JESSICA NAPIER EXCLUSIVE 'DAD WAS THE OPPOSITE OF HARRY’

TRIBUTES FLOW FOR THE MCLEOD’S DAUGHTERS STAR AND EXTRAORDINARY FATHER

- Jenny Brown

In the last weeks of his life, McLeod’s Daughters favourite Marshall Napier was surrounded by a “love bubble” before he slipped peacefully away. The veteran actor, who starred in the popular series alongside daughter Jessica, died of aggressive and inoperable brain cancer on August 14, aged 70. It was a brief and brutal fight, his glioblastoma having been diagnosed only 15 months beforehand.

“The silver lining is that he was so filled with love at the end,” recalls Jessica, speaking exclusively to New Idea in celebration of her father’s memory. “We felt that, and he felt loved like never before. We were his care team, sleeping vigil by his bed at the hospice, so it was a beautiful and profound time for all the family.”

Jessica announced her “one of a kind” father’s death in a moving Instagram post, which sparked an emotional response from fans and fellow performers, including McLeod’s stars Michala Banas, Rachael Carpani and Bridie Carter. Rebecca Gibney, Rodger Corser and Steve Bisley also shared heartfelt tributes to a gifted artist, cartoonist, playwright and “actors’ actor” who was greatly admired by his peers.