‘It was grueling at times, but it was a lot of fun’: Remembering Australia’s beloved film critic (85) and soap star (81)
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Two of screen culture’s beloved figures have left the world within months of each other, leaving fans and colleagues alike in quiet mourning.
Their work shaped Australian and international audiences in ways that went far beyond entertainment.
From sharp critiques to chilling performances, their legacies endure.
Legendary film critic David Stratton died at age 85, prompting heartfelt tributes from politicians, actors and the film industry.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Stratton had shared his love of cinema with the nation while co-hosting the television programs The Movie Show and At The Movies with Margaret Pomeranz.
‘All of us who tuned in to At the Movies respected him for his deep knowledge and for the gentle and generous way he passed it on,’ Albanese said.
We loved his wit and his sharp insight, and the deep love of cinema that underpinned it all. And in his chemistry with Margaret Pomeranz, he helped deliver one of Australia’s truly great TV partnerships.’
Arts Minister Tony Burke said he was deeply saddened by Stratton’s death and highlighted how ‘his love of film shone through’ during his life.
‘You would see a movie because David told you to. Countless stories reached countless Australians because of David,’ Burke said.
‘We saw more, learned more, felt more, laughed more and cried more because David shared his love of screen with us.’
ABC managing director Hugh Marks said Stratton had made an enormous contribution to the public broadcaster during his decades on screen.
‘Incredible insight, a love of the craft of moviemaking and a respect for his audience, David was a credit to our industry,’ Marks said.
SBS managing director James Taylor said the broadcaster was ‘deeply saddened’ and credited Stratton’s work co-hosting The Movie Show between 1986 and 2004 for ‘introducing generations of viewers to cinema from Australia and around the world. His legacy endures in every thoughtful review and every inspired viewer.’
Actor Rachel Griffiths told the ABC that Stratton was ‘a champion of Australian stories’.
‘He was gentle in manner and had a curiosity that I’ve found rare in my career,’ she said.
‘Most notably, he was humble – never putting himself as the overlord of the creative – but as a servant to creativity. He had an ear for truth and a love of the human, and knew almost instantly when a new talent had announced itself.’
The Melbourne International Film Festival praised Stratton’s ‘deep passion for cinema and his lifelong commitment to championing Australian film brought countless stories to audiences and inspired generations’.
The Sydney Film Festival said Stratton’s achievements were ‘too innumerable to list in totality’ but highlighted ‘his successful fight against censorship of films in Australia’ and his support for emerging filmmakers worldwide, fostering ‘a brave and adventurous cinema culture in Australian audiences’.
In a statement, Screen Australia said Stratton was ‘a champion of Australian voices and stories on screen. His passion for cinema and support for the local screen industry will be long felt and never forgotten.’
While Australia mourned Stratton, the screen world also said farewell to actress Lorna Raver, who died on 12 May 2025 at the age of 81, according to The Hollywood Reporter, with her death publicly announced in SAG-AFTRA’s Summer 2025 magazine.
Raver was known to fans of The Young and the Restless for playing Rebecca Kaplan, a Holocaust survivor and mother of Brad Carlton, from 2006 to 2007, replacing Millie Perkins in the role.
She had also appeared on the soap in 1997 as Helen Miller, demonstrating her versatility across multiple storylines and eras.
Her most widely recognised performance came in Sam Raimi’s 2009 horror film Drag Me to Hell, where she played a villainous elderly woman who attacks Alison Lohman’s character and places a curse on her.
‘It was really interesting to me to shoot,’ Raver said of the famous parking garage scene in an interview. ‘Our stunt doubles were there and they would give us hints about how you make this look effective...Alison and I both wanted to do as much of the work as we possibly could.’
She also spoke to JoBlo Movie Network about the experience, saying, ‘It was a lot of fun. I mean, it was grueling at times, but it was a lot of fun.’
Raver described the meticulous process of special effects makeup to create her character’s haggard look, explaining, ‘They did a life cast of me...one just neutral and one with me kind of screaming, and they used those molds to create the makeup.’
Beyond these standout roles, Raver appeared in numerous television series, including Boston Legal, Ally McBeal, ER, Beverly Hills: 90210, Nip/Tuck and Grey’s Anatomy.
She was also recognised for her voice work, winning an Earphones Award for audiobook narration and being named Best Voice of the Year by AudioFile magazine.
Raver’s contributions left a mark on both television and film audiences, blending dramatic depth with chilling intensity.
Her voice and performances will continue to echo in both soap operas and horror classics for generations to come.
