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Betty Bobbitt dead: Crocodile Dundee and Prisoner Cell Block H star dies aged 81

<p>Betty Bobbitt died aged 81</p> (Handout/Facebook)

Betty Bobbitt died aged 81

(Handout/Facebook)

Crocodile Dundee star Betty Bobbit has died aged 81 following a stroke, her family has announced.

Betty starred alongside Paul Hogan in three of the Crocodile Dundee films but was best known for her work Judy Bryant in Prisoner: Cell Block H.

The actress was born in New York and went to Australia in the early 1960s to work on the Melbourne-based variety show Daly At Night, where she lived for the rest of her life.

She is survived by her husband artist Robin Hill and their son Christopher.

Her son shared the news of her death on Facebook, writing: "Sadly, mum passed away this morning at 10:20am after five nights in hospital.

"She was peaceful and in no pain. Thank you for your support and apologies if I can't respond to everyone but I will try. I will post more later."

Betty's son had revealed last week that she had been hospitalised after suffering a stroke on her personal Facebook page.

He wrote: "We are hugely devastated and struggling to come to terms with such a sudden event.

<p>Betty Bobbitt appeared in Prisoner for 429 episodes</p>Betty Bobbitt/Facebook

Betty Bobbitt appeared in Prisoner for 429 episodes

Betty Bobbitt/Facebook

"My mum has been a legend, an inspiration, a mentor and icon for so many.

"She is comfortable and not in any pain that we can tell, but the prognosis is not good. She is not expected to recover."

Devastated fans thanked Betty for portraying a positive lesbian role model on prime time Australian television for 429 episodes of Prisoner since its 1980 debut.

What began as a short-term guest role became one of the show’s longest running over its eight-year run.

Last year, she made a guest appearance in Neighbours in a subtle nod to Prisoner for its 40th anniversary.