Keeping Up Appearances actor Anna Dawson has died at the age of 88, just six months after the death of her husband.
Dawson is best-known for playing Violet, the sister of Dame Patricia Routledge’s Hyacinth Bucket, in the ‘90s sitcom.
Her death was announced by her church in New Zealand, which said in a post on social media: “It is with great sadness that we announce the death of a much treasured member of our faith community, former actress Anna Boulter (nee Dawson).”
The post, from the Christ Church Anglican at Kororāreka Russell, added that Dawson “died peacefully” on Saturday (27 June).
Friends and fans have paid tribute on X. Carol Challis, the widow of Only Fools and Horses star John Challis, wrote: “Sad news. An old friend. God bless you, Anna.”
Born in Bolton in the late 1930s, Dawson started her career on the stage and appeared in several West End musicals before making the leap to the small screen in 1964 with a role in the BBC’s police drama Dixon of Dock Green.
She then landed parts in the likes of Z-Cars, Keep it in the Family and children’s favourite Rainbow, as well as working alongside top comedians including Benny Hill, and duo Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise.
Keeping Up Appearances was Dawson’s final TV role and saw her feature as Hyacinth’s wealthy younger sister who – according to the snobby title character – was "the one with the Mercedes, sauna and room for a pony".
Violet was initially a voice-only role, but the show later introduced the character properly. A huge hit in its heyday, Keeping Up Appearances attracted 13 million viewers at its peak.
When the series finished in 1995, Dawson retired and moved to New Zealand with her husband John Boulter, a soloist known for The Black and White Minstrel Show. Boulter died in December last year.
Dawson’s death also comes after that of her co-star Routledge, who died aged 96 in October last year.
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