# Lyn James

Lyn James (13 November 1929 – 31 May 2017), credited also as Marilyn James, was a Welsh-born actress of stage and screen and director, who became known for her career in England and later Australia, particularly as receptionist Helen Gordon in television soap opera The Young Doctors

## Biography

She was born Margaret James, the daughter of theatre actor and producer Jack James and granddaughter of photographer Levi Ladd. and grew up in Rhondda in South Wales. After graduating from RADA, James made her professional debut as an actress in 1949, appearing in numerous plays and TV serials in England for the BBC. After meeting her husband they emigrated to Australia in 1965, and, credited now as "Lyn James", appeared in numerous Crawford Productions series, before she became best known internationally for her role as doctors secretary Helen Gordon in the Australian television soap opera The Young Doctors. She appeared in the series from its inception in 1976, until it ended in 1983, one of only a few actors to appear for the duration of the series.

## Filmography

TELEVISION
| Year | Title | Role | Type |
| 1955 | Fantastic Summer | Nan Wilde (as Marilyn James) | TV film, UK |
| 1955 | Misery Me | Romilda (as Marilyn James) | TV film, UK |
| 1956 | Jinny Morgan | Aggie Hughes (as Marilyn James) | Teleplay, UK |
| 1956 | Poison Pen | Rose Rainrider (as Marilyn James) | Teleplay, UK |
| 1957 | The Druid Circle | Megan Lewis (as Marilyn James) | Teleplay, UK |
| 1957 | Precious Bane | Guest role: Moll Miller (as Marilyn James) | TV series UK, 2 episodes |
| 1957 | The Stolen Miniatures | Nurse Dawson (as Marilyn James) | TV film, UK |
| 1957 | To Love And To Cherish | Prudence (as Marilyn James) | Teleplay, UK |
| 1957 | Nicholas Nickleby | Recurring role: Madeline Bray (as Marilyn James) | TV series UK, 4 episodes |
| 1963 | One About The Lugger... | Guest role: Meg Barker (as Marilyn James) | TV series UK, 1 episode |
| 1963 | 24-Hour Call | Guest role: Mary Johnson (as Marilyn James) | TV series UK, 1 episode |
| 1963 | First Night | Guest role: Alice Potter (as Marilyn James) | TV series UK, 1 episode |
| 1963 | Emergency-Ward 10 | Recurring role: Beryl Denbigh (as Marilyn James) | TV series UK, 5 episodes |
| 1965 | Story Parade | Guest role: Alice Dawes (as Marilyn James) | TV series UK, 1 episode |
| 1966 | Australian Playhouse | Guest role | ABC TV series, 1 episode |
| 1968 | Contrabandits | Guest role: Nan Hallam | TV series, 2 episodes |
| 1969 | Hunter | Guest role: Helen Kramer | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1969;1973 | Division 4 | Guest roles: Mrs. Thompson / Sue Nichols | TV series, 2 episodes |
| 1970 | Eden House | Honor | ABC Teleplay |
| 1970–1971 | Dynasty | Regular role: Maggie Tench | ABC TV series, 22 episodes |
| 1972 | Catwalk | Guest role: Julia Battle | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1972 | Matlock Police | Guest role: Joan Price | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1972 | Over There | Recurring role | TV series, 3 episodes |
| 1973 | Boney | Guest role | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1973 | Catch Kandy | Recurring role: Mrs. Wayne | TV series, 3 episodes |
| 1973 | Ryan | Guest role: Margaret Nelson | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1973 | The Evil Touch | Guest role: Maid | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1975 | Silent Number | Guest role | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1975 | Armchair Cinema | Guest Doris | TV series, 1 episode "Tully" |
| 1976 | The Emigrants | Guest role: Mrs. Lewis | TV series UK, 1 episode |
| 1976–1982 | The Young Doctors | Regular role: Helen Gordon | TV series, 313 episodes |
| 1978 | Case for the Defence | Guest role: Minna McGee | TV series, 1 episode 2: "The Killing Of Toby McGee" |
| 1979 | The Rock Pool | Role unknown | ABC Teleplay |
| 1980 | Telethon '80 | Herself | TV special |
| 1983 | The Coral Island | Guest role: Lady Rover | TV miniseries, 1 episode |
| 1987 | Olive | Recurring role: Doreen | ABC TV film |
| 1991 | In Sydney Today | Herself – Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1992 | Bony | Guest role: Mrs. Vincetti | TV series, 1 episode 2: "Looks Can Kill" |
| 1994 | TVTV | Herself with The Young Doctors cast | ABC TV series, 1 episode |
| 1996 | 40 Years Of TV Stars... Then And Now | Herself | TV special |
| 1997 | Where Are They Now? | Herself | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2002 | Young Lions | Guest role: Elderly Woman | TV series, 1 episode |

## Personal life

James was married to the New Zealand producer Eric Tayler, a fellow RADA graduate, and they had two children, one of whom is the Australia actress Sally Tayler, who also appeared with her in The Young Doctors.
James final screen appearance was in 2002 and she died in Sydney, aged 87, on 31 May 2017.