Their work shaped Australian and international audiences in ways that went far beyond entertainment.
From sharp critiques to chilling performances, their legacies endure.
Legendary film critic David Stratton died at age 85, prompting heartfelt tributes from politicians, actors and the film industry.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Stratton had shared his love of cinema with the nation while co-hosting the television programs The Movie Show and At The Movies with Margaret Pomeranz.
‘All of us who tuned in to At the Movies respected him for his deep knowledge and for the gentle and generous way he passed it on,’ Albanese said.
Legendary film critic David Stratton dies aged 85. Image source: Instagram/albomp
We loved his wit and his sharp insight, and the deep love of cinema that underpinned it all. And in his chemistry with Margaret Pomeranz, he helped deliver one of Australia’s truly great TV partnerships.’
Arts Minister Tony Burke said he was deeply saddened by Stratton’s death and highlighted how ‘his love of film shone through’ during his life.
‘You would see a movie because David told you to. Countless stories reached countless Australians because of David,’ Burke said.
‘We saw more, learned more, felt more, laughed more and cried more because David shared his love of screen with us.’
ABC managing director Hugh Marks said Stratton had made an enormous contribution to the public broadcaster during his decades on screen.
‘Incredible insight, a love of the craft of moviemaking and a respect for his audience, David was a credit to our industry,’ Marks said.
SBS managing director James Taylor said the broadcaster was ‘deeply saddened’ and credited Stratton’s work co-hosting The Movie Show between 1986 and 2004 for ‘introducing generations of viewers to cinema from Australia and around the world. His legacy endures in every thoughtful review and every inspired viewer.’
Actor Rachel Griffiths told the ABC that Stratton was ‘a champion of Australian stories’.
‘He was gentle in manner and had a curiosity that I’ve found rare in my career,’ she said.
‘Most notably, he was humble – never putting himself as the overlord of the creative – but as a servant to creativity. He had an ear for truth and a love of the human, and knew almost instantly when a new talent had announced itself.’
The Melbourne International Film Festival praised Stratton’s ‘deep passion for cinema and his lifelong commitment to championing Australian film brought countless stories to audiences and inspired generations’.
The Sydney Film Festival said Stratton’s achievements were ‘too innumerable to list in totality’ but highlighted ‘his successful fight against censorship of films in Australia’ and his support for emerging filmmakers worldwide, fostering ‘a brave and adventurous cinema culture in Australian audiences’.
In a statement, Screen Australia said Stratton was ‘a champion of Australian voices and stories on screen. His passion for cinema and support for the local screen industry will be long felt and never forgotten.’
While Australia mourned Stratton, the screen world also said farewell to actress Lorna Raver, who died on 12 May 2025 at the age of 81, according to The Hollywood Reporter, with her death publicly announced in SAG-AFTRA’s Summer 2025 magazine.
Raver was known to fans of The Young and the Restless for playing Rebecca Kaplan, a Holocaust survivor and mother of Brad Carlton, from 2006 to 2007, replacing Millie Perkins in the role.
She had also appeared on the soap in 1997 as Helen Miller, demonstrating her versatility across multiple storylines and eras.
Actress Lorna Raver dies aged 81. Image source: Instagram/thesoapcentral
Her most widely recognised performance came in Sam Raimi’s 2009 horror film Drag Me to Hell, where she played a villainous elderly woman who attacks Alison Lohman’s character and places a curse on her.
‘It was really interesting to me to shoot,’ Raver said of the famous parking garage scene in an interview. ‘Our stunt doubles were there and they would give us hints about how you make this look effective...Alison and I both wanted to do as much of the work as we possibly could.’
She also spoke to JoBlo Movie Network about the experience, saying, ‘It was a lot of fun. I mean, it was grueling at times, but it was a lot of fun.’
Raver described the meticulous process of special effects makeup to create her character’s haggard look, explaining, ‘They did a life cast of me...one just neutral and one with me kind of screaming, and they used those molds to create the makeup.’
Beyond these standout roles, Raver appeared in numerous television series, including Boston Legal, Ally McBeal, ER, Beverly Hills: 90210, Nip/Tuck and Grey’s Anatomy.
She was also recognised for her voice work, winning an Earphones Award for audiobook narration and being named Best Voice of the Year by AudioFile magazine.
Raver’s contributions left a mark on both television and film audiences, blending dramatic depth with chilling intensity.
Her voice and performances will continue to echo in both soap operas and horror classics for generations to come.
