Betty Bobbitt: Crocodile Dundee star dies aged 81

Actor died in hospital following a ‘sudden’ stroke

Colette Mann and Betty Bobbitt in Prisoner: Cell Block H (Rex Features)

Betty Bobbitt has died aged 81, her son has confirmed.

The actor – best known for her role in the Crocodile Dundee franchise – had spent five nights in palliative care following a “major stroke” before she died on Monday (30 November) in Melbourne, Australia.

Bobbitt’s son Christopher Hill shared the news in a statement, which read: “Sadly, mum passed away this morning at 10:20am after five nights in hospital.

“She was peaceful and in no pain. Thank you for your support and apologies if I can’t respond to everyone but I will try. I will post more later.”

In the days following her stroke, Hill had kept fans and friends updated on the star’s health via Facebook.

Last Wednesday (25 November), Hill explained that the prognosis was “not good” and that Bobbitt was “not expected to recover”.  

“We are hugely devastated and struggling to come to terms with such a sudden event,” he said. “My mum has been a legend, an inspiration, a mentor and icon for so many. She is comfortable and not in any pain that we can tell, but the prognosis is not good. She is not expected to recover.”

As well as starring opposite Paul Hogan in the Crocodile Dundee franchise, the American actor is best known for her role as Judy Bryant in the Australian TV series Prisoner: Cell Block H.

Bobbitt portrayed Bryant on the hit show through 430 episodes which ran between 1980 to 1985.

The New York City-born actor moved to Australia aged 23, where she landed TV credits on Australian shows including A Country Practice, All Saints and Blue Heelers.

Most recently Bobbitt had appeared in the The Very Excellent Mr Dundee, which was released in July this year.