Lyn James
{{distinguish|Lyn St. James}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox person
|image = |
|imagesize = 150px |
| birth_name = Margaret James
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1929|11|13|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Rhondda, Wales, United Kingdom
| death_date = {{death date and age|2017|5|31|1929|11|13|df=y}}
| death_place = Sydney, Australia
| occupation = {{hlist|Stage and screen actress|director}}
| yearsactive = 1949–2002
| spouse = Eric Tayler (19??-1997)
| children = 2 including Sally Tayler, actress
}}
Lyn James (13 November 1929 – 31 May 2017), credited also as Marilyn James, was a Welsh-born actress of stage and screen and director, who became known for her career in England and later Australia, particularly as receptionist Helen Gordon in television soap opera The Young Doctors{{cite news|last1=Houghton|first1=Tom|title=Rhondda soap star Lyn James has died age 87|url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/showbiz/rhondda-actress-lyn-james-who-13122695|accessdate=2 June 2017|work=Wales Online|date=1 June 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.atvtoday.co.uk/98577-grundy|title=Young Doctors Star Lyn James Dies|work=ATV Today |date=31 May 2017 |accessdate=31 May 2017}}
Biography
She was born Margaret James, the daughter of theatre actor and producer Jack James and granddaughter of photographer Levi Ladd. and grew up in Rhondda in South Wales. After graduating from RADA, James made her professional debut as an actress in 1949, appearing in numerous plays and TV serials in England for the BBC. After meeting her husband they emigrated to Australia in 1965, and, credited now as "Lyn James", appeared in numerous Crawford Productions series, before she became best known internationally for her role as doctors secretary Helen Gordon in the Australian television soap opera The Young Doctors.{{cite news|title=The Young Doctors star Lyn James has died in Sydney at the age of 87|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/sydney-confidential/the-young-doctors-star-lyn-james-has-died-in-sydney-at-the-age-of-87/news-story/d0d6fdc7a1d25aeb6ee8f38eee28b74e|accessdate=1 June 2017|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=1 June 2017}} She appeared in the series from its inception in 1976, until it ended in 1983, one of only a few actors to appear for the duration of the series.
Filmography
TELEVISION
| class="wikitable |
| Year
!Title !Role !Type |
|---|
| 1955
| Nan Wilde (as Marilyn James) | TV film, UK |
| 1955
| Romilda (as Marilyn James) | TV film, UK |
| 1956
| Aggie Hughes (as Marilyn James) | Teleplay, UK |
| 1956
| Rose Rainrider (as Marilyn James) | Teleplay, UK |
| 1957
| Megan Lewis (as Marilyn James) | Teleplay, UK |
| 1957
| Guest role: Moll Miller (as Marilyn James) | TV series UK, 2 episodes |
| 1957
| Nurse Dawson (as Marilyn James) | TV film, UK |
| 1957
| Prudence (as Marilyn James) | Teleplay, UK |
| 1957
| Recurring role: Madeline Bray (as Marilyn James) | TV series UK, 4 episodes |
| 1963
| Guest role: Meg Barker (as Marilyn James) | TV series UK, 1 episode |
| 1963
| Guest role: Mary Johnson (as Marilyn James) | TV series UK, 1 episode |
| 1963
| Guest role: Alice Potter (as Marilyn James) | TV series UK, 1 episode |
| 1963
| Recurring role: Beryl Denbigh (as Marilyn James) | TV series UK, 5 episodes |
| 1965
| Guest role: Alice Dawes (as Marilyn James) | TV series UK, 1 episode |
| 1966
| Guest role | ABC TV series, 1 episode |
| 1968
| Guest role: Nan Hallam | TV series, 2 episodes |
| 1969
| Hunter | Guest role: Helen Kramer | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1969;1973
| Guest roles: Mrs. Thompson / Sue Nichols | TV series, 2 episodes |
| 1970
| Eden House | Honor | ABC Teleplay |
| 1970–1971
| Dynasty | Regular role: Maggie Tench | ABC TV series, 22 episodes |
| 1972
| Catwalk | Guest role: Julia Battle | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1972
| Guest role: Joan Price | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1972
| Recurring role | TV series, 3 episodes |
| 1973
| Boney | Guest role | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1973
| Recurring role: Mrs. Wayne | TV series, 3 episodes |
| 1973
| Ryan | Guest role: Margaret Nelson | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1973
| Guest role: Maid | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1975
| Guest role | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1975
| Guest Doris | TV series, 1 episode "Tully" |
| 1976
| Guest role: Mrs. Lewis | TV series UK, 1 episode |
| 1976–1982
| Regular role: Helen Gordon | TV series, 313 episodes |
| 1978
| Guest role: Minna McGee | TV series, 1 episode 2: "The Killing Of Toby McGee" |
| 1979
| Role unknown | ABC Teleplay |
| 1980
| Telethon '80 | Herself | TV special |
| 1983
| Guest role: Lady Rover | TV miniseries, 1 episode |
| 1987
| Olive | Recurring role: Doreen | ABC TV film |
| 1991
| In Sydney Today | Herself – Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1992
| Bony | Guest role: Mrs. Vincetti | TV series, 1 episode 2: "Looks Can Kill" |
| 1994
| TVTV | Herself with The Young Doctors cast | ABC TV series, 1 episode |
| 1996
| 40 Years Of TV Stars... Then And Now | Herself | TV special |
| 1997
| Herself | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2002
| Guest role: Elderly Woman | TV series, 1 episode |
Personal life
James was married to the New Zealand producer Eric Tayler, a fellow RADA graduate, and they had two children, one of whom is the Australia actress Sally Tayler, who also appeared with her in The Young Doctors.
James final screen appearance was in 2002 and she died in Sydney, aged 87, on 31 May 2017.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|id=1060713|name=Lyn James}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:James, Lyn}}
Category:Australian soap opera actresses
Category:Welsh soap opera actresses
Category:Welsh emigrants to Australia