Actor's death stuns industry

[pies4ever]

Actor's death stuns industry
Michael Brodie
07jan06

THE sudden death in the US of Australian actor Sophie Heathcote has shocked the film and theatre industries.

Heathcote, 33, died of an aneurism, leaving behind two young children.
The star of A Country Practice, Water Rats and Grass Roots was already battling skin cancer and pancreatic cancer when the aneurism struck her on Wednesday.

Heathcote was well known for her role as Stephanie "Steve" Brennan in A Country Practice, from 1990-91.

She went on to star in Water Rats from 1996-97 as Constable Fiona Cassidy, before appearing in the ABC show RAW FM.

Heathcote died in Connecticut after moving to New York with her husband, advertising agency chief Chris Clarke, her daughter and 16-month-old son last year.

Colleagues described the NIDA graduate as a lovable prankster destined for bigger things.

"At first I thought, 'It can't be Sophie'. She's too young, she was just beginning her life," Water Rats co-star Jay Laga'aia said yesterday. "I said a little prayer for her.

"My love and condolences go out to her husband and family."

Heathcote took a break from acting in 2001 and started a skin care range which she later sold.

Along with her husband she established an annual fundraising event that raises $500,000 a year for the neonatal unit at the Royal Children's Hospital after staff there saved the life of their first child, Madeleine, who is believed to have suffered respiratory problems.

http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,17749795%255E2902,00.html

[The Prototype]

Terrible news, don't really remember her, RIP.

[Pa Marmo]

She was just about the best character in ACP

[HAL]

What happened to her?