Vivean Gray Dies at 92: Mrs Mangel Will Be Missed

mNell Mangel is one of Autralian soap’s most dearly remembered characters. From 1986 until 1988 gossip travelled faster on Ramsey Street thanks to the meddling Mrs Mangel.

Vivean’s role was supposed to appear in Neighbours for a short three-week run, but Mrs Mangel was such a hit that writers kept on including her in the series! Her constant attempts to foil Madge Bishop (Anne Charleston) were the viewer’s favourite.

Rick Maier, Network Ten’s Head of Drama told Australia’s 9 News: “Mrs Mangel and Mrs Jessup were two of our most iconic characters from one our very best character actors”.

"Ramsay Street changed forever, and certainly no secret was ever safe, with Mrs. Mangel on the lookout. Vivean’s contribution to Australian drama will never be forgotten. It is a very sad day for the Neighbours’ family." He continued

Mark Little, who played Mrs Mangel’s son Joe Mangel, also paid his tribute to Vivean on Twitter: “Legend many times over. I was privileged to know and work with her. We laughed a lot creating the Mangel Dynasty. RIP.”

The British born soap star moved to Australia in 1952 to pursue her acting dream. Before neighbours, Vivean landed roles in Prisoner: Cell Block H, Anzacs, Matlock Police and The Sullivans. She also acted the maths teacher Miss McCraw in the Australian film Picnic At Hanging Rock, but none of these roles brought her the fame that Mrs Mangle fetched!

Vivean struggled with her celebrity status however, eventually leading to her retirement from the hit show.
 
“I loved Neighbours and the rest of the cast were marvellous,” Vivean said in the 1989 book, The Neighbours Factfile. “But because it was so successful I could barely set foot outside my own door without someone screaming abuse at horrid old ‘Mrs Mangel’... People didn’t seem to appreciate it was acting. So I decided to take a break.”

Nearly three decades on from her 'break' in 1988 Vivean Gray and Mrs Mangel are still fondly remembered, and will be for many more to come.

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