Val Jellay

Valerie Muriel Jellay (25 September 1927 – 6 May 2017) was an Australian vaudevillian, actress, soubrette, singer, dancer and author. 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. Her early career had been in vaudeville and on stage, before becoming a staple on the small screen in 1957.

Val Jellay
Born
Valerie Muriel Jellay

(1927-09-25)25 September 1927
Sydney, NSW, Australia
Died6 May 2017(2017-05-06) (aged 89)
Occupation
  • Actress
  • vaudevillian
  • soubrette
  • singer
  • dancer
  • author
Spouse(s)Maurie Fields (1960–1995)
ChildrenMarty Fields

Biography

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 married Australian actor Maurie Fields in 1956 and was married until his death in 1995. They appeared together as husband and wife in the television series The Flying Doctors. She was later 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 three different 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.

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]

A book, So You Want To Be In Showbusiness, which not only documents her experiences in the Australian Entertainment Industry, but also provides an extensive set of professional hints to assist those aspiring to enter the entertainment industry, was published in late 2007.

Bibliography
  • 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
  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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