Adelaide TV Legend Ian Fairweather Dies Aged 86: Tributes Flow for Beloved 'Here’s Humphrey' Star

Adelaide television personality Ian Fairweather, who has died at the age of 86, is being remembered as a "wonderful man" who lived life to the full.

Fairweather achieved prominence in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s at Channel Nine, where he worked on shows including the hugely popular children's program Here's Humphrey. He was also at times a presenter, and his on-screen appearances made his face recognisable to a generation of viewers. In addition to his work in front of the camera, he was highly regarded for his contributions behind the scenes.

A family spokesperson confirmed Fairweather died on Thursday morning at Gosford Hospital in New South Wales due to complications after a fall. "He was an incredible person who led an incredible life," the spokesperson said in an online tribute.

A Legacy of Joy and Humour

Former colleague Penni Hamilton-Smith first met Fairweather while she was a young actress in 1970, and described him as someone who was "kind, considerate [and] always helping young performers". Hamilton-Smith, who worked with Fairweather for two decades, recalled in a radio interview that she would cherish memories of his "delicious, wicked sense of humour".

"We've just lost the most gorgeous, wonderful, talented, brilliant man," she said. "We had a thoroughly good time for a number of years."

"As he got older, his face wrinkled into a smile because he was such a happy person — he was always confident, always happy, always thinking good thoughts about people."

Hamilton-Smith said Fairweather had spent his final years living in the New South Wales' Central Coast region, after making his start in television in 1959. She said regardless of whether he appeared on screen or was behind the scenes, Fairweather stamped his personality on his work.

"Ian was the one that made the character come alive, he was the one that made the program come alive," Hamilton-Smith said. "He lived a full life, and he helped a lot of people along the way, and brought a lot of joy to a lot of people."

A Heartwarming Tribute

Among those people was Hamilton-Smith herself, who was proud to say she had honoured him by bestowing his name upon her own son. She recalled that after her son was born, Fairweather offered to give her $100 if she named the child after him. She did so, giving her son his own name, followed by "Ian Fairweather" and then his surname. When she called to tell him, he was surprised, and she later jokingly remarked that "he never gave me that hundred bucks".

"God bless him," she said. "A beautiful, beautiful man."