O’Mara passed away yesterday at the
age of 74 in a Sussex nursing home after a short illness. Her agent praised her
"energy and vitality" and her "love for theatre and
acting".
She had an extensive career in television and theatre, but
was best known for her role in the US Eighties soap opera Dynasty as Cassandra “Caress” Morrell.
Aside from Cassandra Morrell, her most famous television
appearance was as the renegade Time Lady The Rani in Doctor Who. O’Mara appeared alongside Colin Baker who tweeted: "Oh my goodness. Kate
O'Mara is no longer with us. Sad sad news. A delightful, committed and talented
lady and actress. We are the poorer."
She
had been married to actors Richard Willis and Jeremy Young and her sister,
actress Belinda Carroll survives her. Her son Dickon died last year.
Derek Martinus, director, died at
the age of 82 yesterday from complications related to the Alzheimer’s he had
suffered from for years.
Martinus is best known for directing several iconic episodes
of Doctor Who.
He worked on episodes
starring the first three Doctors between 1965 and 1970. One of the key episodes
that Martinus directed was the first colour episode of the series. Martinus started his career in the theatre, and went on to
work on TV series such as United, Z-cars,
The Doctors, Angels, Blake's 7 and Penmarric,
as well as Doctor Who.
His daughter Charlotta Martinus told the BBC that "He
was a legend, just an absolute legend... He taught me how to love, live and
laugh, he was just such an amazing man."
Martinus is survived by his wife of 50 years, Eivor, two
daughters and three grandchildren.
