Megan Williams
Encyclopedia
Megan Williams was an Australian actress and singer, who played a continuing role as Alice Sullivan in the television drama The Sullivans
, and won a Logie Award
for her work in Anzacs
(1985).
, England to David and Chin Yu Williams who appeared in a West End
production of South Pacific
. At six months old, Williams had a minor TV role as an abandoned baby on Robin Hood
. Williams' family moved to Sydney
, Australia where she pursued an acting career. She then continued her acting career until she was eighteen years of age.
Class of '74 (1974). The long running role of Alice Watkins Sullivan in The Sullivans (1976–1983) followed. A guest role as Carol Canning in The Outsiders (1976) episode 10 "Charlie Cole Esq." (broadcast 1977) had her appearing in a bikini. After The Sullivans ended she continued to act on Australian television, with a guest role in ABC
drama-musical series Sweet and Sour
(1984), a Logie Award
winning role as Kate Baker in the miniseries Anzacs
(1985), and an on-going role of Cassie Jones in Return to Eden
(1986). In the late 1980s she worked in the UK, appearing in one episode of British soap opera EastEnders
(1989). Williams had a minor role in the movie Nightmare Man (1999).
" on Cold Chisel's
Twentieth Century (1984). John Prior (drummer with Matt Finish
) wrote songs for Williams in the mid-1980s.
relationship with Cold Chisel singer-guitarist Ian Moss
for 11 years, before they separated in the 1990s.
Williams had an operation for breast cancer
in 1997, however the disease was diagnosed again in December 1999 and she died at Darlinghurst
Sacred Heart Hospice in April 2000, aged 43.
The Sullivans
The Sullivans is an Australian drama television series produced by Crawford Productions which ran from 1976 until 1983. The series told the story of an average middle-classMelbourne family and the effect World War II had on their lives...
, and won a Logie Award
Logie Award
The TV Week Logie Awards are the Australian television industry awards, which have been presented annually since 1959. Renamed by Graham Kennedy in 1960 after he won the first 'Star Of The Year' award, the name 'Logie' awards honours John Logie Baird, a Scotsman who invented the television as a...
for her work in Anzacs
Anzacs
Anzacs was a 1985 5-part Australian mini series set in World War I. The series follows the lives of a group of young Australian men who enlist in the 8th Battalion of the First Australian Imperial Force in 1914, fighting first at Gallipoli in 1915, and then on the Western Front for the remainder...
(1985).
Early years
Williams was born in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England to David and Chin Yu Williams who appeared in a West End
West End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
production of South Pacific
South Pacific (musical)
South Pacific is a musical with music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and book by Hammerstein and Joshua Logan. The story draws from James A. Michener's Pulitzer Prize-winning 1947 book Tales of the South Pacific, weaving together characters and elements from several of its...
. At six months old, Williams had a minor TV role as an abandoned baby on Robin Hood
The Adventures of Robin Hood (TV series)
The Adventures of Robin Hood is a popular British television series comprising 143 half-hour, black and white episodes. It starred Richard Greene as the outlaw Robin Hood and Alan Wheatley as his nemesis, the Sheriff of Nottingham. The show aired weekly between 1955 and 1959 on ITV in London in the...
. Williams' family moved to Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Australia where she pursued an acting career. She then continued her acting career until she was eighteen years of age.
Actor
Williams' first major role was as an on-going lead, Ann Watson, in the daily soap operaSoap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
Class of '74 (1974). The long running role of Alice Watkins Sullivan in The Sullivans (1976–1983) followed. A guest role as Carol Canning in The Outsiders (1976) episode 10 "Charlie Cole Esq." (broadcast 1977) had her appearing in a bikini. After The Sullivans ended she continued to act on Australian television, with a guest role in ABC
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
drama-musical series Sweet and Sour
Sweet and Sour (TV series)
Sweet and Sour is an Australian television series which screened on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in 1984. It was created by Tim Gooding and Johanna Pigott and was produced internally for the ABC by Jan Chapman...
(1984), a Logie Award
Logie Award
The TV Week Logie Awards are the Australian television industry awards, which have been presented annually since 1959. Renamed by Graham Kennedy in 1960 after he won the first 'Star Of The Year' award, the name 'Logie' awards honours John Logie Baird, a Scotsman who invented the television as a...
winning role as Kate Baker in the miniseries Anzacs
Anzacs
Anzacs was a 1985 5-part Australian mini series set in World War I. The series follows the lives of a group of young Australian men who enlist in the 8th Battalion of the First Australian Imperial Force in 1914, fighting first at Gallipoli in 1915, and then on the Western Front for the remainder...
(1985), and an on-going role of Cassie Jones in Return to Eden
Return to Eden
Return to Eden is an Australian television drama series starring Rebecca Gilling, James Reyne, Wendy Hughes and James Smillie. It began as a three-part mini-series, shown on Network Ten in 1983. Gilling and Smillie would reprise their roles for a 22-part weekly series screened in 1986.-Mini-series...
(1986). In the late 1980s she worked in the UK, appearing in one episode of British soap opera EastEnders
EastEnders
EastEnders is a British television soap opera, first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 19 February 1985 and continuing to today. EastEnders storylines examine the domestic and professional lives of the people who live and work in the fictional London Borough of Walford in the East End...
(1989). Williams had a minor role in the movie Nightmare Man (1999).
Singer
Megan Williams also appeared in the Film Clip of "The Queen and Me" with Mondo Rock (1982). Williams provided backing vocals for "Flame TreesFlame Trees
"Flame Trees" is a song by Australian pub rock band Cold Chisel from their 1984 album Twentieth Century. It is one of their best known songs, and was written by drummer Steve Prestwich and organist Don Walker...
" on Cold Chisel's
Cold Chisel
Cold Chisel is a rock band that originated in Adelaide, Australia. It is one of the most acclaimed Australian rock bands of all time, with a string of hits throughout the 1970s and 1980s and huge sales that continue to this day, although its success and acclaim was almost completely restricted to...
Twentieth Century (1984). John Prior (drummer with Matt Finish
Matt Finish
Matt Finish are an Australian rock band formed by singer-songwriter/guitarist Matt Moffitt and drummer/composer/producer John Prior in mid 1979....
) wrote songs for Williams in the mid-1980s.
Personal life
Williams was in a de factoDe facto
De facto is a Latin expression that means "concerning fact." In law, it often means "in practice but not necessarily ordained by law" or "in practice or actuality, but not officially established." It is commonly used in contrast to de jure when referring to matters of law, governance, or...
relationship with Cold Chisel singer-guitarist Ian Moss
Ian Moss
Ian Moss is an Australian rock musician, best known as the guitarist and occasional singer of Cold Chisel. In that group's initial ten year career, Moss recorded eight albums, three of which were No. 1 national hits. His solo career began with a No. 1 album and single and five ARIA Awards...
for 11 years, before they separated in the 1990s.
Williams had an operation for breast cancer
Breast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...
in 1997, however the disease was diagnosed again in December 1999 and she died at Darlinghurst
Darlinghurst, New South Wales
Darlinghurst is an inner-city, eastern suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Darlinghurst is located immediately east of the Sydney central business district and Hyde Park, within the local government area of the City of Sydney...
Sacred Heart Hospice in April 2000, aged 43.