# Lyn James

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Lyn_James
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Lyn_James.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyn_James
> Source revision: 1357044868
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

{{Short description|Welsh actress (1929–2017)}}
{{distinguish|Lyn St. James}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| birth_name   = Margaret James
| image        = Lyn_james_helen.jpg
| caption      = Lyn James as Helen Gordon in ''[The Young Doctors](/source/The_Young_Doctors)''
| birth_date   = {{Birth date|1929|11|13|df=yes}}
| birth_place  = [Rhondda](/source/Rhondda), Wales, United Kingdom
| death_date   = {{death date and age|2017|5|31|1929|11|13|df=y}}
| death_place  = Sydney, Australia
| education    = Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
| occupation   = {{hlist|Stage and screen actress|director}}
| years_active = 1949–2002
| spouse       = [Eric Tayler](/source/Eric_Tayler) (19??-1997)
| children     = 2  including [Sally Tayler](/source/Sally_Tayler), actress
}}

'''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](/source/The_Young_Doctors)''<ref name="walesonline">{{cite news|last1=Houghton|first1=Tom|title=Rhondda soap star Lyn James has died age 87|url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/showbiz/rhondda-actress-lyn-james-who-13122695|accessdate=2 June 2017|work=Wales Online|date=1 June 2017}}</ref><ref name="atvtoday1">{{cite web|url=http://www.atvtoday.co.uk/98577-grundy|title=Young Doctors Star Lyn James Dies|work=ATV Today |date=31 May 2017 |accessdate=31 May 2017}}</ref>

==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](/source/Rhondda) in South Wales.<ref name="atvtoday1" /> After graduating  from [RADA](/source/RADA), James made her professional debut as an actress in 1949, appearing in numerous plays and TV serials in England for the [BBC](/source/BBC). After meeting her husband they emigrated to Australia in 1965, and, credited now as "Lyn James", appeared in numerous [Crawford Productions](/source/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''.<ref name="dtref">{{cite news|title=The Young Doctors star Lyn James has died in Sydney at the age of 87|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/sydney-confidential/the-young-doctors-star-lyn-james-has-died-in-sydney-at-the-age-of-87/news-story/d0d6fdc7a1d25aeb6ee8f38eee28b74e|accessdate=1 June 2017|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=1 June 2017}}</ref> 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.<ref name="dtref" />

