Valerie Muriel Jellay (born Valerie Jelly; 25 September 1927 – 6 May 2017) was an Australian vaudevillian, actress, soubrette, dancer, author and TV personality. At the time of her death, she was the widow of fellow Australian vaudevillian, actor and comedian Maurie Fields; together they were in general considered to be a duo act in the entertainment industry. She was the mother of comedian and actor Marty Fields.

Val Jellay
Born
Valerie Muriel Jelly

(1927-09-25)25 September 1927
Sydney, NSW, Australia
Died6 May 2017(2017-05-06) (aged 89)
Occupations
  • Actress
  • vaudevillian
  • soubrette
  • singer
  • dancer
  • author
Years active1931-2010
SpouseMaurie Fields (1960–1995)
ChildrenMarty Fields

Her early career had been in vaudeville and on stage before becoming a staple on the small screen in 1957. She started performing at just four years old and was still performing in her 80s.

Career

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Jellay's life in show business began in vaudeville, working with the Tivoli circuit in Australia. Her career began with dance lessons in 1931. She later moved into comedy and drama in the different media of stage, radio, film and television.

She appeared together with husband Maurie Fields as comedy regulars on HSV 7's Sunnyside Up, along with Hal Lashwood, Syd Heylen and Honest John Gilbert, then later as husband and wife in the television series The Flying Doctors.

She was also a regular on Good Morning Australia with Bert Newton, reviewing the latest movies, and also appeared on Hey Hey It's Saturday with her son Marty.

She appeared in serial Prisoner in four different character roles most notably as landlady Mabel Morgan, and in Neighbours as Connie O'Rourke.[1] She appeared in many guest roles in Australian soap operas.

Personal life

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She married Australian actor Maurie Fields in 1960 and was married until his death in 1995.

Death

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Jellay died on 6 May 2017 after having slipped into a coma and being on life support arising from complications of pneumonia; she was 89.[2]

Filmography

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Film

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Title Year Role Type
1979 Dimboola Aggie Feature film
1999 Sweet Coincidence Film short

Television

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Title Year Role Type
1963-1964 Sunnyside Up Guest (with Maurie Fields) TV series, 1 episode
1966-1975 Homicide Guest roles: Mrs. Roberts / Mrs. Callaghan / Florence Fraser / Mrs. Tucker / Landlady / Jane Clark / Hilda Lorenzo / Joyce Wright TV series, 9 episodes: "No Licence to Kill", "Don' Be Lonely", "I Had a Dream", "The Last Bastian", "An Axe for Tommy", "Assassin", "I Couldn't Sleep...I Couldn't Sleep at All", "The Last Enemy"
1970 The Long Arm Guest role: Landlady TV series, episode: "Whispers in the Mic"
1971-1975 Division 4 Guest roles: Neighbour / Mrs. O'Hara / Murna Johnston / Mrs. Stone / Lydia Benton / Gary's Mother / Neighbour's Wife / Neighbour / Mrs. Moore TV series, 10 episodes: "They Walk the Night", "Deadfall", "Unfit to Plead", "Sat'dy Arvo", "The Munich Job", "Talk Back", "Once a Crim", "Simon Says", "Room for Danger", "The Oracle"
1973-1975 Matlock Police Guest roles: Mrs. Allenby / Mrs. Cartini / Mrs. Mac / Mrs. Clark TV series, 4 episodes: Jeff's Missing", The Highwayman", They'll Fix You Up, "No Worries", "The Great Equalizer "
1976 No Thanks, I'm on a Diet Regular role TV series, 6 episodes
1977 Bluey Guest roles: Ida Berry / Mrs. Bonnici TV series, 2 episodes: "Final Devotion", "Stop the Press"
1977 Young Ramsay Guest role: Mrs. Foster-Lloyd TV series, episode: "Ostrich Philosophy"
1978-1981 Cop Shop Guest roles: Margaret Kirby / Mrs. Flannigan / Landlady / Beryl TV series, 5 episodes
1979-1986 Prisoner Guest roles: Mabel Morgan / Saleswoman / Mrs. Bessie / Mrs. Gibson TV series, 12 episodes
1981 The Saturday Show Guest TV series, 1 episode
1983 Carson's Law Guest role: Mrs. King TV series, episode: "A Family Concern"
1983 The Mike Walsh Show Guest (with Maurie Fields) TV series, 1 episode
1984 Infinity Limited Guest role: Margaret Abernathy TV series, episode: "Melting Moments"
1985 The Flying Doctors Regular role: Nancy Buckley TV miniseries, 3 episodes
1986 The Morning Show Guest (with Maurie Fields) TV series, 1 episode
1986-1992 The Flying Doctors Regular role: Nancy Buckley TV series, 189 episodes
1988-1992 Hey Hey It's Saturday Herself TV series
1989 Couchman in Australia Guest - Herself with Jan Adele, Rosie Sturgess & Wendy Harmer ABC TV series, 1 episode
1989; 1990 In Melbourne Today Guest TV series, 1 episode
1990 Tonight Live with Steve Vizard Guest TV series, 1 episode
1990 TV Celebrity Dance Party Guest performer (singing "Only Way to Go" with Maurie Fields) TV special
1992 Burke's Backyard Celebrity gardener (with Maurie Fields) TV series, 1 episode
1993 Good Morning Australia Guest movie reviewer TV series
1993-1994 R.F.D.S. Regular role: Nancy Buckley TV series, 13 episodes
1994 Homicide... 30 Years On Herself TV special
1995 Good Morning Australia Guest performer (singing "Only Way to Go" with Maurie Fields) TV series, 1 episode
1995 The Crawford Story Herself TV special
1996 40 Years of TV Stars... Then and Now Herself TV special
1999 Funny By George: The George Wallace Story Herself TV special
2000 Good Morning Australia Guest (with Bud Tingwell) TV series, 1 episode
2000 Neighbours Recurring role: Connie O'Rourke TV series, 8 episodes
2005 Blue Heelers Guest role: Marjorie Price TV series, 1 episode
2006 Spicks and Specks Herself TV series, 1 episode
2007 Bert's Family Feud Contestant (with Toni Lamond, Noeline Brown & Val Lehman) TV series, 1 episode
2007 Dancing with the Stars Audience member TV series, 1 episode
2010 The Librarians Guest role: Senior Citizen TV series, 1 episode

Bibliography

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  • Jellay, V., Stagestruck: An Autobiography, Spectrum Publications, (Richmond), 1994. ISBN 0-86786-148-7
  • Jellay, V., After You've Gone: My Life after Maurie Fields, Spectrum Publications, (Richmond), 1998. ISBN 0-86786-268-8
  • Jellay, V., So You Want To Be in Showbusiness, JoJo Publishing, (Docklands), 2007. ISBN 978-0-9802836-3-1

References

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  1. ^ Courtis, Brian (16 April 2000). "Another round, another dream". The Age. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
  2. ^ "Val Jellay: The Flying Doctors actor dies of pneumonia aged 89". ABC News. 6 May 2017. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
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