# Rachael Carpani
**Rachael Carpani** (full name Rachael Ann Carpani; born 1980) was an Australian film and television actress best known for playing Jodi Fountain McLeod on the long-running rural drama *McLeod's Daughters* (2001–2009). She later built a career in the United States, leading the Lifetime police drama *Against the Wall* and appearing in *NCIS: Los Angeles*, *The Glades*, and the V.C. Andrews television films, before returning to Australian television in *Home and Away* in 2024. She died on December 7, 2025, at age 45, after a long battle with a chronic illness.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0139257/bio/) • [2](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-16/mcleod-s-daughters-star-rachael-carpani-dies/106147286)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born / died | Born 1980 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; died December 7, 2025, aged 45[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0139257/bio/) • [2](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-16/mcleod-s-daughters-star-rachael-carpani-dies/106147286) |
| Signature role | Jodi Fountain (later Jodi Fountain McLeod) on *McLeod's Daughters*, 2001–2009, returning for the show's final episode in January 2009[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0139257/bio/) • [3](https://www.netflixmovies.com/s/actor/rachael-carpani) |
| Awards recognition | Nominated at the 2007 TV WEEK Logie Awards for both Silver Logie, Most Popular Actress, and Gold Logie, Most Popular Personality in Television[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0139257/bio/) |
| US television lead | Abby Kowalski in Lifetime's *Against the Wall* (2011, 13 episodes)[4](https://www.themoviedb.org/person/77767-rachael-carpani) |
| Later Australian work | Recurring role in *Home and Away* in 2024, her last known role[5](https://los40.com/2025/12/16/muere-la-actriz-rachael-carpani-de-ncis-los-angeles-a-los-45-anos/) |
| Health advocacy | Spoke publicly about her experience with adenomyosis and endometriosis[2](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-16/mcleod-s-daughters-star-rachael-carpani-dies/106147286) |
## Early life and training
Carpani was born in Sydney, New South Wales, to parents Tony and Gael Carpani, and grew up on a property near Dural in Sydney's Hills District, where she attended The Hills Grammar School alongside the singer and actress [Delta Goodrem](https://www.edgepedia.org/delta-goodrem).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0139257/bio/) • [6](https://www.kinobox.cz/osobnosti/844770-rachael-carpani) She studied acting at the Australian College of Entertainment at [Macquarie University](https://www.edgepedia.org/macquarie-university) and at the Drama Works Drama Company, and studied ballet for ten years.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0139257/bio/)
Her professional acting career began in 2000, with early appearances as Emily Martin in *All Saints* and as Miranda, a waitress at the Bayside Diner, in *Home and Away*.[7](https://www.womansworld.com/entertainment/celebrities/remembering-australian-actress-rachael-carpani) • [8](https://www.backtothebay.net/news/2025/12/16/vale-rachael-carpani-mcleods-daughters-and-home-and-away-actress-passes-away-aged-45/)
## McLeod's Daughters
In 2001 Carpani was cast in the [Nine Network](https://www.edgepedia.org/nine-network)'s new female-led rural drama *McLeod's Daughters*, which followed estranged half sisters Claire and Tess McLeod as they ran their family's cattle property, Drover's Run, with an all-woman workforce.[7](https://www.womansworld.com/entertainment/celebrities/remembering-australian-actress-rachael-carpani) • [9](https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/screen-guide/mcleods-daughters-series-1-17701/) She had originally auditioned for the role of Becky Howard, but believed producers thought she looked too sweet for the part; she was instead cast as Jodi Fountain, the daughter of housekeeper Meg, played by Sonia Todd.[8](https://www.backtothebay.net/news/2025/12/16/vale-rachael-carpani-mcleods-daughters-and-home-and-away-actress-passes-away-aged-45/) Her first reaction to the offer, she said, was "are you sure you've got the right person?"[8](https://www.backtothebay.net/news/2025/12/16/vale-rachael-carpani-mcleods-daughters-and-home-and-away-actress-passes-away-aged-45/)
