Dame Penelope Keith Dies Aged 86, Family Says She Died Peacefully With Cancer

Dame Penelope Keith, best known for starring in the BBC sitcoms The Good Life and To the Manor Born, has died aged 86.

“- Published Tributes have been paid to actress Dame Penelope Keith, best known for her roles in the classic 1970s British sitcoms The Good Life and To the Manor Born, following her death at the age of 86”

BBC

Her family said in a statement that she “died peacefully whilst living with cancer at her home in Surrey where she had lived for more than 50 years.”

BBC

The BBC reported that Felicity Kendal remembered Keith as a “comic genius” and said the shows they worked on together were “such special times in our lives.”

Keith was born Penelope Anne Constance Hatfield on 2 April 1940 in Sutton, Surrey, and joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1963.

After her death, theatres throughout London’s West End announced they will dim their lights in Keith’s memory for two minutes on 1 July at 7pm.

Felicity Kendal led tributes to her Good Life co-star, saying, “I am deeply saddened to hear of my friend Penelope’s death.”

Kendal added that “The shows I worked on with her were such special times in our lives and demonstrated her comic genius.”

Beyond The Joke

Comedian Sue Perkins also paid tribute to Keith, remembering her as “creator of some of the greatest sitcom characters of all time.”

Broadcaster Gyles Brandreth remembered Keith as “such a special lady - a wonderful actress, a real friend, so funny, so generous with the time she gave to good causes,” and added, “Hers was indeed a good life.”

The BBC said Keith’s family statement described her death as “died peacefully whilst living with cancer at her home in Surrey where she had lived for more than 50 years.”

“Penelope Keith death: The Good Life star, 86, dies after cancer battle as tributes paid to 'comic genius' The Bafta winner shared it with her husband, Rodney Timpson, who is a former detective and later became her manager, and their two adopted sons”

London Evening Standard

The Guardian reported that Keith was born in Sutton, Surrey on 2 April 1940 and that she won a Bafta in 1977 for her role as disapproving neighbour Margo Leadbetter in The Good Life.

The Guardian also noted that Keith’s portrayal of Audrey fforbes-Hamilton in To the Manor Born was brought back for a one-off special in 2007, 26 years after its previous TV episode.

In addition to acting, Keith served as president of charity the Actors’ Benevolent Fund for 30 years, replacing Laurence Olivier after his death, and she became a dame in 2014 for services to the arts and to charity.

Society of London Theatre and UK Theatre co-chief executive Claire Walker said the industry would “come together and honour the life and extraordinarily prolific career of Dame Penelope Keith.”