Award-winning actress Doreen Mantle has died “peacefully at home” at the age of 97, her agent has announced.
The star was best known for her role as Jean Warboys, the annoying friend of Victor Meldrew’s wife, in the BBC comedy series One Foot In The Grave.
She also started in the well-loved BBC detective series Father Brown, as well as her role as Joy Fishwick on the ITV soap Coronation Street.
In a statement, her agent said: “It is with great sadness that we announce the death of our beloved client and much-loved stage, screen and radio actress Doreen Mantle, aged 97.
(Image: Internet Unknown)
“She died peacefully at home. She is survived by her two songs, four grandchildren and one brother.”
Her other credits include My Family, Doctors, Dirk Gently, Jam and Derusalem, Doc Martin, Jonathan Creel and Yentl.
The TV star was born in Johannesburg, South African in June 1926 and first cut her teeth appearing in a series of British TV shows during the 1960s.
This included The Wild House, Sam Saturday, Chalk, Lovejoy, Holby City and Casualty.
(Image: PA)
She quickly moved on to Coronation Street where she took on the role of the elderly mother of Colin Fishwick, whose identity was stolen by con-artist and cobbles villain John Stape.
Doreen also played a lollipop lady named Queenie in Jam and Jerusalem from 2006 to 2008, where she shared the screen with Jennifer Saunders, Dawn French, Joana Lumley and Sue Johnston.
But arguably her most famous role was in One Foot In The Grave, which regularly hit the airwaves for a decade between 1990 and 2000.
(Image: Getty Images)
The fan-favourite series following the exploits of grumpy Victor Meldrew (played by Richard Wilson) and his long-suffering wife Margaret (Annette Crosbie).
Her character Jean Warboys often bore the brunt of Victor’s temper due to constant misunderstandings – and had quite the penchant for showing off her lavish holiday photos.
But Mantle didn’t limit herself just to the silver screen, and went on to stretch herself to the stage too.
(Image: BBC)
The established actor also shared the stage in Death Of A Salesman for the National Theatre, for which she won an Olivier Award back in 1979 for Actress of the Year in a supporting role.
She starred and produced her one-woman show My Truth and Reconciliation, and appeared in 84 Charring Cross Road at The Ambassadors Theatre and classic comedy Billy Liar at the Duke of York’s Theatre.
Fans of the soap star soon flooded to the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, to share their condolences online.
(Image: ITV)
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One user penned: #MrsWarboys was one of the greatest supporting characters in any sitcom, played to perfectio9n by the lovely #DoreenMantle. RIP.”
Another agreed: “RIP #DoreenMantle. So sad. Worked with her on One Foot In The Grave, the loveliest woman.”
A third echoed: “#doreenmantle what a life. A fantastic actress you just knew it would be a good watch if she was in it. RIP.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
