Father of Kiwi TV star Lucy Lawless dies

The former mayor of Mt Albert, Frank Ryan, wearing his mayoral chains in 1986. Photo / File

Superstar Kiwi actress Lucy Lawless has posted a loving tribute online to her father, a former longtime suburban Auckland mayor, after he died yesterday.

Frank Ryan, the former mayor of Mt Albert, died peacefully surrounded by his wife, Julie, and children, according to a death notice in today's Weekend Herald.

Lucy Lawless described her father as "lots of fun". File photo / Nick Reed

Lawless, who rose to fame as the star of Xena: Warrior Princess, posted a tribute to her father on Facebook yesterday afternoon.

"O mio Babbino Caro! A wonderful husband, father and grandfather shuffled off his mortal coil today. So we celebrate his life, his many kindnesses and his public spiritedness. From humble beginnings, he made a sensational job of it. He was lots of fun. Mayor of Mt Albert 1968-1990. Shine on!"

Former Auckland City mayor Christine Fletcher said Ryan was an "absolute stalwart" for his community.

He was someone who had a strong social conscience, she said.

"Frank was always there for the little guy. He was financially conservative, but that was not an excuse for forgetting those that were less advantaged."

Fletcher also acknowledged the support Ryan received from his wife. and said he would not have been the mayor he was without her support.

Meanwhile, Auckland mayor Phil Goff is mourning the death of his own father this week.

Bruce Goff died peacefully aged 96 at Elmwood Hospital on Wednesday, according to a notice in the New Zealand Herald this week.

Goff posted a series of photos of his father on his Facebook page this week, but has not spoken publically on his death

Bruce Goff 29/3/21 -5/7/2017 RIP

Posted by Phil Goff on Tuesday, 4 July 2017

A spokeswoman for the mayor said he did not want to comment on his father's death. A private funeral will take place on Tuesday.