Australian actress Rachael Carpani has died aged 45, her family has announced. Carpani was best known for her role as Jodi Fountain in the long-running Australian television series McLeod’s Daughters and NCIS: Los Angeles.
In a statement shared on Instagram, the family said it was with “great sadness” that they were confirming her death, adding that Carpani had been living with a chronic illness.
Family calls Carpani’s death ‘unexpected’
A statement issued by her family read, “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. The funeral will be a private event, to be held on Friday 19th December with close family and friends. The family requests privacy at this very difficult time and will be making no further statements.”
Who was Rachel Carpani?
Born on August 24, 1980, in Sydney, Australia, Rachael appeared in 179 episodes, starring as a main cast member in the first seven seasons of Australian drama series McLeod’s Daughters and as a guest star in the show’s Season 8, which aired from 2001 to 2009.
She also featured in several other American television series, including five episodes of the CBS drama Cane, three episodes of the A&E crime drama The Glades, a 2014 episode of the CBS series Stalker, and took the lead role in the short-lived Lifetime police drama Against the Wall, according to TV Insider.com
She was known for her work in film, including a role in the 2009 thriller Triangle, in which she starred alongside Liam Hemsworth.
Earlier this year, in August, Carpani’s sister Georgia paid tribute to her sister with a heartfelt birthday message, highlighting their close bond and celebrating her life.