The popular TV and stage actor, best known for portraying ‘Prisoner’s’ Franky Doyle, has passed away aged 68.

One of Australia’s most popular and versatile actors and directors, Carol Burns, has died aged 68 at Brisbane’s Princess Alexandra Hospital following a short battle with cancer. Her partner of 36 years, composer and musician Alan Lawrence, was with her by her bedside when she passed away yesterday afternoon.

Burns was a founding member of the Queensland Theatre Company in 1969 and since then has starred in numerous productions for the company alongside other Australian acting greats such as Geoffrey Rush and Billie Brown. As recently as this year Burns has continued to delight QTC patrons, appearing as the leading role in the company’s production of Samuel Beckett’s Happy Days in July to rave reviews.

Burns also regularly appeared with Australia’s other top theatre troupes, including Brisbane Arts Theatre, Sydney Theatre Company, Melbourne Theatre Company, La Boite Theatre Company, Nimrod Theatre Company and the State Theatre Company of South Australia.

Initially cutting her teeth as an actor exclusively on the theatre stage, Burns entered the television arena in the late...