Australian actor Penny Cook, who appeared in numerous television series including A Country Practice, and over 40 theatre productions, has died of cancer at age 61.

Penny Cook. Photograph courtesy of Morrissey Management

As well as having a high-profile television career, Cook did a huge amount to support Australian theatre. She was a co-founder and life member of Griffin Theatre Company, where she was last seen on stage in August 2018, in the play The Almighty Sometimes by Australian writer Kendall Feaver. She was also Chair of Monkey Baa Theatre Company, which creates work for young audiences.

Cook died on Wednesday night. A statement from her family, released by her agent Mark Morrissey, said: “It is with great sorrow that her family wish to advise that the much loved Penny Cook, beloved partner, mother, daughter, sister, and dear friend, died peacefully last night, of cancer, surrounded by family.”

“The family wish to express their thanks for all messages of condolence forwarded to them,” said the statement.

Cook graduated from NIDA in 1978. She first appeared on the small screen in The Restless Years for Network Ten. She then played probably her most famous TV role,...