Star Patricia Routledge, best known for portraying the character Hyacinth Bucket in the classic TV sitcom Keeping Up Appearances, has left us at the 96 years old, according to.
Beyond that, she starred in Alan Bennett's TV monologues and portrayed BBC One's amateur detective Hetty Wainthropp.
"We are deeply saddened to announce the loss of Dame Patricia Routledge, who left this world peacefully in her sleep recently surrounded by love."
"At the remarkable age of 96, Dame Patricia's passion for her work and for engaging with theatergoers never waned, just as new generations are still enjoying her roles through her cherished TV characters."
Her agent continued: "She will be dearly missed by those closest to her and by her loyal fans globally."
Decades of Performance
Patricia Routledge was most famous as the character Hyacinth Bucket - who insisted it be said "bouquet" - a humorous character who embodied the peak of British social climbing.
"She's an absolute monster and I loved portraying her immensely," the actress remarked.
The series Keeping Up Appearances aired from 1990 to 95, and a year later she was named the UK's favorite actress at the BBC anniversary ceremony.
Additionally, she found acclaim in theater and film after starting her career in the theater in the 1950s.
With performances in London's West End, she built a reputation in the America when she won 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 musicals and comedy - she performed in classic plays at the RSC, then won an theater prize for outstanding musical performance for Candide in the 1980s decade.
That decade also witnessed her emergence as a household name - landing appearances by comedian Victoria Wood in the show As Seen on TV, and writer Alan Bennett in three of his renowned Talking Heads monologues, including her Bafta-nominated role, for which she earned a Bafta nomination.
She garnered additional Bafta nods, for Keeping Up Appearances, in the early 1990s, then headlined the main character as a senior citizen on a mission to investigate mysteries in the series Hetty Wainthropp Investigates between the late 1990s.
She was honored with an OBE in the nineties, a CBE in the 2000s, and a dame in recent years.
A Remarkable Life
With her memorable characters, Dame Patricia Routledge brought laughter and delight to millions, creating a impressive career portfolio that is still enjoyed by fans for generations to come.
