Neighbours and Home and Away star Terence Donovan, father to Australian actor Jason Donovan, has sadly died aged 90. His family confirmed that he died at his home in Melbourne on Saturday night (July 18), with Jason writing: "Our Dad was a huge character, larger than life. He was our best friend… our world! We will desperately miss him but we take comfort knowing we were all here by his side in his final days.”

Terence was best known for playing Doug Willis in the Australian soap Neighbours, appearing in 570 episodes. He also starred as Al Simpson in Channel 5 soap Home and Away, but had roles in everything from Division 4 to Death of a Soldier.

In a joint statement, his sons Jason and Paul wrote: "Dad used his profile during the early 70s, along with the help of other actors and entertainers he enlisted, to lobby successive governments to change the policy on local content quotas. The campaign was branded 'T.V. Make it Australian'. These efforts actually worked and with bipartisan support an Australian film and television industry was created out of nothing.

"The result of that campaign was an obligation on commercial television broadcasters to broadcast Australian stories. It also led to the creation of the Australian Film, Television and Radio School.

"Without people like my Dad we might not have seen the growth in the industry during the 70s and 80s and indirectly, Australian films such as The Man From Snowy River, Breaker Morant, Picnic at Hanging Rock, Priscilla, Muriel’s Wedding, Crocodile Dundee, Strictly Ballroom etc. Without his action there would not have been Neighbours or Home and Away. All uniquely Australian. All successful on the international markets. And all providing the training and experience for the production crews and actors that are the bedrock of what is the Australian film and television industry today.

"I want to take this moment on my Dad’s passing to pay tribute to not only the actor and his body of work, but also his passion and purpose as a believer in an Australian identity and as a trailblazer for Australian stories.

"My Dad was born and grew up in England, left Britain on a dream… and turned that hope into a reality. When we actually sit down and think about it we, my brother and I cannot begin to express how truly proud we are of him

"It was his vision, his passion and his strong personal beliefs that, in a way, I, as someone who came up through serial television, benefitted from, but also did countless generations of Australian audiences that were served by the entertainment industry that the Make it Australian helped to create."

Jason was supported by his famous friends, who rushed to pay tribute to Terence. Dannii Minogue wrote: "I am so sorry you have lost your father. I love to hear about his achievements - this one here is incredible and it is lovely to how proud you are."

While Gaby Roslin echoed: "I am so sorry Jason for your loss. Sending you and your family my deepest sympathies and love and strength and he’ll always be on your heart."