Beloved Australian TV host Marilyn Mayo has died aged 80. The news has been shared in a Facebook post on behalf of the Mayo family by friend Craig Bennett.
“Another special friend and a bonafide Aussie showbiz fave has left us,” he began the post. “At 7am Marilyn Mayo passed away.”
He explained Mayo had suffered a “devastating brain haemorrhage” in 2020 “from which she miraculously battled back” ahead of her death years later.
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Mayo spoke with Woman’s Day in March 2024 about her declining health, describing learning to walk again following her stroke.
“Almost four years on, I’m learning to walk but it’s a slow, sometimes frustrating process,” she said.
Bennett described Mayo as “a total one off – a wonderful wit, whip smart, and the best company”.
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“We’d known each other since 1980 when she hired me as movie reviewer/presenter on The Harry & Ralph Show,” he continued.
Bennett described Mayo’s showbiz career which began as a dancer on The Bobby Limb Show, followed by The Barry Crocker Show before she starred on Bandstand.
“She was a legend to millions of kids in the 70’s as Miss Marilyn, star of The Super Flying Fun Show. She was Dusty the barmaid on Holiday Island (oh the stories!!!), and was fab on Beauty & The Beast,” he said.
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He ended the post by saying: “Marilyn’s devoted daughters Katrina Medina and Lillian Lyon, asked me to share the news of MM’s passing. She’s now free of confinement to a wheelchair or bed.
“Despite the ravages brought about by the stroke, she was upbeat, greeted you with a warm smile always, and retained her stunning repartee to the end.”
He added: “Vale to a darling soul, and RIP Miss Marilyn.”
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Mayo was not only a TV host but an actress, starring on TV shows including A Country Practice as well as Holiday Island.
The Super Flying Fun Show, which ran between 1970 until 1979, was beamed out to Australian homes live from Nine Network’s former studio at Willoughby.
It was this role that turned her into a household name.
The show was broadcast in the morning and entertained children with cartoons, skits and an emu puppet as well as a life-size chicken character called ‘Wing Ding’.
Later in her career she returned to her acting roots, starring in Home and Away, the original Heartbreak High, E Street and Water Rats.
Mayo retired in 2000.
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