Elaine Lee (actress) facts for kids

Elaine Joyce Knoesen (23 February 1939 – 17 September 2014), known as Elaine Lee, was an actress from South Africa. She was famous for her work in radio, theatre, and on stage. Elaine Lee became well-known in Australia for playing Vera Collins in the TV show Number 96 during the 1970s.

Elaine Lee's Acting Journey

Early Life and Start in Acting

Elaine Lee was born in 1939 in Springs, South Africa. She grew up near a gold mine. Her father passed away when she was nine years old. Her mother and sister Barbara raised her.

Before acting, she worked as a waitress. Her acting career began in the 1960s in Johannesburg. She became a stage manager for a theatre company. She also acted a lot in plays and on radio. She performed in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Zambia.

Becoming Famous in Australia

Lee moved to Australia and became very well known. She played Vera Collins in the TV show Number 96. She started this role in 1972. Elaine was one of the first actors in the show. Her character, Vera, was important in many of the show's main stories. Lee played Vera for four and a half years. She left the show in the middle of 1976.

There was a plan for a comedy show called Fair Game. It was meant to be a spin-off from Number 96. Elaine Lee, Lynette Curran, and Abigail were going to star in it. But the show never happened. Parts of its pilot episode were used in three episodes of Number 96.

Later Roles and Stage Work

After leaving Number 96, Lee played Margaret Gibson. She was the headmistress in the show Glenview High. This show ran from 1977 to 1978. She also appeared in several shows for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. These included TV movies and discussion shows. She made guest appearances in drama series too, like A Country Practice.

Elaine Lee also kept performing on stage. One of her challenging roles was in a one-woman show. It was called Turn on the Heat. This play was loosely based on the last two hours of Marilyn Monroe's life.

Acting in the 1990s and 2000s

In the 1990s, Lee appeared in Australian movies. In 1997, she had a regular role in Bullpitt!. This was a spin-off comedy from Kingswood Country. She also had a repeating role in Heartbreak High.

In the 2000s, Lee continued to appear in Australian films and TV dramas. She also opened an acting school in Sydney. She started it with fellow actress Judi Farr. In 2001, she was in the medical drama All Saints. In 2005, she acted in the soap opera Home and Away. Lee also provided comments for the 2006 DVD release of Number 96.

Elaine Lee's Life Outside Acting

Elaine Lee married Garth Meade in 1970. He was also an actor and comedian from South Africa. They had moved to Australia together. Their marriage ended in 1976. Garth Meade passed away in 2002.

Elaine Lee was a spiritual person. She started reading tarot cards, just like her character in Number 96. She strongly believed in reincarnation and the occult. Lee was a heavy smoker. This led to health problems like emphysema. Later in her life, she needed to use an oxygen tank. She also fractured her hip. Elaine Lee passed away on 17 September 2014 in Sydney, Australia. She was 75 years old.

At the time of Number 96, Elaine Lee lived near actresses Gwen Plumb and Thelma Scott.

Elaine Lee's Film and TV Appearances

Film Roles

Television Roles