RIP to the brilliant and wonderful Dame Patricia Routledge

I am genuinely saddened by this.

She was a remarkably talented actress who was equally at home in drama, comedy, and musicals. 

Hyacinth Bucket is one of television's great creations.

"No, you cannot have a number 24, nor a double portion of 37. This isn't the Chinese takeaway. This is a private slimline white telephone with no connection whatsoever to any business or trade. Especially not one of foreign extraction!"

If Wikipedia is accurate, she only appeared in 9 feature films, and all between the years of 1967 and 1971. Which is kind of shocking considering how prolific she was on the stage and on television.

Jay Lerner-Z said: "I remember recently she spoke about how life gets better as you age. I think she was happy to the end."

While I would have enjoyed seeing her on stage/screen into her 80s, it's refreshing to see an actor of that stature largely retire in their late 70s. I hope her later years were fulfilling!

I was fortunate enough to see her in two shows.  She was wonderful in both.  In Darling of the Day, her combination of warmth, humor, and a fine voice made you love her after she had been on the stage for five minutes.  I actually saw the show on opening night because I was home from school for the weekend, it opened on Saturday, and there were seats available.  There were in fact some empty seats.  She brought down the house with her big production number, Not on Your Nelly, and had several wonderful solos.  Her Tony award was truly deserved.  

She was also great in 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, but the show was a disaster that ran a week, I think.  Still, the music and lyrics contained some gems.  In one -- I can't remember the title, she again stopped the show (actually woke up the audience) singing a duet with herself, playing two first ladies.  The other great moment in an awful show was a solo titled something like Take Care of this House.

I always found it frustrating that she never appeared in NYC again, because she was that good.  I guess she tired of appearing in mega-flops.  Darling of the Day was a wonderful show that received many excellent reviews, but it never had a chance.  No advance, no names, opened in late January, out of the way theatre (on 54th St., close to 6th Avenue, and the to critics for the Times at the time were both negative.  Ironically, Walter Kerr, who was very tough, loved it.

A wonderful performer. If she had transferred to Broadway with THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE, she'd have won a second Tony.

Updated On: 10/3/25 at 03:37 PM

Her Not On Your Nellie in Darling of the Day is fantastic. I wish they could post the Ed Sullivan Show clip on YouTube.  She also received rave reviews for 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and Love March with Laurence Guittard in Los Angeles. I wish that show had come to Broadway, great score. 

May she rest in peace -- isn't God lucky to have her entertain in heaven! 

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "If Wikipedia is accurate, she only appeared in 9 feature films, and all between the years of 1967 and 1971. Which is kind of shocking considering how prolific she was on the stage and on television."

One of those unforgettable films was To Sir, With Love (1967), where she starred opposite Sidney Poitier. I loved her performance. May she rest in peace.