Neighbours and McLeod's Daughters actor Peter Hardy has drowned in Western Australia while out snorkelling.
He died on Thursday, March 16 while in the water at Fremantle's South Beach.
Hardy played Phil Rakich in McLeod's Daughters for three years and Detective Cooney in 2000 film Chopper, as well as appearing in episodes of Aussie soap Neighbours.
Hardy's brother Michael commented on his final social media post saying he was "devastated to say" that Hardy had "passed away suddenly".
"Rest in peace, little brother," he said.
"Words cannot express how deeply I feel this loss, We've been close friends since living together in Neutral Bay Sydney in the mid 80s," his friend Andy Burns wrote online.
"He was 66 years old and looked like a Greek god, so fit and happy to be back in his native WA, visiting from London, where he had made his home.
"He was a superb actor, a wonderful singer and guitarist; he also played drums and sax.
"He always loved performing in the theatre as well as film and TV.
"Heartfelt condolences to all his family and many friends over this devastating loss especially his beautiful girlfriend Lysa."
Another man drowned at the same beach on Sunday, March 19.
Police said a marine rescue vessel found the second man unresponsive about 50m off shore.
Investigations into both deaths are underway.
