Delvene Delaney Today: TV Star to Wildlife Advocate
For a generation of Australians, Delvene Delaney was a familiar and warm presence on their television screens — first as a bubbly performer on The Paul Hogan Show, then as the beloved Nurse Jojo Adams on The Young Doctors. Today, she lives a far quieter life in the Byron Bay region, but her energy has found a new purpose: fighting for Australia’s wildlife. This is the story of how a 1970s TV star built a lasting legacy beyond the cameras.
Birth date: 26 August 1951 ·
Birthplace: Mackay, Queensland ·
Notable roles: Nurse Jojo Adams on The Young Doctors, The Paul Hogan Show, Crocodile Dundee II ·
Spouse: John Cornell (m. 1979–2021) ·
Current residence: Byron Bay region, New South Wales
Quick snapshot
- Exact net worth — no verified source exists
- Whether she will return to television
- Day-to-day activities — Delaney keeps a private life
- Wildlife conservation patron for Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital (Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital)
- Continued involvement in the Crocodile Dundee 4K restoration (The Echo)
Eight key facts, one pattern: Delvene Delaney’s life traces a clear arc from screen stardom to a quieter but deeply committed second act.
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Delvene Delaney |
| Born | 26 August 1951, Mackay, Queensland |
| Occupation | Actress, television presenter, singer |
| Years active | 1970s–present (mostly retired from acting) |
| Spouse | John Cornell (m. 1979–2021) |
| Children | 2 |
| Notable works | The Young Doctors, The Paul Hogan Show, Crocodile Dundee II |
| Current focus | Wildlife conservation support |
Where is Delvene Delaney today?
After decades in the public eye, Delvene Delaney now lives a largely private life in the Byron Bay region of New South Wales. She is not retired from purpose, though: she dedicates her time to wildlife conservation as a patron of the Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital (official charity website), a role that the hospital describes as a “mission to save Australian wildlife.”
What is Delvene Delaney doing now?
Her primary public-facing activity is conservation. The Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital reported that Delaney and her late husband John Cornell had “supported community and environmental causes in Byron Bay for decades” (Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital). She also played a role in restoring Crocodile Dundee for a 4K re-release, according to The Echo (local Northern Rivers news).
Where does Delvene Delaney live now?
She resides in the Byron Bay hinterland, an area she and Cornell called home for decades. The couple’s longstanding ties to the region are well documented (Wikipedia).
From living under studio lights to living among bushland and koalas: Delaney’s move off-screen was not a retreat from the world but a re-entry into it on her own terms, trading a national audience for a cause that needs hands-on support.
The implication: her conservation work is now the defining public activity of her later years.
Was Delvene Delaney in Crocodile Dundee?
Yes, but not the first film. Delaney appeared in the 1988 sequel Crocodile Dundee II (IMDb). Her filmography also includes End Play (1976) and Chopper Squad (IMDb).
What other movies and TV shows has Delvene Delaney been in?
- The Box (1974): Her acting debut, according to IMDb biography.
- The Paul Hogan Show (1973–1975): A recurring cast member; she described these years as “the best years of my life” in biographical accounts (Wikipedia).
- Blankety Blanks (1977–1979): Regular panel member (Wikipedia).
- The Young Doctors (1977–1982): Played Nurse Jojo Adams in 346 episodes (Wikipedia).
- Sale of the Century (1982–1986): Co-presenter (Wikipedia).
- Love of an Icon: The Legend of Crocodile Dundee (2025): A documentary credit listed on IMDb.
What this means: Delaney’s television career spanned more than a decade across Australia’s most-watched variety and drama shows, making her one of the most recognizable faces of the era.
Did Delvene Delaney and John Cornell have any children?
Yes, the couple had two daughters, Allira and Liana (Wikipedia). The family lived in the Byron Bay area, away from the Sydney spotlight.
Who was John Cornell?
John Cornell was a comedian, writer, and producer best known as “Strop” — the silent, frustrated character on The Paul Hogan Show who delivered newspapers. He also co-wrote and produced the Crocodile Dundee films. According to Wikipedia, Cornell and Delaney married in 1979 and stayed together until his death in 2021 — a marriage of 44 years.
The pattern: family stability gave her the freedom to later choose a new public role.
What did John Cornell pass away from?
John Cornell died on 23 July 2021 at the age of 80. The cause was progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), a rare neurodegenerative condition (Wikipedia). He had battled the disease for several years.
