Beloved Australian television personality Ian Fairweather has died at the age of 86. Fairweather passed away at Gosford Hospital in New South Wales on Thursday, according to a family statement shared on Facebook. The cause of death was a fall.
Fairweather was a prominent figure on Australian television from the 1960s through the 1980s. He was best known for his work on the Adelaide children's show "Here's Humphrey" and also had regular roles on the science program "The Curiosity Show," which aired on Channel Nine during the 1970s and 1980s.
His wife, Bev Fairweather, shared the news of his passing, stating, "Ian Fairweather, Channel 9 TV presenter during the 1960 – 1980s died today at Gosford Hospital aged 86. He was an incredible person who led an incredible life."
Fans and colleagues shared tributes to Fairweather. One commenter recalled working with him as an Executive Producer when he was Head of Children's Television at Network 10, remembering him as "a lovely, kind, funny, clever person" with whom they shared "many laughs during the making of The Miraculous Mellops."
Penni Hamilton-Smith, a close friend and colleague who worked with Fairweather for two decades, described him as "the most gorgeous, wonderful, talented, brilliant man." She added, "As he got older, his face wrinkled into a smile because he was such a happy man. He was always confident, always happy, always thinking good thoughts about people. He lived a full life, and he helped a lot of people along the way, and brought a lot of joy to a lot of people."
Fairweather spent a significant part of his life in Adelaide, with his final days spent in the NSW Central Coast region.