Jazz singer Beaver dies

Well-known New Zealand jazz singer and actress Beverley "Beaver" Jean Morrison has died.

The 59-year-old entertainer was known for her involvement in theatre troupe Blerta and for singing the theme song for soap opera Gloss in the 1980s.

She also appeared in New Zealand films Skin Deep and Should I Be Good, about the Mr Asia drug syndicate.

Beaver died this morning after a six-year battle with sarcoma, TVNZ reported.

She had two daughters with actor Bill Stalker.

Her Should I Be Good co-star Hammond Gamble told NZPA he had been informed of Beaver's death by one of her daughters this morning.

Her friends and family had not expected Beaver to be with them much longer, Mr Gamble said.

- NZPA