Neighbours actress Joy Chambers-Grundy dies aged 76
Logie-award winning actress Joy Chambers-Grundy has died at age 76.
A statement shared by her family on Sunday morning said the Australian TV icon died peacefully in her sleep, surrounded by loved ones.
"Joy will be remembered as a Logie award winning actress, a best-selling author, a poet, a philanthropist and an exceptional business woman who worked alongside her husband to build one of the largest independent production companies in the world," the statement read.
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Joy Chambers-Grundy, pictured with late husband Reg Grundy, has died aged 76. Getty
Chambers-Grundy was best known for several soap opera roles, including Rita Merrick on The Restless Years, Dr Robyn Porter on The Young Doctors and Rosemary Daniels on Neighbours.
She made her Neighbours debut in 1986 and her final appearance as Rosemary in 2010.
Co-star Stefan Dennis, who plays Paul Robinson, has shared a touching tribute via Instagram.
"Very sad to hear of darling Joy's (Chambers/Grundy) death when I woke this morning," he wrote.
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"She was an exceptional woman and very dear to me as a friend and 'Aunt Rosemary' on Neighbours. Bless you Joy and rest in peace with your best friend/husband, Reg. X"
Chambers-Grundy was married to television mogul and creator of Neighbours, Reg Grundy, who died in 2016 at 92 years old.
The actress met her multi-millionaire husband during a casting for the game show I've Got a Secret in the 1960s, when he was in his 40s and she was 18.
At the time, Grundy was still married to Patricia Powell, who he later divorced prior to marrying Joy in 1971.
The couple remained together until his death, and renewed their vows several times across their 45 years together.
Joy went on to write for several of her husband's programs, and was also elected to the board of Grundy Worldwide in 1985.
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Chambers-Grundy has been remembered by a co-star as an "exceptional woman". Getty
In 1995, the couple founded RG Capital, a private group of entities with principal interests in media, the entertainment sector, and advertising.
Joy later became Chairwoman of the business, a role she remained in up until her death.
Also an accomplished writer, Joy has five published books in the realm of historical fact-based fiction and was patron of the Ipswich Poetry Feast - the city in which she was born.
