When it comes to iconic Aussie television drama, there is none quite like Sons & Daughters.
Taking the 1980s by storm, the Logie award winning soap opera ran for a whopping 972 half an hour episodes from January 1982 until December 1987.
Revolving around the wealthy Hamilton family in Sydney and the working-class Palmers from Melbourne, this Romeo and Juliet style story is still very much in the hearts and minds of fans everywhere.
So, almost 40 years since the last episode finished airing, what are the cast up to today?
From an assault charge, Centrelink fraud, a fortune lost to superannuation theft and a bingo caller, the answers may surprise you!
.png?resize=380%2C285)
.png?resize=380%2C285)
Rowena Wallace (Patricia Hamilton)
Fan favourite Patricia (or should we say Pat the Rat) secured Rowena an impressive five Logies (one gold and four silver) for her portrayal of her. Whilst this role is Patricia’s most notable to date and saw her rise to become one of Australia’s highest paid actresses for a time, she did fall on hard times – eventually relying on a disability support pension to live.
Then shockingly in 2005, Rowena was lucky to avoid jail time after it was discovered that she had defrauded Centrelink of a whopping $30,000. After being served a six-month suspended sentence and placed on a two year good behaviour probation bond.
And if things couldn’t get any worse, the now 75 year old even set up a Go Fund Me, asking for donations from the public to help her move interstate to Brisbane after confirming to The Daily Telegraph that she lives on roughly $400 per week.
She has also since sold her Logie Awards to pay her bills.
On a positive note, over the years Rowena has had some acting luck, with guest roles in Home and Away and Neighbours.
Ally Fowler (Angela Hamilton)
Appearing in 327 episodes across Sons & Daughters six-year run, Ally’s career was launched into new heights.
After the show wrapped up Ally went on to star in equally iconic Aussie shows All Saints, Heartbreak High and Wentworth as well as Neighbours more recently.
Her more recent role was as Rachel Weston in TV series Riptide (2022). Ally also tours across the country and overseas, performing reunion gigs as part of her 1980s pop music band Chantoozies.
Peter Phelps (John Palmer)
Post Sons and Daughters, Peter went on to star in several Aussie dramas like fellow 80’s hit A Country Practice, 90s icon Heartbreak High and more recently in Underbelly and Home and Away.
Peter also had a guest role in Hollywood smash hit Point Break where he tells Keanu Reeves ”it’s death on a stick out there mate.”
Unfortunately for Peter, things did take a downward slide when in 2015, he reportedly lost $400,000 of his superannuation after falling victim to a dodgy investment adviser.
”Superannuation stolen by bankrupt ”financial advisor”,” Peter vented to his Facebook at the time.
”Kids’ future. Farm. Gone.”
Peter currently stars on Home and Away as Garry Morrow, foster father to Cash and Felicity Newman.
Ian Rawlings (Wayne Hamilton)
Notorious for his role as Wayne, aka Pat the Rats son, Ian’s status as an Aussie actor to watch was solidified when he joined the cast of Neighbours in 1992 as Phillip Martin – a role he played until he departed the series in 1999.
In the 20 some years since Ian has been rather quiet on the acting front, with stints as a salesman and more recently as a bingo host at a suburban Victorian hotel.
He did however make a return to Neighbours for the 2022 finale.
Abigail (Caroline Morell)
Already an Aussie sex symbol from her role on controversial soap Number 96, Abigail was used to fame by the time she joined Sons and Daughters as villain Caroline in Season 4.
The former actress is now retired, her last television appearance more than 20 years ago as a spokesperson for weight loss company Jenny Craig.
Abigail did however make headlines in 2011 when it was discovered that she was living in an abandoned church alongside her husband when their home was destroyed by floodwaters.
Alyce Platt (Amanda Morrell)
This multi talented actress starred in 312 episodes of Sons and Daughters whilst also co-hosting hit quiz show Sale of the Century from 1986 to 1991.
Since then, Alyce has had starring roles in shows such as City Homicide, The Elephant Princess and The Seven Types of Ambiguity.
The now 59-year-old is also an accomplished singer, her latest album – Brain Douche – released in 2022 in partnership with Creative Victoria.
Her last on-screen appearance was in 2021 on Neighbours.
.jpg?fit=126%2C128){kind=avatar}