Jason Donovan’s heartbreaking farewell to father Terence at 90 — as emotional final words reveal the man behind the television legend: ‘He was our best friend… our world’

For decades, Jason Donovan has lived much of his life in the public eye — through fame, music, television and all the extraordinary highs and lows that come with being one of Australia’s most recognisable entertainers.

But behind the famous name was another man who had been part of Jason’s story from the very beginning.

His father.

His mentor.

And, in Jason’s own deeply moving words, his “best friend”.

Jason Donovan has announced the death of his beloved father, veteran Australian actor Terence Donovan, at the age of 90, sharing an emotional family tribute that reveals just how profound the loss is for him and his brother Paul.

Terence died peacefully in Melbourne, according to the statement shared by his sons.

And while the announcement was filled with unmistakable sadness, there was something else running through Jason’s words too.

Gratitude.

Gratitude for 90 years of life.

Gratitude for the memories they were able to create together.

And gratitude that, when the final days arrived, the family was there by his side.

“It is with great sadness but also a sense of celebration of a long, full life that myself and my brother Paul announce our father Terence died peacefully last night here in Melbourne,” Jason wrote.

It was a farewell not simply to a celebrated actor known to generations of television viewers.

It was a son saying goodbye to his dad.

And the words that followed made that heartbreak impossible to miss.

‘Our dad was a huge character’

Anyone familiar with Terence Donovan’s career knew that he had presence.

Long before Jason became a household name himself, Terence had already built an impressive career on Australian television, becoming a familiar face through some of the country’s most memorable productions.

But the Terence remembered by his sons was far bigger than any character he ever played on screen.

“Our dad was a huge character. Larger than life,” Jason and Paul said in their tribute.

Then came the words that perhaps revealed more about their relationship than any lengthy description ever could:

“He was our best friend… Our world.”

For me, that is the line that changes the entire story.

Because fame can tell us what someone achieved.

A television archive can remind us of the roles they played.

Photographs can preserve moments from decades gone by.

But four simple words — “He was our best friend” — tell us who Terence was when the cameras stopped rolling.

To Jason and Paul, he wasn’t primarily the veteran actor audiences remembered.

He was Dad.

The man at the centre of their family.

The person whose presence had been part of their lives for decades.

And now they are facing the reality of a world without him.

His family were beside him in his final days

There was one particularly comforting detail in Jason’s announcement.

Terence was surrounded by those closest to him during his final days.

Jason explained that the family took comfort from knowing they had been able to be there beside their father.

“We will desperately miss him but we take comfort knowing we were all here by his side in his final days,” the brothers said.

Those words carry enormous emotional weight.

There are moments in life when careers, fame, success and public recognition suddenly become very small.

At the end, what matters most is often simply who is there.

A familiar voice.

A hand held.

A family gathered together.

The knowledge that someone you love is not alone.

Jason also expressed gratitude to the staff at Cabrini Hospital in Melbourne who cared for Terence during his final days.

“Obviously this is an extremely emotional time and we ask you to respect our privacy,” he wrote.

“We want to pay tribute to all the wonderful staff at Cabrini Hospital, Melbourne who looked after him in his final days.”

It was a deeply personal statement from a family experiencing grief in public — while understandably asking for space to process something profoundly private.

A television career remembered by generations

Terence Donovan leaves behind a remarkable television legacy.

For many viewers, one of his most recognisable roles came when he joined Neighbours as Doug Willis, appearing on the hugely popular Australian soap from 1990 to 1994.

The role made him part of one of television’s best-known fictional communities and introduced him to audiences far beyond Australia.

There is also a special piece of television history connecting father and son.

Jason Donovan had, of course, already become one of Neighbours’ most famous stars through his role as Scott Robinson.

That meant both father and son became part of the legacy of the same iconic programme — albeit at different points and through very different characters.

Terence also appeared in Home and Away, playing Al Simpson, while his long career included roles in other well-known Australian television productions such as Division 4 and Cop Shop.