging Rock, Priscilla, Muriel's Wedding, Crocodile Dundee [and] Strictly Ballroom."

Donovan's career and contributions helped shape the landscape of Australian television and film, supporting a mandate for commercial broadcasters to showcase Australian stories.

Sources