Mother and Son star Henri Szeps dies, aged 81
Henri Szeps, one of the stars of one of Australia's most beloved television shows, Mother and Son, has died at the age of 81.
In 2021, Szeps revealed he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and had been living in a care facility since 2023.
'He was awarded countless acting prizes, culminating in an Order of Australia Medal in 2001,' according to a statement announcing his death on Thursday, the ABC said.
'His decline from Alzheimer's was largely peaceful, and Henri retained his sense of wonder and joie de vivre until the end.'
Henri Szeps (right) starred in ABC TV's Mother and Son alongside Garry McDonald (left), and Ruth Cracknell in the 1980s.
Szeps played Robert Beare, a dentist and the second son in the ABC sitcom Mother and Son alongside Ruth Cracknell and Garry McDonald.
The comedy ran for which ran for 10 years till 1994, and was recently rebooted starring Denise Roberts as the iconic Maggie Beare.
Henri Szeps starred on television and theatre.
Henri Szeps is survived by his Mary, two sons and four grandchildren.
Szeps was born to two Polish Holocaust survivors in a Swiss refugee camp in 1943, before moving to Australia at the age of eight.
He retired at the age of 70 after performing in his last play, saying his memory was 'no longer up to the task'.
He leaves behind his wife Mary, two sons and four grandchildren.
'He was awarded countless acting prizes, culminating in an Order of Australia Medal in 2001,' Thursday's statement said.
On stage he played characters such as Gandalf in The Hobbit and Sigmund Freud.
He also starred alongside a young Nicole Kidman in the war mini-series, Vietnam, as Vietnam War prime minister Harold.
In the final years of his performing career he starred in a series of one man shows.
Originally published as Mother and Son star Henri Szeps dies after battle with Alzheimer's disease, aged 81
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
7NEWS
7 hours ago
- 7NEWS
Magda Szubanski set to enter the Logies Hall of Fame
Comedy star Magda Szubanski is set to be inducted into the Logies Hall of Fame for her contribution to Australian television. She becomes the fifth woman inducted since the award was established in 1984, joining Ruth Cracknell, Noni Hazlehurst, Kerri-Anne Kennerley and Rebecca Gibney. Szubanski is best known for winning the hearts of Australians as the unconventionally sporty, unlucky-in-love Sharon Strzelecki in sitcom Kath and Kim. That sparked roles in the smash-hit movies Babe and Happy Feet, along with both sequels, among others. She first burst onto Australian screens in the mid-1980s after being picked up by ABC talent scouts watching her perform in a university revue. Her credits include sketch shows Fast Forward and critically acclaimed Big Girl's Blouse, alongside Kath and Kim co-writers Gina Riley and Jane Turner. Off-screen, Szubanski has been a strong advocate for LGBTQIA+ rights. In 2018 she was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for her contribution to the marriage equality campaign. In May 2025, Szubanski announced she had stage-four mantle cell lymphoma, describing it as a 'rare and fast-moving blood cancer'. She said she would be lying low to protect her immune system. 'I won't sugar-coat it, it's rough,' the 64-year-old wrote of her diagnosis at the time. 'But I'm hopeful. I'm being lovingly cared for by friends and family, my medical team is brilliant and I've never felt more held by the people around me.' The 65th Logie Awards will take place on Sunday, with women set to dominate television's most glamorous night. All but one of the nominations for the coveted Gold Logie award are women and the night is set to be hosted by comedian Sam Pang.
Herald Sun
9 hours ago
- Herald Sun
AFL 2025: Jack Ginnivan pulls finger at Adelaide fans, video, fine, after Hawthorn's loss to Adelaide, latest news
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News. Hawthorn young gun Jack Ginnivan is the latest AFL player set to be sanctioned for giving the bird to Adelaide supporters. Ginnivan was caught on camera pulling his finger to Crows fans while walking off Adelaide Oval after the Hawks' 14-point loss on Friday night. The 22-year old, who's set to cop a $1000 fine for the incident, took to Instagram to respond to a video of the act with the comment: 'Best coin spent.' FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. Ginnivan would join the likes of Geelong's Bailey Smith and West Coast's Harley Reid in getting fined for the middle-finger salute in 2025. 'There was definitely a one-fingered salute from Jack Ginnivan,' Herald Sun reporter Jon Ralph said on Fox Footy. 'I think we call that the Bailey Smith ... the going rate is $1000, we saw Bailey Smith double-finger salute and also Harley Reid earlier in the year. 'That's what (Ginnivan) does, that's Hok-ball for you.' Ginnivan was among Hawthorn's best players on Friday night, finishing with 20 disposals and two goals. The youngster's post-game bird weren't his only cheeky antics on the night, with Ginnivan turning to the crowd after kicking an epic goal on his left foot late in the third quarter and pointing to his ear.
West Australian
10 hours ago
- West Australian
TV Week Logies 2025: A Current Affair host Ally Langdon rates her chances against tough competition
Channel Nine star Ally Langdon is up against some stiff competition for the coveted Gold Logie at this year's TV WEEK Logie Awards. The A Current Affair host is pitted against a record five other women in that category, including Masterchef's Poh Ling Yeow, Home and Away's Lynne McGranger, Dancing With The Star's Sonia Kruger, I'm a Celebrity host Julia Morris and ABC journalist and presenter Lisa Millar. 'Hamish Blake is the only man nominated, though we have allowed him into our club,' Langdon said. 'Because he is fantastic, and if he wins on the night, we will all cheer just as loudly.' Langdon said there was a lovely sense of camaraderie between all of this year's nominees, 'That 'win at any costs' mentality — I don't think anyone nominated has that feeling,' she said. 'I just think we're sort of all up there just celebrating how cool it is; how we have all worked our butts off — and how we are all well over the age of 40!' Langdon is nominated five times at this year's awards. Her Gold nomination is for her work on A Current Affair and the Paris Olympics — she is nominated again for Most Popular News or Public Affairs Presenter, an award she took home last year. A Current Affair and The Olympics are both nominated in their respective categories. 'Those are the ones that I really want; the ones that are a real team effort, as opposed to any kind of personal acknowledgement,' she said. The award nominations cap off an incredibly busy — but incredibly rewarding — year for the Nine Network journalist. 'I feel like it's been my most hectic year, and between The Olympics, Parental Guidance, the election, the leaders' debate, ACA and raising two young kids, it's been an awesome, but pretty full-on, year,' she said. 'I have got an amazing husband (Langdon is married to journalist Michael Willesee Jnr), and we are 50/50 at home, though he would probably say he does more — and he probably does — and for that I am incredibly grateful. 'This has been one of the best, and most enjoyable, years of my career.' The 65th TV WEEK Logie Awards screens Sunday August 3 on Seven and 7Plus
