- Marcus Casey died of a heart attack at age 58
- Friends paid tribute to beloved star reporter
If there’s one thing Marcus Casey loved more than anything else, it was telling a story, whether in the pub over a beer or in the pages of Sydney’s Daily Telegraph newspaper.
Furthermore, with a keen interest in all aspects of life and an unrivaled contact book, the popular journalist often had the best with the juiciest details.
Sadly, the media industry lost one of its most gregarious writers at the weekend when Casey died of a sudden heart attack in Newtown, in Sydney’s inner west, at the age of 58.
Casey cut his teeth in journalism as a copy boy after joining the Telegraph in 1984 before gaining a cadetship and becoming one of the paper’s most tenacious and determined news hunters.
His natural talents eventually saw him rewarded with a stint covering global news as an American correspondent in New York before focusing on television and celebrity reporting upon his return to Sydney.
A country boy from Ballina on the New South Wales north coast, he never lost touch with his humble roots, even as he wined and dined with the country’s biggest names as one of the paper’s best-connected journalists.
His boundless energy and willingness to help anyone—from editors to newly minted cadets—get the scoop on a big story made him a firm favorite among his colleagues in the newsroom.
Former Daily Telegraph journalist Peter Holder fondly remembers his two stints working alongside the Telegraph’s most senior figure, between 1993-98 and 2000-2003.
Popular former Daily Telegraph journalist Marcus Casey has died aged 58.
“Marcus was a fearless reporter with a big heart and an equally big ego; the two often didn’t always work hand in hand, but when they did the results could be spectacular,” she told Daily Mail Australia.
“I remember he once stood his ground against a very angry Kerry Packer during a press conference at the start of the Super League war, to the point where I heard from reliable sources that Packer respected him, albeit grudgingly.
‘But when his time at the newspaper came to an end, he lost the anchor that came with wielding a notebook and pen.
“His passing is terribly sad.”
Phil Koch competed against Casey for years as celebrity editor at the Daily Telegraph’s sister paper, the Sunday Telegraph, in the days when the newspapers had separate newsrooms and competed fiercely for exclusives.
He remembered Casey for his irrepressible desire for life and for journalism.
“Marcus was the best journalist,” she told Daily Mail Australia.
“Technically, we were rivals, but it was a friendly rivalry and it was always fun to cover red carpets and big news events when he was around.
A gifted storyteller, Casey has been remembered for his inner curiosity and desire to live.
‘He loved the craft of journalism and was chasing a great story and built an incredible network of contacts and knowledge.
“The thing about Marcus was that he had an inner curiosity about the world and a certain charm that allowed him to connect with anyone.
“When we were covering David Gyngell’s wedding (to Leila McKinnon), he knew absolutely everyone who was going in… he wouldn’t let you through the door, but he certainly gave you all the details.”
Personally, I also worked alongside Casey at the Telegraph and spoke to him until his final years and I agree: the world of storytelling is affected by his loss.