What happened to Joy Chambers? The writer and actress known for her role in Neighbours dies aged 76. What she died of and fortune explored.
Joy Chambers-Grundy (real name: Carolyn Joy Chambers) had a successful career in the entertainment industry that spanned over 4 decades.
She was an Australian actress, author, poet, and businesswoman.
Joy Chambers was also famously known as the spouse of multimillionaire television tycoon Reg Grundy who wrote, worked as a production assistant and appeared in his productions and served on the board of Grundys Worldwide, subsequently with her husband they formed media investment company “RG Capital Holdings”, and she pursued a career as a writer of historical novels.
The actress passed away on 17 September 2023 (aged 76), in Bermuda, and following death, many are might want to know more about her cause of death and fortune. Read on for more.
What was Joy Chambers’ cause of death?
Award-winning actress Joy Chamber-Grundy has died aged 76.
She reportedly passed away in her sleep at her Queensland home on Sunday morning, her family announced.
In a heartbreaking statement, they said: “Joy has passed away in her sleep early this morning surrounded by loved ones.
“Joy will be remembered as a Logie award-winning actress, a best-selling author, a poet, a philanthropist and an exceptional businesswoman who worked alongside her husband to build one of the largest independent production companies in the world.”
Tributes have since poured in for the late star who was a household name in Australia.
Fans on X, formerly known as Twitter, said: “Very sad to hear that Joy Chambers … known to us #Neighbours lovers as the fabulous Rosemary Daniels, has passed away.
“She was such an integral part of @Neighbours DNA as the daughter of original show matriarch Helen Daniels, but also real-life wife of Reg Grundy.”
Another noted that Joy’s passing came just a day before Neighbours was set to return to TV screens for a new series.
They said: “How sad that the day before Neighbours returns, one of the iconic cast has passed away. RIP Joy Chambers aka Rosemary Daniels.”
What was Joy Chambers’ net worth?
At the time of her death, Joy Chambers’s net worth was unknown. However, she’s some outlets suggest she was worth between $1 million and $5 million. She made her fortune from her primary career as an actress, writer, and poet.
However, Joy’s late husband Reg Grundy was a multi-millionaire and had a fortune of over $900 milllion. Upon his death, the actress was embroiled in a bitter legal battle with Grundy’s estranged daughter Kim – who now goes by the name Viola La Valette, per MailOnline.
The Neighbours creator left behind assets worth $800million overseas and $71million in Australia at the time of his death.
Who was Joy Chambers? She had an impressive career
Joy was born Carolyn Joy Chambers in Ipswich, Queensland, in 1947.
She is known for her roles in soap operas – as Rita in The Restless Years, Dr Robyn Porter in The Young Doctors and Rosemary Daniels in Neighbours.
She won a Logie Award for Best Female Personality in 1969 and 1970 after starring in her husband’s soap operas.
Joy was also a businesswoman, poet, philanthropist, and fine art collector and published several historical fiction novels during her lifetime.
Her last book, The Soldier’s Choice, was released in 2014.
She met her husband TV executive Reg Grundy at an audition back in the 60s when she was just 18 years old and he was in his 40s.
He was then married to Patricia Powell and the couple shared a daughter, Kim.
Joy and Reg married in 1971 after his divorce from his first wife and they remained together until his death aged 92 in May 2016.
Reg built a TV empire alongside his wife and was behind famous soaps and game shows such as Sons and Daughters, The Young Doctors, The Restless Years, Sale of The Century and Neighbours.
In the early years of their marriage, Joy wrote for several of his shows and worked alongside him as a production assistant.