British sitcom actress Josephine Tewson has died, her agent announced today.
The star, best known for his role in keep up appearances, he was 91
Tewson was a star of both the stage and the small screen.
However, her role as Elizabeth ‘Liz’ Warden, the long-suffering neighbor of Hyacinth Bucket, played by Patricia Routledge, catapulted her to British television stardom and made her a household name.
He appeared in almost every episode of all five series.
The actress was also a very popular face in a number of other comedy series.
She played Miss Davenport Last summer wine and Edna Hawkins a Shelley.
Tewson was also a regular performer in sketches with Ronnie Corbett and Ronnie Barker in David Frost on Sunday and Hark at Barker.
He also appeared on the BBC Radio Comedy show Mainly Monkhouse with David Jason.
In 1988, she teamed up again with Ronnie Barker to play Jane Travers in his comedy Clarence.
It was to be his last starring role on television before his retirement.
In an interview in 2008, he told The Independent that the role was one of his biggest career surprises.
“If you’re Julia Roberts or Judi Dench, you expect people to write parts for you, but not too old for me,” he joked.
Tewson worked until 2019 on her own one-woman show, Still keeping up appearances?
Her agent, Jean Diamond of Diamond Management, said: “It is with great sadness that I can confirm the death of Josephine Tewson.
“Josephine passed away peacefully last night at Denville Hall aged 91.”
Denville Hall, in Hillingdon, London, is a retirement home for professional actors.
Tributes to the star have already started pouring in.
One fan wrote on social media: “She has shaken her last cup of tea in Hyacinth’s kitchen. RIP Josephine Tewson.”
Carol Challis, the latter-day wife Only fools and horses star John Challis, added: “Goodbye to Josephine Tewson.
“John loved working with her Last summer wine. Another has disappeared.”
Tewson was born in London to William, a professional musician who played double bass in the BBC Symphony Orchestra, and Kate, a nurse.
His grandfather was Haydn Morley, who captained Sheffield Wednesday in the 1890 FA Cup Final.
She was married to Rising humidity actor Leonard Rossiter before their divorce in the 1960s, and later married Henry Newman in the 1970s. He died in 1980.
This story originally appeared in The Sun and is republished here with permission.