A favorite lost: Wendy Richard

[oldhouseman]

She was one of my favorites on Are You Being Served?

EastEnders actress Wendy Richard dies from cancer

Wendy Richard, the former EastEnders and Are You Being Served? actress, has died in London at the age of 65 after losing a battle with cancer.

www.telegraph.co.uk

 

[lavamat_jon]

This is really sad news indeed. Grew up with her as Pauline on EastEnders, EastEnders wasn't the same after she left - she played Pauline like nobody else could.

Interestingly I always liked her as a celebrity, she was a far contrast from her EastEnders character!

Jon

 

[spoodles]

Aww. Saw this on the news earlier - really sad. She's always been on TV since I was little and was one of EastEnders all time greats.

RIP Miss Brahms.

 

[sudsmaster]

She is free.

 

[danemodsandy]

How Sad it Is:

That we're losing the younger members of the Are You Being Served? cast so soon. Frank Thornton ("Captain Peacock") and Mollie Sugden ("Mrs. Slocombe") are far older than Wendy Richard and John Inman (whom we lost in 2007), yet they're still around. In fact, Frank Thornton is still working in movies (Gosford Park) and TV (Last of the Summer Wine).

Wendy Richard was someone who had a rather hard life, including a marriage to an abusive husband, but by all accounts, she did not let her troubles get her down or interfere with her sense of humour. She will be missed.

 

[hoovermatic]

Wendy/Shirley/Shirley

What a wonderful character actress she was - loved her as Shirley in Dads Army, always causing Captain Mainwaring to huff and puff in disapproval - fabulous as Miss Brahms juxtaposed with Mrs Slocombe's pussy and finally, her performances as Pauline Fowler, who turned into her mother Lou, either intentionally or by coincidence but the similarity was striking! LOVED her on Radio 4's 'Just a Minute' - a real classic performer in the mold of Kenneth Williams in her comedic value and slight eccentricity. Will be missed on our screens and radios.

 

[launderess]

Very Sad News Indeed!

What great innings Miss.Richards had! Always enjoyed her work as "Miss Brahms", later as the head of the Folwer family, Pauline Fowler, one of the few women who could give any of the Mitchells a run for their money.

Wendy you will be missed!

 

[launderess]

From The Guardian, UK

Tributes are pouring in from all over for Miss. Richards.

Though Pauline Fowler was seen by some as a real cow, the key thing was she was all about family. Always taking up for her sons, no matter what they did, and even when that son of her's on Eastenders "Martin" grew to almost tower over his mother, he knew just who was the boss.

L.

Wendy Richard: TV world and charities pay tribute to 'the loveliest of ladies'

Tributes have been paid to EastEnders actor who has died of cancer at the age of 65. By Leigh Holmwood

www.guardian.co.uk

 

[platinum6]

Can't believe a great British talent has gone. I liked her especially as Miss. Brahms in Are You Being Served? She was great in it and was very funny.

More recently, I liked her in the Post Office ads as the "Human Cannonball" and that too was superb.

R.I.P Wendy Richard 1943-2009

 

[launderess]

Prolly Inhaling

Those fumes from Dot Cotton's fags all those years they worked together in the laundrette, wot did her in. (joking).

 

[autowasherfreak]

I love Are You Being Served. Even when I watch an episode that I've seen several times, it will always make me laugh. I didn't know that John Inman passed away in 2007. I will have to check the schedule of our PBS station and catch an episode or two in Wendy's memory.

 

[westyslantfront]

I have fond memories of Wendy Richard as Pauline Beale Fowler
on Eastenders. It was a great show, very true to life.

Ross

 

[electron800]

Eastender's hasn't been the same since she left it.

Such a shame to hear she has now passed in real life too.

Matt

 

[danemodsandy]

Mollie Sugden:

For those who don't know, Mollie Sugden ("Mrs. Slocombe" on AYBS? has severe rheumatoid arthritis and is confined to a wheelchair for the most part, unable to continue her career. She is presently 87.

As I mentioned earlier, Frank Thornton ("Captain Peacock") is still working on Last of the Summer Wine, playing "Truly," though both he and Peter Sallis ("Clegg") have been prohibited by the BBC's insurers from doing the location scenes they used to do; they're both over eighty.

I know everyone will join me in wishing all these wonderful actors the best. And I am unanimous in that!

 

[JerseyMike]

RIP

This is so very, very sad.

My thoughts and prayers go out to Ms. Richard's family and friends.

She was an amazing talent and she left a wonderful legacy.

Sigh.

Mike

 

[launderess]

IIRC, from reading an "EastEnder's" information site, while Pauline Fowler's death episode had one of the highest rated episodes of the series, many viewers had long considered the character a bitter, angry cow, always trying to keep her family under her thumb.

Poor little Martin never really stood a chance. I mean after his father died, Pauline transferred much of her attention to her wee son, which is only natural. However she refused to let the boy "grow up", even when he towered several heads over her.