Carol Raye
Carol Raye | |
|---|---|
Carol Raye as Empress Maria in Waltz Time | |
| Born | Kathleen Mary Corkrey 17 January 1923 |
| Died | 18 June 2022 (aged 99) Macleay Valley, New South Wales, Australia |
| Other names | Carole Raye |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1938–2000 |
| Known for | Films – Television – The Mavis Bramston Show as actress and producer Number 96 As Baroness Amanda Von Pappenburg |
| Spouse(s) | 1-Clark Spencer married 1945-? 2-Robert Ayre Smith married 1951-2006 |
| Children | 3 |
Carol Raye AM (17 January 1923 – 18 June 2022 as Kathleen Mary Corkrey and also billed as Carole Raye) was a British-born actress and comedian of film, television, radio, theatre and revue. She was also a singer, dancer, producer, director and media personality.
Her career spanned some seven decades, firstly as a film star and stage performer in the United Kingdom, in such movies as Song of Romance, Strawberry Roan and Waltz Time, after which she briefly worked in Kenya. She then immigrated to Australia, where she became notable for her small-screen roles, and as the first female television executive at a time when the industry was dominated by men.
Raye was best known as the creator, producer and original star of the iconic TV satire The Mavis Bramston Show, alongside Gordon Chater and Barry Creyton, as well as a semi-regular star of soap opera Number 96, as Baroness Amanda von Pappenburg.