More than 35 years ago, the final episode of the fictional drama series Flying Doctors aired.
Running for more than six years across 221 action packed episodes, the show depicted the day-to-day life of the Royal Flying Doctor Service, a very real service that provides medical support for those living in rural and remote areas of the country, flying patients in and out of areas otherwise inaccessible.
With a mix of outback drama, a splash of iconic Aussie humour and stunning locations, the show is every bit as popular as it was more than 30 years ago, with reruns still shown across the world.
So where have the cast of this beloved Aussie television series landed today?
Scroll on to find out…
Lenore Smith (Kate Wellings)
Lenore hasn’t aged a day!
(IMAGE: Nine)Now 64, Lenore was one of the biggest actresses in Australia when Flying Doctors was airing on television.
After her time on the hit show wrapped up, Lenore decided to leave her acting days behind her, embarking on a university degree as a mature age student which saw her graduate with a Bachelor of Podiatry degree with 1st Class Honours from Central Queensland University.
Her last acting appearance was in the 2022 science fiction series Farscape in a guest role.
Speaking to 9NOW in 2022, Lenore spoke fondly about her time playing Kate Wellings: ”The Flying Doctors ran for six years, and I appeared in all but one of its 221 episodes, but without a doubt it was the episodes featuring Geoff and Kate that gave me the greatest personal and professional satisfaction and pleasure,” she said.
Maurie Fields (Vic Buckley)
Not much time passed between the end of Flying Doctors and Maurie’s untimely death.
(IMAGE: Nine/Getty)Unfortunately for fans, Maurie passed away at the age of 69 from a heart attack in 1995. Following his death, he became the first actor to be inducted into the Logie Hall of Fame.
By the time he was cast as Vic Buckley in Flying Doctors, Maurie was already a celebrated Australian vaudeville performer, actor and stand-up comedian.
Following his time on Flying Doctors, he went on to star in spin off show R.F.D.S (reprising his role as Vic Buckley), film Country Life and Neighbours in a guest role of five episodes, in what would be his last on-screen appearance.
Robert Grubb (Dr Geoffrey Standish)
Robert is still an active performer, mostly in musical theatre nowadays.
(IMAGE: Nine/QPAC)After his time on Flying Doctors came to an end, Robert was a busy man!
He went on to star in a number of notable Australian films and television series, including the likes of Blue Heelers, All Saints, Neighbours and McLeods Daughters. His most recent on-screen appearance was in the 2022 television miniseries Savage River.
He is also known for his work in theatre, performing in musicals such as the Queen musical We Will Rock You, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Into the Woods. He most recently starred in QPAC’s production of Mary Poppins.
Val Jellay (Nancy Buckley)
Val was a celebrated Australian performer.
(IMAGE: Nine/Getty)The in real life wife of fellow Flying Doctors cast member Maurie Fields passed away from pneumonia at the ripe old age of 89 in 2017.
After starting to perform as just a toddler and continuing her life in the spotlight until her death, Val was celebrated for her career as an Australian vaudevillian, actress, soubrette, dancer, author and TV personality.
She went on to star in Flying Doctors spin off R.F.D.S in 1993, before starring in the likes of Neighbours, Blue Heelers, Spicks and Specks and Dancing with the Stars.
Her son is Australian comedian Marty Fields.
Liz Burch (Dr Chris Randall)
Liz has taken a step back from the public eye since Flying Doctors ended.
(IMAGE: Nine/The Movie Database)Liz kept herself busy after the Flying Doctors finished, going on to star in lead roles on Ocean Girl, All Saints, Water Rats and finally Blue Water High from 2005 – 2006.
But for the last 15+ years, Liz has remained largely out of the spotlight, bar a brief appearance on A Current Affair in 2021.
That same year, she also spoke to our sister publication New Idea about her time on the show.
”We had the best time. We all became very good friends. I think about all the marvellous people that were in the show, the crew and some funny….bits that were great.”
”But I don’t remember an awful lot because it was a hundred years ago.”
Rebecca Gibney (Emma Plimpton)
Rebecca is now a Gold Logie award winner!
(IMAGE: Nine/Getty)Perhaps one of the biggest names to come out of the show, Rebecca’s career has only gone from strength to strength since Flying Doctors ended.
She went on to have starring roles in All Together Now, Halifax, Stingers, Packed to the Rafters, The Killing Field, The Dressmaker, Halifax: Retribution and most recently in Back to the Rafters and Under the Vines.
She married her first husband Irwin Thomas (aka Jack Jones, former lead singer of the Southern Sons) in 1992 which ended in divorce. Her second husband – production designer Richard Bell – and her share son Zachary who was born in April 2004. She currently lives in Dunedin, New Zealand.
George Kapiniaris (Dimitrios ‘D.J,’ Lonniadis)
Catch George on one of his comedy tours!
(IMAGE: Nine/Supplied)After starring in an impressive 110 episodes of Flying Doctors, George went on to portray Memo Hatzidimitropoulos on comedy Acropolis Now from 1989 – 1992.
Following a number of sporadic guest roles on television series over the years, George’s most recent acting gig was from 2019 – 2021 where he starred as Ronnie McDoggle in Fat Pizza: Back in Business.
He currently tours the country doing stand up comedy and improv sketches in an acting troupe.
Terry Gill (Sgt Jack Carruthers)
Terry remained an active member of the theatre industry before his death in 2015.
(IMAGE: Nine/Supplied)Terry did continue working in the television industry after his departure from Flying Doctors in 1991 with a handful of guest roles over the years.
Alongside his wife Carol, he also ran The Tivoli, a well-known theatre restaurant in Melbourne, producing pantomimes and theatre shows.
After suffering a mild stroke in late 2014, Terry passed away following a lengthy battle with lung cancer in Richmond on February 25th 2015.
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