A look back at the incredible love story and career of John Cornell and his glamorous 1970s sex symbol wife Delvene Delaney following the Aussie legend's death
Aussie icon John Cornell passed away this week with his beloved wife Delvene Delaney by his side.
Delvene, just like her husband, has an impressive career and legacy in the Australian entertainment industry.
The Queensland-born beauty, now aged 69, got her start in showbiz as a teen model before working as a weather girl in Brisbane and Melbourne.
Icon: Aussie icon John Cornell passed away this week with his beloved wife Delvene Delaney by his side. (Pictured together in 2006)
After that, she moved to London for a short while where she worked as a bunny in the famous Playboy Club.
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At the time, she was offered $5000 to pose as a centerfold in the magazine, but knocked it back to return to Australia to focus on her acting career.
Back home, she landed a few small gigs, before being picked up as the host of the short-lived game show High Rollers in 1975.
Flashback: The Queensland-born beauty, now aged 69, got her start in showbiz as a teen model before working as a weather girl in Brisbane and Melbourne
Glamour: Delvene was arguably one of the biggest Australian sex symbols of the 1970s
It was the exposure from High Rollers that led to her being discovered by Cornell, who quickly became her manager and then lover.
'I'm not in the business of manufacturing performers,' Cornell said in 1975 when asked about Delaney's then budding showbiz career.
'Either they have it, or they don't. Delvene does,' he added.
Legendary: Delvene worked alongside Cornell and Paul Hogan on The Paul Hogan Show, which shot her to national fame
Actress: The blonde beauty was also a cast member on the first season of The Young Doctors
The stunner's big break came when she joined The Paul Hogan Show as a regular guest, easily outshining the other females on the series.
Cornell famously discovered Hogan, and together they wrote and starred in The Paul Hogan Show together.
Delvene's career reached even bigger heights after she was cast as Nurse JoJo Adams on the first season of The Young Doctors in 1976.
Years later, she would enjoy a brief taste of international fame after appearing on the season five premiere of The Love Boat in 1981, which was at its peak at the time.
Cover girl: She was dubbed 'TV's glamor girl' in the 1970s, with her good looks landing her countless magazine covers
Fame game: Delvene appeared on The Love Boat in 1981 (left) and then worked on Sale of the Century throughout the 1980s (right)
From 1982 to 1986, she was best known as the glamorous co-presenter on Sale of the Century.
Despite all her success, Delvene stepped back from the spotlight to focus on being a wife and mother.
She married Cornell in 1977, and the couple had two children together; Allira and Liana.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Cornell died at his home in Byron Bay this week with Delvene by his side.
Family: John and Delene are pictured together on their wedding day with daughters Liana and Allira, and another relative
The industry icon had been battling Parkinson's disease for 20-years before passing away at age 80.
'A classic Australian character, John Cornell made the lives he touched much richer, not only through donations, but also through his generosity of spirit, humour, humility and honour,' his family said in a statement.
'A true egalitarian, John sought equity and equality, and fought for a fair go.'
Cornell got his start in the 1960s as a journalist for The Daily News in Perth.
Legacy: Delvene was portrayed by comedian Nikki Osborne (pictured) in the Australian TV miniseries Hoges in 1971
He later became a producer on Nine's A Current Affair, which is where he discovered Paul Hogan, who was working as a rigger on the Sydney Harbour Bridge at the time.
He became Hogan's manager and eventual co-star on The Paul Hogan Show, where he played 'Strop'.
From there, he produced and co-wrote the screenplay for Hogan's 1986 film, which became the highest grossing Australian film of all time.
Timeless: Delvene is pictured at the 6th AACTA Awards in Sydney in 2016
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