Babette Stephens

For 70 years, Babette Stephens worked as an actor in theater, radio, TV and film. She was also a director, artistic director, talk show host, TV game show panelist and acting teacher. Her last acting student was Dwayne Lawler. In 1972, she was awarded an MBE (Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) - which she received personally from Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace - for her services to theater. In 1994, she was awarded the AM (Member of the Order of Australia) for her services to the performing arts. Little wonder she was known as the "Grand Dame of Theater." She was given a standing ovation at her funeral by a final audience of more than 500 members of the entertainment industry. Her biography "Never Upstaged: Babette Stephens, her life and times," was published in 2004.