Former Neighbours star Alan Hopgood has died at the age of 87 after a battle with prostate cancer.
The actor played the role of Jack Lassiter - owner of Lassiter's hotel and The Waterhole - in 1986, returning for a heartbreaking storyline in 2013 when the character revealed he was dying.
During his career Hopgood was also known for playing Wally Wallace in Prisoner and writing the screenplay for the '70s comedy film Alvin Purple.
Paying tribute, a close friend told The Herald Sun: "He was in just about every Australian TV show, he's had a role in all of them.
His most famous work was in 1963 when he wrote the first play about football. That was a huge success in Melbourne and everybody wanted to go and see it because all of a sudden there was a play written about football.
"He was a wonderful man and the other great thing about him is everyone always used to say that he was such a charming person."
Hopgood is survived by his wife Gay, son Sam, daughter Finci and four grandsons.
Follow us on Twitter @SMEntsFeed and like us on Facebook for the latest entertainment news alerts.
