Beloved Star Dame Patricia Routledge, Iconic for Hyacinth Bucket, Dies at 96 Years Old
Performer Patricia Routledge, famous for playing the character Hyacinth Bucket in the popular TV sitcom Keeping Up Appearances, has died at the age of 96, as confirmed by.
She also appeared in Alan Bennett's TV monologues and portrayed BBC One's amateur detective Hetty Wainthropp Investigates.
"It is with great sadness to share the loss of Patricia Routledge, who died peacefully in her sleep today in the presence of family."
"Even at 96-years old, Dame Patricia's love for performing and for engaging with theatergoers stayed vibrant, just as modern audiences have continued to find her through her beloved screen performances."
The statement noted: "Her absence will be deeply felt by those closest to her and by her devoted admirers worldwide."
Decades of Performance
Dame Patricia was best known as the character Hyacinth Bucket - who insisted it be said "bouquet" - a funny persona who embodied the extremes of British social climbing.
"She is a wonderfully awful character and I enjoyed playing her immensely," the actress commented.
This classic sitcom aired from the early 1990s, and the following year she was named the UK's favorite actress at the BBC anniversary ceremony.
Beyond television, she found acclaim in theater and film after beginning her professional life in the theater in the mid-20th century.
Following roles in London theater, she built a reputation in the America when she was awarded the Tony for best lead actress in a musical on New York theater for the musical Darling of the Day in the late 1960s.
Her talents extended at serious drama as she was at light entertainment - she appeared in classic plays at the Royal Shakespeare Company, then earned an theater prize for leading musical actress for the production Candide in the 1980s decade.
That decade also saw her become a true national TV star - being given roles by Victoria Wood in the show As Seen on TV, and writer Alan Bennett in his acclaimed monologue series, including the 1988 piece A Lady of Letters, for which she was given a Bafta nomination.
She received additional Bafta nods, for her Hyacinth role, in the early 1990s, then took the lead in the central part as a older lady on a quest to solve crimes in Hetty Wainthropp between 1996 to 1998.
She was honored with an Order of the British Empire in 1993, a CBE in the 2000s, and damehood in 2017.
A Remarkable Life
With her memorable characters, Dame Patricia Routledge delivered humor and joy to millions, establishing a rich career portfolio that is still enjoyed by viewers for generations to come.
