McLeod’s Daughters star dies ‘unexpectedly’ at 45
McLeod’s Daughters star Rachael Carpani has died aged 45, her family has announced.
“It is with great sadness that Tony and Gael Carpani announce that their beautiful daughter, beloved Australian actress Rachael Carpani, unexpectedly but peacefully passed away after a long battle with chronic illness, in the early hours of Sunday 7th December,” Carpani’s sister Georgia wrote in an Instagram post on Monday.
The post said the Carpani family sought privacy as “this very difficult time” and would make no more statements.
Sydney-born Carpani was best known in Australia for her role in the TV drama. She played Jodi Fountain in nearly 180 episodes from 2001-2009 and was nominated for two Logies in 2007 for the role – the Silver Logie for most popular actress and the coveted Gold Logie.
She recently also had a recurring role in the Seven Network’s Home and Away. But most of her more recent work was in the US, including productions such as NCIS: Los Angeles, A&E network’s The Glades, and The Way Back, Ben Affleck’s 2020 basketball movie.
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In The Glades, Carpani starred opposite her former real-life boyfriend, Aussie actor Matt Passmore. The pair had met on McLeod’s Daughters and dated from 2006-2011.
Last year, Carpani told Seven she moved to the US so she wouldn’t still be known as “Jodi from McLeod’s Daughters” in Australia.
In 2021, she revealed she had required surgery for an undisclosed illness.
“I was admitted to emergency with acute abdominal pain just over a week ago and spent a few days in the ICU. Was then then moved to the surgical ward,” she said.
“Basically it was a case of me not listening to my body and the pain (I tend to work through pain!!) and allowing myself to get quite ill.”
Carpani did not reveal the specific illness. But her health issues apparently persisted, with a pinned post on her Instagram account shared in March 2024 referring to it.
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Her last post was on November 28, just over a week before her death.
Fellow actors flocked to Instagram to pay tribute to Carpani on Tuesday. Among them was Passmore.
“Farewell my friend. All the love I have to the Carpanis, friends and family. The greatest gift you gave was knowing you,” he wrote on social media.
Another McLeod’s Daughters co-star, Bridie Carter, said it was “the wrong order of things”.
“We are better people for having the privilege of sharing time with you,” she wrote on a post sharing Carpani’s sister’s note.
“We know Rach will not only be missed immeasurably by her family, by us, but she is loved and will be missed by you all, around the world.”
Fans also paid tribute.
“My condolences to you, your family and everyone that loved Rachel. The world was just a brighter place for her being here,” one wrote on another of her sister’s posts.
“I am so incredibly saddened to learn of your darling sister’s passing. I am so sorry. I grew up watching and wanting to be her. Sending much love and enveloping hugs to your family,” said another fan.