She deferred her final year of university to take the role.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0139257/bio/) Jodi Fountain's storylines, including the revelation that her biological father was Jack McLeod, a faked death, and witness protection, were among the series' most dramatic.[6](https://www.kinobox.cz/osobnosti/844770-rachael-carpani) • [10](https://www.marieclaire.com.au/life/entertainment/mcleods-daughters-cast-now/) Carpani appeared in 202 episodes across the series' run.[4](https://www.themoviedb.org/person/77767-rachael-carpani)
The series made her a household name in Australia and, according to one retrospective, in 194 countries where the show sold.[8](https://www.backtothebay.net/news/2025/12/16/vale-rachael-carpani-mcleods-daughters-and-home-and-away-actress-passes-away-aged-45/) At the 2007 TV WEEK Logie Awards she was nominated for both the Silver Logie for Most Popular Actress and the Gold Logie for Most Popular Personality in [Television](https://www.edgepedia.org/television).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0139257/bio/) During this period she also appeared in the feature film *Hating Alison Ashley* (2005) alongside Delta Goodrem.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0139257/bio/)
## Career in the United States
Carpani left *McLeod's Daughters* in the show's seventh season to pursue a career in the United States, but returned for the series finale in January 2009.[11](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/mcleods-daughters-15-years-on-from-the-show-where-are-the-stars-now/NPGOXWA3QVDYJJPP6NK2PQRUAU/) • [3](https://www.netflixmovies.com/s/actor/rachael-carpani) In American television she took guest and recurring parts in *Cane* (2007), *NCIS: Los Angeles* (2009), *The Glades* (2010), *Stalker* (2014), and *Law Dogs*, and played the lead role of Abby Kowalski, a Chicago police officer, in the Lifetime series *Against the Wall* (2011, 13 episodes).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0139257/bio/) • [4](https://www.themoviedb.org/person/77767-rachael-carpani)
She also starred in television films adapted from V.C. Andrews novels, playing Cathy in *If There Be Thorns* (2015) and *Seeds of Yesterday* (2015), the latter alongside [Heather Graham](https://www.edgepedia.org/heather-graham).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0139257/bio/) • [4](https://www.themoviedb.org/person/77767-rachael-carpani) Her feature films included *Triangle* (2009), with [Melissa George](https://www.edgepedia.org/melissa-george) and [Liam Hemsworth](https://www.edgepedia.org/liam-hemsworth), *The Umbrella Man* (2014), *The Way Back* (2020), with Ben Affleck, and *The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee* (2020).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0139257/bio/) • [5](https://los40.com/2025/12/16/muere-la-actriz-rachael-carpani-de-ncis-los-angeles-a-los-45-anos/) • [12](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/rachael_carpani) On Rotten Tomatoes, *The Way Back* was her highest-rated film at 84 percent and *The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee* her lowest at 18 percent.[12](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/rachael_carpani)
## Return to Australia and final work
Carpani split her time between Australia and the United States, balancing her career between the two countries.[10](https://www.marieclaire.com.au/life/entertainment/mcleods-daughters-cast-now/) Later Australian work included a multi-episode arc as Mary in *[800 Words](https://www.edgepedia.org/800-words)* and a recurring role as Claudia in *Home and Away* in 2024, which was her last known role.[3](https://www.netflixmovies.com/s/actor/rachael-carpani) • [5](https://los40.com/2025/12/16/muere-la-actriz-rachael-carpani-de-ncis-los-angeles-a-los-45-anos/) Despite her range of roles, she remained closely associated with *McLeod's Daughters* and frequently shared memories of her time on the series.[10](https://www.marieclaire.com.au/life/entertainment/mcleods-daughters-cast-now/)
