Vivean Gray, who was best known for playing Mrs Mangel in Neighbours, has died at the age of 92. The star played the Ramsay Street resident for over 250 episodes between 1986 – 1988, and friends and former Neighbours star have flocked to social media to offer their condolences and share memories of the star.
Mark Little, who played Mrs Mangel's estranged son on the show, spoke on This Morning about Vivean, saying: "She was one of the main reasons I joined Neighbours because I was going to be her estranged son and join the Mangel dynasty.
© Photo: RexVivean died aged 92
"What a wonderful, subtle, fabulous actor she was. It's a really reflective day because she did such a wonderful job with Mrs Mangel and she was hounded out of existence and that's the sad part, she did such a good job and it was one of the reasons I decided I didn't want to be a baddie on that show, because you just get hell."
Since Mrs Mangel was a known gossip in the show, Vivean had previously opened up about how difficult she found the negative attention from fans who struggled to separate her from her character. In an interview back in 1989 she said: "I could barely set foot outside my own door without someone screaming abuse at horrid old Mrs Mangel.
© Photo: RexVivean (left) in Picnic at Hanging Rock
"People didn't seem to appreciate it was acting. So I decided to take a break."
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Mark also took to Twitter to offer his condolences, writing: "Vivean Gray: Legend many times over. I was privileged to know and work with her. We laughed a lot creating The Mangel Dynasty. RIP."
Network Ten's Head of Drama Rick Maier also spoke about the loss, saying: "Vivean's contribution to Australian drama will never be forgotten. It is a very sad day for the Neighbours family."
