Former Play School presenter and actress Janet Kingsbury dies aged 85

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Former play school presenter and actress Janet Kingsbury has reportedly died. She was 85.

TV Tonight reports the veteran actress, who was best known for her work on the long-running children's television, has passed away, although no cause of death has been disclosed.TV Tonight reports.

Kingsbury was born in England in 1939 and presented on more than 150 episodes of Play School between 1969 and 1986.

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- ABC-TV series. Janet Kingsbury is one of the bright stars of Contrabandits, which Seven is now showing on Wednesday. She supplies glamour and excitement. September 8, 1969. (Photo by Australian Broadcasting Commission).Actress and former Play School presenter Janet Kingsbury has reportedly died. (Australian Broadcasting Commission)

Outside of her beloved role on Play School, she also appeared in the classic Aussie series Skippy The Bush Kangaroo - another children's TV classic.

Outside of her starring roles in TV shows, Kingsbury also leant her talent to several iconic TV shows.

She starred in the lead role of the ABC series Contrabandits in the late 60s. She then starred in guest roles in The Rovers, Homicide, Division 4, Barrier Reef, Spyforce, Elephant Boy, Evil Touch, Silent Number and Class of '74 throughout the '70s.

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 Then and now

Play School presenters: Then and now

Later in her career, she starred in The Restless Years, A Country Practice, Home and Away, Murder Call and All Saints.

According to IMDB, Kingsbury has 30 acting credits to her name. Her last role was in the Channel Nine Aussie drama Doctor Doctor, which starred other Australian TV greats Rodger Corser and Nicole da Silva.

Her film credits include Let the Balloon Go, Dark Age and Flashpoint.

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Jan Kingsbury joins the regular cast of Elephant Boy this ***** day (ATN 7 6.30pm) as veterinary surgeon Sue Fraser. Jan, who started on TV as an ABC presentation announcer, won the TV Society's best actress award for her two-year role in Contrabandits. May 20, 1973.Kingsbury's TV credits include A Country Practice, All Saints, Doctor Doctor and Home and Away. (Australian Broadcasting Commission)

Kingsbury is one of the many celebrated Aussie actors who have leant their talents to the long-running children's TV show.

Kingsbury's colleague Benita Collings starred on the show for 30 years between 1969 and 1999. She went on to star in several stage and television productions including in Nicolas Cage's mother in the feature film Knowing.

The late Kingsbury also starred alongside actor Don Spencer, who appeared on Play School from 1968 to 1999.

Since leaving the children's show, Spencer has focused on making music for children. He established the Australian Children's Music Foundation and works to bring music to kids around the country.

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