"Devastated": TV legend passes away
The death of a "much-loved" TV executive has sent the entertainment industry into mourning.
Foxtel executive Brian Walsh, who was the company’s executive director of drama and senior content consultant, passed away in Sydney on Thursday at the age of 68.
Walsh's employer confirmed the sad news in a statement released Friday morning, paying tribute to his significant contribution to its programming throughout its 28-year history.
“This is a very difficult day for the Foxtel Group family, for Australia’s creative community and the millions of Australians who watched and loved the stories that Brian bought to life through television. Australia’s creative community has lost a much-loved figure in Brian. For us, the loss is heavily felt,” Foxtel Group CEO Patrick Delany said.
“At the Foxtel Group, Brian was a long-time mentor, a confidant, a colleague and an unwavering friend to so many. Today, we are grieving Brian’s passing. Our condolences go to his family and to those closest to him. We have lost an icon of Australian television that will never be replaced. Rest in peace, Brian.”
After staring his media career in radio, Walsh moved to Network Ten where he helped launch acclaimed series including Vietnam, The Bangkok Hilton and The Dirtwater Dynasty.
He’s has also been credited with the global success of Neighbours, playing a crucial role in helping Ten acquire and repackage the soap after it was dumped by Seven.
Walsh is also responsible for helping launch the careers of Aussie stars including Kylie Minogue, Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman, Jason Donovan and Guy Pearce.
Tributes for Brian have flown in from some of Australia's biggest media personalities, with Kyle and Jackie O expressing their sadness live on air after hearing of his passing.
“Loved Brian. It’s a real shock …. He was very passionate. He was Foxtel,” Jackie O said.
Sandilands added, “Love to his family and friends and everyone at Foxtel. He was one of the nice television types. "
“That’s a shock to the system. When people you know die, it’s a shock to the system. We were close.”
Other industry colleagues took to social media to pay tribute to the TV icon, with Ben Fordham calling him a "pioneer of radio and TV", and David Campbell dubbing him "a giant of this industry".
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