Lane was 'funny, charismatic until the end'

22 Oct 2009, 3:52 pm   -   Source: AAP
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Lane, 75, died after battling Alzheimer's disease. (Getty Images)

Lane, 75, died after battling Alzheimer's disease. (Getty Images)

Entertainment legend Don Lane was charismatic and funny until the very end, his close friend and biographer Janise Beaumont says.

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Entertainment legend Don Lane was charismatic and funny until the very end, his close friend and biographer Janise Beaumont says.

Lane, 75, died this morning after battling Alzheimer's disease.

"He didn't want this to happen, but he was still Don," Ms Beaumont told Macquarie Radio.

"And pretty much up to the end he was very tactile ... he loved hugs, he still could make eye contact, still be funny, still be charismatic - but this bastard of Alzheimer's... "We've got to find a cure.

"I'll go on any committee, I'll dress up in a chicken suit to raise money to help find a cure because it robs people of so much."

Ms Beaumont said she noticed Lane was "starting to be a bit fragile" when she began working on his biography more than three years ago.

"A lot of people did drop off like flies in Don's life, and I know that above all else Don would want me to say to people 'if you know anybody with Alzheimer's, there's still a person in there, and don't walk away from them'," she said.

She said she had been friends with the American-born television personality for almost 40 years.

"I know him incredibly well and I love him very much," she said. "I preferred the world with him in it."

Ms Beaumont said she was proud of Lane for completing the book because it had been hard for him at times.

"But he had such a story to tell, such a story about adventures, talent and dreams, and a lot of women," she said.

"He was so charismatic and I am one of the women who fell under his spell for a short time many years ago ... but that was nothing compared to the friendship."

A private funeral service with very few in attendance would be held on Friday, but a public memorial would be held "down the track", Ms Beaumont said.

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Your Comments

RIP old fella

John - from Canberra, 3 years ago

Don Lane was a legend. The old bastard was one of the most popular guys on television. It's very sad when they go. RIP Don. You'll always be remembered fondly...

the don

martin - from adelaide, 3 years ago

i'm 38 years old and i still remember watching the don lane show at home with mum and dad it was real oz telle in those days he's up there with the greats of oz telle RIP DON LANE.

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