## Health advocacy and death
Carpani spoke publicly about her experience with adenomyosis and endometriosis, conditions involving chronic pelvic pain that are often diagnosed late; her account of delayed diagnosis became, over the years, a source of support for other women with similar experiences.[2](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-16/mcleod-s-daughters-star-rachael-carpani-dies/106147286) • [13](https://as.com/meristation/series/adios-a-rachael-carpani-fallece-a-los-45-la-actriz-de-ncis-los-angeles-f202512-n/) She was also outspoken on other issues, including the need to act on domestic violence.[2](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-16/mcleod-s-daughters-star-rachael-carpani-dies/106147286) She had been hospitalized urgently in 2021 and referred to her health and recovery in the years that followed.[5](https://los40.com/2025/12/16/muere-la-actriz-rachael-carpani-de-ncis-los-angeles-a-los-45-anos/)
She died unexpectedly but peacefully in the early hours of Sunday, December 7, 2025, at age 45, after a long battle with a chronic illness; the specific illness was not disclosed.[2](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-16/mcleod-s-daughters-star-rachael-carpani-dies/106147286) • [5](https://los40.com/2025/12/16/muere-la-actriz-rachael-carpani-de-ncis-los-angeles-a-los-45-anos/) Her parents, Tony and Gael Carpani, announced her death in a statement shared on social media by her sister Georgia, who requested privacy for the family.[5](https://los40.com/2025/12/16/muere-la-actriz-rachael-carpani-de-ncis-los-angeles-a-los-45-anos/) • [7](https://www.womansworld.com/entertainment/celebrities/remembering-australian-actress-rachael-carpani) A private funeral was held on December 19, 2025, with family and close friends.[5](https://los40.com/2025/12/16/muere-la-actriz-rachael-carpani-de-ncis-los-angeles-a-los-45-anos/)
## References
1. [Rachael Carpani – Biography, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0139257/bio/)
2. [McLeod's Daughters star Rachael Carpani dies aged 45, ABC News (December 16, 2025)](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-16/mcleod-s-daughters-star-rachael-carpani-dies/106147286)
3. [Rachael Carpani Movies on Netflix, NetflixMovies.com](https://www.netflixmovies.com/s/actor/rachael-carpani)
4. [Rachael Carpani, The Movie Database (TMDB)](https://www.themoviedb.org/person/77767-rachael-carpani)
5. [Muere la actriz Rachael Carpani de 'NCIS: Los Ángeles' a los 45 años, Los40 (December 16, 2025)](https://los40.com/2025/12/16/muere-la-actriz-rachael-carpani-de-ncis-los-angeles-a-los-45-anos/)
6. [Rachael Carpani, Kinobox.cz](https://www.kinobox.cz/osobnosti/844770-rachael-carpani)
7. [Remembering Australian Actress Rachael Carpani, Woman's World (December 15, 2025)](https://www.womansworld.com/entertainment/celebrities/remembering-australian-actress-rachael-carpani)
8. [Vale Rachael Carpani – McLeod’s Daughters and Home and Away actress passes away aged 45](https://www.backtothebay.net/news/2025/12/16/vale-rachael-carpani-mcleods-daughters-and-home-and-away-actress-passes-away-aged-45/)
9. [McLeod's Daughters series 1, Screen Australia](https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/screen-guide/mcleods-daughters-series-1-17701/)
10. [McLeod's Daughters Cast: Where Are They Now in 2025?, Marie Claire Australia](https://www.marieclaire.com.au/life/entertainment/mcleods-daughters-cast-now/)
11. [McLeod's Daughters: 15 years on from the show, where are the stars now?, NZ Herald](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/mcleods-daughters-15-years-on-from-the-show-where-are-the-stars-now/NPGOXWA3QVDYJJPP6NK2PQRUAU/)
12. [Rachael Carpani Movies & TV Shows List, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/rachael_carpani)
13. [Adiós a Rachael Carpani: fallece a los 45 la actriz de 'NCIS: Los Ángeles', AS/MeriStation (December 16, 2025)](https://as.com/meristation/series/adios-a-rachael-carpani-fallece-a-los-45-la-actriz-de-ncis-los-angeles-f202512-n/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › Australian actors › Surnames A to D*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license