YOUNG
Ken with his fiancee Rosemarie,
who has supported him throughout
HEART-
his cancer battle. The star believes
in surrounding himself with
THROB
‘doers with good energy’.
Ken won hearts of Skippy viewers from 1966
(left) and continued to impress Aussies in roles
such as Simon Young in Skyways (above).
Despite a battle with cancer, Ken
James – and his sunny smile – live on
K
en James, the people, and always keep smiling.
star of Skippy, It’s become my mantra and,
is so upbeat fortunately, I’m blessed to have
you’d never guess he such a loving family [children
was battling cancer – Adrian, 37, and Becky, 33, from
because he’s a firm a previous marriage] and my
believer in the power gorgeous fiancee with me all
of positive thinking. the way,’ he smiles.
As the acting legend Ken says the first clue to
celebrates 50 years in his health crisis came when
showbiz, he tells New Idea he noticed several small lumps
he’s been quietly battling on his neck during a shave.
non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma ‘The lumps seemed to come
since late 2009. out of nowhere, so I had them
‘It’s the same kind of immediately checked. A biopsy
cancer that struck singer was performed and, to my horror,
Delta Goodrem, cricketing I was diagnosed with stage three
great Simon O’Donnell and cancer, which has now escalated to
musical theatre star Anthony stage four and spread to the bones.’
Warlow, so I figure I’m in Ken explains that until
good company,’ says Ken, recently, his doctor had him
62, who is taking time out undergoing regular scans in
to recharge with his fiancee a ‘wait and see’ holding pattern.
Rosemarie Stuhlener, 60, at ‘But I got the news through
a friend’s beautiful villa in Bali. that I needed to undergo light
‘The great TV producer chemo, and so that began in
Hector Crawford told me years early April. I’m on a four-week
ago the secret to success program,’ he says.
SKIPPY STAR KEN JAMES in anything is to surround
yourself with positive
‘So far I’m holding up nicely.
I’m very strong-willed, I’m a
HOW LOVE IS HELPING ME
CONQUER CANCER 43
‘Looking back over 50
fabulous years in
showbiz... I have no
misgivings and have
had a very fortunate
life,’ Ken says.
survivor and I’m just surrounding since. When he was 16 he landed for 10 years on
myself with positivism and love. a plum role on the legendary Bert Newton’s
People who know my situation say 1960s series Skippy, playing the morning show.
I look remarkably well, save for eldest son Mark Hammond. Retirement
a bit of 62-year-old wear and tear! ‘I loved that show, and all doesn’t register with
‘And Rosemarie has been so these years on I still get mountains the energetic star.
devoted. She accompanies me to of fan letters from around the Just when most
every medical appointment and is world. The enduring popularity people Ken’s age
a wonderful support. I don’t know of Skippy is incredible.’ might be putting
what I’d do without her,’ says Ken Sadly, Ken reveals several their feet up, he’s
as he squeezes Rosemarie’s hand. of his Skippy co-stars also battled off on tour next
The star says he and Rosemarie cancer. ‘Ed Devereaux, who year, performing in
met 10 years ago and have been played Matt Hammond, died of a stage show called
engaged for the past eight. cancer in 2003, Liza Goddard, Ladies Night, which
‘I loved that show and still get
is based on The Ken still juggles a showbiz career
Full Monty – but while also working with charities such
he’s quick to add as Bali’s Jodie O’Shea Orphanage.
mountains of fan letters...’ that he won’t be
getting his gear off!
As well as juggling a busy worries of the world just melted
‘I know it seems like the who played Clancy, won her fight showbiz career, Ken works from my shoulders,’ says Ken,
Jodie O’Shea Orphanage, visit www.villasenja.net and www.careforkidsbali.com
world’s longest engagement, but with breast cancer in 2007 and tirelessly for charities such as who was touched when a group
Styling: Sarah Dougherty. For more information about Villa Senja and the
we both get so busy we keep Tony Bonner, who played Jerry Life Education and Variety. of the orphans dropped by Villa
forgetting to marry! We sort of King, recently suffered a prostate Proceeds from Villa Senja, where Senja to say thanks.
set a date, then we get so caught cancer scare. Tony and I often Ken and Rosemarie stayed, ‘When the doctor gave me
up in everything that the date talk and we’ve been a great support Bali causes including that dreaded cancer diagnosis
comes and goes,’ he laughs. support for each other,’ Ken says. the Jodie O’Shea Orphanage. I thought to myself: “If I die
‘But we love each other so After Skippy, Ken starred in ‘Bali holds a very special tomorrow I’ve had a wonderful
much, we keep talking about raunchy 1970s series The Box, place in my heart. During The life.” Happily, my doctor is
marriage, and so one of these followed by roles in popular Box, the huge slabs of dialogue convinced there’s at least another
days the confetti will flutter!’ shows Skyways and Sons and I had nearly killed me. I remember 20 good years in me yet, so for
Ken’s showbiz career began Daughters. After taking a break being a total wreck, so I flew to that I’m hugely grateful,’ he says
when he was 12. He was featured from TV drama, Ken reinvented Bali to unwind. When I stepped with his trademark smile.
in a meat pie TV commercial and himself as a TV chef in the 1990s, off that plane, seeing the smiles By Craig Bennett
he’s rarely been out of work whipping up culinary creations of the Balinese, magically the Photos: Dewandra
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