==Filmography==

'''TELEVISION'''
{|class="wikitable
|-
!Year
!Title
!Role
!Type
|-
| 1955
| ''[Fantastic Summer](/source/Fantastic_Summer)''
| Nan Wilde (as Marilyn James)
| TV film, UK
|-
| 1955
| ''[Misery Me](/source/Misery_Me)''
| Romilda (as Marilyn James)
| TV film, UK
|-
| 1956
| ''[Jinny Morgan](/source/Jinny_Morgan)''
| Aggie Hughes (as Marilyn James)
| Teleplay, UK
|-
| 1956
| ''[Poison Pen](/source/Poison_Pen_(play))''
| Rose Rainrider (as Marilyn James)
| Teleplay, UK
|-
| 1957
| ''[The Druid Circle](/source/The_Druid_Circle)''
| Megan Lewis (as Marilyn James)
| Teleplay, UK
|-
| 1957
| ''[Precious Bane](/source/Precious_Bane)''
| Guest role: Moll Miller (as Marilyn James)
| TV series UK, 2 episodes
|-
| 1957
| ''[The Stolen Miniatures](/source/The_Stolen_Miniatures)''
| Nurse Dawson (as Marilyn James)
| TV film, UK
|-
| 1957
| ''[To Love And To Cherish](/source/To_Love_And_To_Cherish)''
| Prudence (as Marilyn James)
| Teleplay, UK
|-
| 1957
| ''[Nicholas Nickleby](/source/Nicholas_Nickleby_(1957_TV_series))''
| Recurring role: Madeline Bray (as Marilyn James)
| TV series UK, 4 episodes
|-
| 1963
| ''[One About The Lugger...](/source/One_About_The_Lugger...)''
| Guest role: Meg Barker (as Marilyn James)
| TV series UK, 1 episode
|-
| 1963
| ''[24-Hour Call](/source/24-Hour_Call)''
| Guest role: Mary Johnson (as Marilyn James)
| TV series UK, 1 episode
|-
| 1963
| ''[First Night](/source/First_Night_(TV_series))''
| Guest role: Alice Potter (as Marilyn James)
| TV series UK, 1 episode
|-
| 1963
| ''[Emergency-Ward 10](/source/Emergency-Ward_10)''
| Recurring role: Beryl Denbigh (as Marilyn James)
| TV series UK, 5 episodes
|-
| 1965
| ''[Story Parade](/source/Story_Parade)''
| Guest role: Alice Dawes (as Marilyn James)
| TV series UK, 1 episode
|-
| 1966
| ''[Australian Playhouse](/source/Australian_Playhouse)''
| Guest role
| ABC TV series, 1 episode
|-
| 1968
| ''[Contrabandits](/source/Contrabandits)''
| Guest role: Nan Hallam
| TV series, 2 episodes
|-
| 1969
| ''[Hunter](/source/Hunter_(1967_TV_series))''
| Guest role: Helen Kramer
| TV series, 1 episode
|-
| 1969;1973
| ''[Division 4](/source/Division_4)''
| Guest roles: Mrs. Thompson / Sue Nichols
| TV series, 2 episodes
|-
| 1970
| ''Eden House''
| Honor
| ABC Teleplay
|-
| 1970–1971
| ''[Dynasty](/source/Dynasty_(Australian_TV_series))''
| Regular role: Maggie Tench
| ABC TV series, 22 episodes
|-
| 1972
| ''[Catwalk](/source/Catwalk_(Australian_TV_series))''
| Guest role: Julia Battle
| TV series, 1 episode
|-
| 1972
| ''[Matlock Police](/source/Matlock_Police)''
| Guest role: Joan Price
| TV series, 1 episode
|-
| 1972
| ''[Over There](/source/Over_There_(Australian_TV_series))''
| Recurring role
| TV series, 3 episodes
|-
| 1973
| ''[Boney](/source/Boney_(TV_series))''
| Guest role
| TV series, 1 episode
|-
| 1973
| ''[Catch Kandy](/source/Catch_Kandy)''
| Recurring role: Mrs. Wayne
| TV series, 3 episodes
|-
| 1973
| ''[Ryan](/source/Ryan_(TV_series))''
| Guest role: Margaret Nelson
| TV series, 1 episode
|-
| 1973
| ''[The Evil Touch](/source/The_Evil_Touch)''
| Guest role: Maid
| TV series, 1 episode
|-
| 1975
| ''[Silent Number](/source/Silent_Number_(TV_series))''
| Guest role
| TV series, 1 episode
|-
| 1975
| ''[Armchair Cinema](/source/Armchair_Cinema)''
| Guest Doris
| TV series, 1 episode "Tully"
|-
| 1976
| ''[The Emigrants](/source/The_Emigrants_(miniseries))''
| Guest role: Mrs. Lewis
| TV series UK, 1 episode
|-
| 1976–1982
| ''[The Young Doctors](/source/The_Young_Doctors)''
| Regular role: Helen Gordon
| TV series, 313 episodes
|-
| 1978
| ''[Case for the Defence](/source/Case_for_the_Defence)''
| Guest role: Minna McGee
| TV series, 1 episode 2: "The Killing Of Toby McGee"
|-
| 1979
| ''[The Rock Pool](/source/The_Rock_Pool_(film))''
| Role unknown
| ABC Teleplay
|-
| 1980
| ''Telethon '80''
| Herself
| TV special
|-
| 1983
| ''[The Coral Island](/source/The_Coral_Island_(TV_series))''
| Guest role: Lady Rover
| TV miniseries, 1 episode
|-
| 1987
| ''[Olive](/source/Olive_(film))''
| Recurring role: Doreen
| ABC TV film
|-
| 1991
| ''In Sydney Today''
| Herself – Guest
| TV series, 1 episode
|-
| 1992
| ''[Bony](/source/Bony_(TV_series))''
| 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](/source/40_Years_Of_TV_Stars..._Then_And_Now)''
| Herself
| TV special
|-
| 1997
| ''[Where Are They Now?](/source/Where_Are_They_Now%3F_(Australian_TV_program))''
| Herself
| TV series, 1 episode
|-
| 2002
| ''[Young Lions](/source/Young_Lions_(TV_series))''
| Guest role: Elderly Woman
| TV series, 1 episode
|}

==Personal life==
James was married to the New Zealand producer [Eric Tayler](/source/Eric_Tayler), a fellow RADA graduate, and they had two children, one of whom is the Australia actress [Sally Tayler](/source/Sally_Tayler), who also appeared with her in ''[The Young Doctors](/source/The_Young_Doctors)''.<ref name="walesonline" />

James final screen appearance was in 2002 and she died in Sydney, aged 87, on 31 May 2017.<ref name="dtref"/>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb name|id=1060713|name=Lyn James}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:James, Lyn}}
Category:1929 births
Category:2017 deaths
Category:Australian soap opera actresses
Category:Welsh soap opera actresses
Category:Welsh emigrants to Australia
Category:Alumni of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
Category:People from Rhondda

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Lyn James](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyn_James) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyn_James?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.