Australian actress Rachael Carpani has died at the age of 45 after a long battle with chronic illness, her family announced on social media. Her parents, Tony and Gael, shared the news via an Instagram post by her sister Georgia on Monday, stating that Carpani “unexpectedly but peacefully passed away” in the early hours of Sunday, December 7.
Carpani was best known for her role as Jodi Fountain in the Nine Network’s outback series McLeod’s Daughters, which aired for eight seasons in the 2000s. She was nominated for two Logie awards for her performance. She also joined Home and Away in 2024, playing Claudia, and appeared in other Australian and American television programs, including NCIS: Los Angeles.
Carpani was outspoken on several issues, including domestic violence, climate change, and the treatment of Palestinians in Gaza. She also spoke publicly about her experience with adenomyosis and endometriosis, thanking doctors in 2021 for helping treat the pain she had endured for two decades.
McLeod’s Daughters co-star Bridie Carter paid tribute on Instagram, saying Carpani “is loved and will be missed by you all, around the world.” The family has requested privacy and will make no further statements.