How did John Cornell die?
Cornell was diagnosed with PSP in the late 2010s. The disease affects balance, eye movement, and cognition, and there is no cure. Delaney cared for him at their Byron Bay home until his final months (Wikipedia).
The implication: Cornell’s illness and eventual death marked a defining pivot in Delaney’s life — from a private family woman to a more public advocate for causes that matter to her.
How old is Delvene Delaney?
Delene Delaney was born on 26 August 1951 (Wikipedia). As of 2025, she is 73 years old.
Where and when was Delvene Delaney born?
She was born in Mackay, Queensland, Australia, according to both Wikipedia and IMDb. She grew up in the coastal city before moving to Sydney to pursue entertainment.
At 73, Delaney could have chosen a quiet retirement. Instead, she stepped into a new public role — not for a TV audience, but for koalas, kangaroos, and the bushland of northern New South Wales.
The catch: her age underscores the deliberate choice to re-engage publicly.
Timeline: Key dates in Delvene Delaney’s life
- 26 August 1951: Born in Mackay, Queensland, Australia (Wikipedia)
- 1973–1975: Regular on The Paul Hogan Show (Wikipedia)
- 1974: Acting debut on The Box (IMDb)
- 1977–1982: Starred as Nurse Jojo Adams in The Young Doctors (Wikipedia)
- 1979: Married John Cornell (Wikipedia)
- 1988: Appeared in Crocodile Dundee II (IMDb)
- 1990s–2000s: Stepped back from acting to raise her family
- 2021: John Cornell dies from progressive supranuclear palsy (Wikipedia)
- 2020s: Active as patron of Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital (Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital)
- 2025: Documentary Love of an Icon released; involved in Crocodile Dundee 4K restoration (The Echo)
The pattern: Delaney’s timeline shows a woman who moved deliberately — from rapid early career momentum to a long private decade, then a re-emergence with clear purpose.
Confirmed facts vs. what remains unclear
Confirmed facts
- Birth date and place (Wikipedia, IMDb)
- Marriage to John Cornell and his death (Wikipedia, news sources)
- Children’s names and existence (Wikipedia, interviews)
- Film and TV roles (Wikipedia, IMDb)
- Involvement with Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital (Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital)
What’s unclear
- Exact net worth — no credible source available
- Day-to-day activities — Delaney keeps a low profile
- Whether she will return to television or film acting
The catch: while much is known, key financial and personal details remain private.
Quotes from Delvene Delaney and those who knew her
“The Paul Hogan Show years were the best years of my life.”
— Delvene Delaney, as recalled in biographical accounts (Wikipedia)
“Delvene and John have supported community and environmental causes in Byron Bay for decades.”
— Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital staff, official statement
“Paul Hogan met Delvene and told John Cornell she would be good for the show because she was funny.”
— The Australian Women’s Weekly (leading Australian women’s magazine)
“John Cornell introduced himself to Delvene at a Sydney pub and invited her to be on the show.”
es.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, imdb.com, youtube.com, eleven-magazine.com, canberratimes.com.au, frankneilsen.com.au
Frequently asked questions
Is Delvene Delaney still acting?
She has not taken on any acting roles since the early 1990s. Her current public work is wildlife conservation and supporting the Crocodile Dundee restoration project (The Echo).
Does Delvene Delaney have Instagram?
There is no verified public Instagram account for Delvene Delaney. She maintains a private life with minimal social media presence.
What is Delvene Delaney’s net worth?
No credible source has published Delvene Delaney’s net worth. Estimates vary widely and none are verified.
Did Delvene Delaney ever marry Paul Hogan?
No. She was married to John Cornell, Paul Hogan’s longtime friend and collaborator, from 1979 until Cornell’s death in 2021 (Wikipedia).
What charity work does Delvene Delaney do?
She is a patron of the Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital, a non-profit wildlife rescue and rehabilitation organization (Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital).
How many children does Delvene Delaney have?
Two daughters, Allira and Liana (Wikipedia).
For anyone wondering what happened to the face they remember from 1970s Australian television, the answer is not a quiet retirement but a purposeful new chapter. Delene Delaney swapped the studio for the bushland, trading a microphone for a mission — and proving that the most meaningful second acts are often the ones nobody saw coming. Her story also echoes the career arcs of other Australian TV personalities like Bert Newton and Peter Phelps, who similarly transitioned from screen fame to enduring personal impact.
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