Doris Goddard, the legendary publican known for putting the Hollywood in Sydney's beloved Hollywood Hotel, has died at the age of 89.

Goddard purchased the Surry Hills pub in 1977 with her husband Charlie Bishop and moved in upstairs. In the decades since, she cemented herself as a Sydney icon, famous for pulling out her guitar and serenading fellow drinkers at the bar.

Doris Goddard at the Hollywood Hotel in Surry Hills. Credit:Tamara Dean

Goddard, who was born in Forest Lodge in 1930 but went on to travel the world as a cabaret singer and actress playing bit-parts opposite the likes of Katharine Hepburn, Mel Gibson, Piper Laurie, Bob Hope and Sid James, would also regale patrons with her colourful showbiz stories.

She played a Danish shot-putter opposite Bill Travers in Geordie (1955), and had small roles in The Iron Petticoat (1956) as well as Australian classics like Caddie (1976) and Tim (1979).