Fascinating facts about The Sullivans
Did you know?
Vikki Hammond (Maggie) and Noni Hazelhurst (Lil) were the first two actors to be cast in the show, even before any actors had been chosen to play members of the Sullivan family.
Terry may not have noticed, but viewers can spot that his wife changed a lot over the years. Initially played by Toni Vernon, she later returned as Genevieve Picot.
Toni Vernon and Megan Williams (Alice) both studied classical ballet with Garth Welch, a former Australian Ballet Company principal dancer, Toni is the younger sister of Marilyn Vernon, who was in Bellbird and The Box.
Despite Norm and Tom fighting in theatres of war around the world, Norman Yemm and Stephen Tandy, who played them, only ever filmed in one overseas location during the show's run. They shot outside scenes in Holland for a 19 week storyline; Australian locations doubled as other countries the pair visited. While filming in Holland some locals got upset at seeing Nazi flags on buildings and extras dressed in SS uniforms. In fact, one such extra was attacked by an angry Dutchman.
Queenscliff Railway Museum in Victoria became a Dutch railway station in a scene where, to escape detection, Norm dressed as a Nazi and Tom dressed as woman.
When Kitty and Robbie's daughter, Gracie, was born in February 1981 Graham Harvey, who played Robbie, had already resigned from the series. Fortunately, six months of scenes were already in the can so Kitty and Robbie were able to play happy families on screen for a short while longer.
Megan Williams (Alice) and Susan Hannaford (Kitty) attended the 1980 Logies in dresses that Susan had designed herself.
Vera Plevnik starred as John's wife in The John Sullivan Story and then again for a short time in The Sullivans, to tie up the storyline for Andrew McFarlane's last episodes. Set for a successful acting career, Vera tragically died in road accident in 1982.
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