Wendy Richard | |
|---|---|
 Richard in 2007 | |
| Born | Wendy Emerton 20 July 1943 Middlesbrough, North Riding of Yorkshire, England |
| Died | 26 February 2009 (aged 65) Harley Street, London, England |
| Resting place | East Finchley Cemetery and Crematorium, East Finchley, London |
| Alma mater | Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1960–2009 |
| Known for |
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| Spouses |
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Wendy Richard MBE (born Wendy Emerton; 20 July 1943 – 26 February 2009)[1] was an English actress, best known for her television roles as Miss Shirley Brahms on the BBC sitcom Are You Being Served? from 1972 to 1985, and Pauline Fowler on the soap opera EastEnders from 1985 to 2006.
Despite being known for her Cockney accent, Richard was born in Middlesbrough. After a childhood in which her father died by suicide, Richard worked in department stores to pay her drama school fees before appearing regularly on-screen from the early 1960s. She played Joyce Harker in The Newcomers from 1967 to 1969. Richard then appeared in two Carry On films. In the television series Dad's Army, she was Private Walker's girlfriend, before being cast as Miss Brahms in Are You Being Served? appearing in all 69 episodes from 1972 to 1985. She also reprised the role in the sequel series Grace and Favour in 1992 and 1993.
After Are You Being Served? ended, Richard starred as Pauline Fowler in the first episode of EastEnders, a main role that she played in over two thousand episodes until she departed in 2006. Richard was awarded an MBE in 2000 and was later awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2007 British Soap Awards for her role in EastEnders.[2]
After leaving EastEnders, Richard continued to appear on-screen until her death in 2009. Richard was married four times. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1996; the disease returned in 2002 and again in 2008; this time it had spread throughout her body. Richard made a documentary detailing the last few months of her life before her death in February 2009.[3]
- ^ "Obituary: Wendy Richard". The Telegraph. London. 26 February 2009.
- ^ Green, Kris (26 May 2007). "The British Soap Awards 2007: The Winners". Digital Spy. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
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