One of the Directors and Producers who featured prominently behind the scenes of Australian TV comedy and entertainment has died.

Joe Murray, who directed 39 episodes of The Late Show as well as having his hand in with The D-Generation and other ABC classics Countdown (that’ll explain Tom and Jane’s segments in Season One) The Big Gig and DAAS Kapital, passed away in hospital.

While Murray worked mainly in Australian comedy shows, he also dabbled in youth music shows The 10:30pm Slot and Recovery before retiring in the mid 2000s, only to come out of retirement in 2014 to direct 31 Questions on Channel 31.

31 Questions Host, Comedian and Mad As Hell writer (and avid Late Show fanatic) David M. Green, who recently worked with Murray, praises his fine work ethic and dedication to getting quality entertainment onto our television screens.

Joe was generous enough to come out of retirement last year to direct the third season of 31 Questions. Softly-spoken with a gentle soul and fine sense of humour, he was a man who loved the medium as much as he loved his motorbikes. He shared his wealth of knowledge and experience with a new generation of television-makers. It was a rare opportunity and an honour to work with a legend. We will always cherish the brief time we had with Joe, and he will be sorely missed among the cast and crew.

Source: David M. Green, TV Tonight