One of the most influential people in Australian media and advertising of all time, Reg Grundy, passed way over the weekend media is this morning reporting.

“Reg Grundy has passed away in the arms of his beloved wife Joy on their Bermuda estate,” Alan Jones said on 2GB radio. His death has also been reported on News sites.

Grundy owns a third of ad agency Photon and was responsible for a swathe of popular Australian TV shows over the 70s and 80s , including The Young Doctors, Prisoner, Sons and Daughters and Neighbours.

His production company also developed versions of game shows such as Family Feud, Sale of the Century and Wheel of Fortune.

In 1995 he sold his business, Grundy Organisation, to Pearson PLC that later renamed to FremantleMedia and Grundy retired to Bermuda.

He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the New Years Honours of 198 and was made a Companion of the Order of Australia in the Queen’s Birthday Honours of 2008.

Such was Australia’s affection for the man, his name (Reg Grundies) become rhyming slang for underpants.