Pamela Salem obit

Pamela Salem 1944-2024

 

She was not on the list.

Pamela Salem was born 1944 in India. She attended Heidelberg University in Germany and the Central School of Speech and Drama in London, before starting in repertory theatre in Chesterfield and York.

Her long career in stage, television, and film included multiple roles in touring plays by Shakespeare, Chekhov, Pinter and Ayckbourn, as well as starring alongside Sean Connery in two films, The First Great Train Robbery and Never Say Never Again.

A move to Los Angeles in the 1990s, then Miami, led to a number of guest appearances in popular US drama series, such as ER and The West Wing, and a new career as a co-writer and producer of radio and theatre productions with her husband Michael O’Hagan.

To science fiction and fantasy fans, Pamela was probably best known for her roles in Blake’s 7, The Tripods and Into the Labyrinth. However, it was her two guest appearances in Doctor Who that led to a long and fruitful association with Big Finish, firstly reprising the character of Professor Rachel Jensen (first seen on screen in 1988’s Remembrance of the Daleks) in the spin-off series Counter-Measures.

Then, in 2020, Pamela returned to the worlds established in Chris Boucher’s 1977 story, The Robots of Death, once again playing Toos to David Collings’ Poul in three box sets of the audio drama series, The Robots.

David Richardson, who produced all of Pamela Salem’s work at Big Finish, said: “Pamela Salem was lovely, and we all loved her. Whenever there was a Big Finish recording for her, she’d fly in from Miami on her own steam, without fuss or fanfare, and appear at the studio armed with the warmest smiles, the biggest hugs and often presents. She was a very gentle person – always interested in everyone, from her co-stars to the production team to the guest actors and visitors. She talked with joy about her home on Miami Beach, waking up to warmth and waves, and she knew all about our lives and families and life stories. When Miami was hit by a terrible storm a few years ago, and residents were evacuated to public shelters, the tight knit Counter-Measures team in the UK sat waiting nervously to hear how Pam was doing – and the moment she hit safety she was in touch. We were separated by thousands of miles and yet she always felt close – even if we might go for months without corresponding. There was an open and often offered invite to go to Miami and stay with her, but I don’t enjoy international travel anymore so didn’t take up the offer – something I regret.

“As a performer she’d been on my radar since I was a child – I’d seen and enjoyed her in Jason King, Doctor Who, Blake’s 7, Into the Labyrinth… as I grew up she was Miss Moneypenny in Never Say Never Again, appeared in dozens of episodes of EastEnders and after moving to the US guest starred in ER and The West Wing. Pamela had an extraordinary career and carried it lightly. She loved Big Finish and every opportunity to work with her was a gift – beyond Counter-Measures she guest starred in The Fourth Doctor Adventures (reunited with Tom Baker) and then reprised the role of Toos in our series The Robots. We had planned to continue Toos through all of the box sets, but sadly the pandemic put paid to that – international travel was out of the question and Miami was in lockdown. Nevertheless, we had many happy days together and I feel very lucky to have had her in my life.”

Actor Karen Gledhill, who co-starred as Allison Williams in Counter-Measures, added: “Pamela was the kindest, most generous actor I have ever worked with. Back in the 80s on Remembrance of the Daleks (my first proper TV job), she took me under her wing and led me through a wonderful but slightly daunting experience. We became friends, and whenever we met were always so pleased to see each other. Counter-Measures was a total bonus – nearly eight years of regular contact with this unique woman, whose talent and professionalism shone like the star she was – what a privilege to have worked with her.

“We laughed a lot at our total lack of comprehension of the scientific jargon that we regularly had to say as Rachel and Allison – but she always sounded so totally convincing on the recordings! We also shared a mutual love of dogs – she adored the canine friends that she often rescued and looked after. She was so loved, so respected and will be so missed.”

And director Ken Bentley, who also wrote a number of Counter-Measures scripts, said: “Every time Pamela walked into the studio she brought the Florida sunshine with her. She was such great company, always smiling, with so much enthusiasm for the small things in life that bring us all joy, like walking your dog along the beach. She had many gifts but her superpower was her ability to single-handedly restore your faith in human nature.”

 

Film

Year     Title            Role            Notes

1976    No Longer Alone            Actress In TV Studio   

1978    The First Great Train Robbery            Emily Trent   

1979    The Bitch    Lynn    

1982    The Secret of Seagull Island            Carol   

1983    Never Say Never Again   Miss Moneypenny   

1986    Salomè            Herodias        

1986    God's Outlaw Lady Anne Walsh     

1997    River Made to Drown In            Lady in Gallery 4         

1998    Gods and Monsters            Sarah Whale 

1998    Suicide, the Comedy            Winnie 

2002            Quicksand       Peggy  

2002    The Book of Eve            Goldie 

2003    April's Shower            Anna   

2007    Wide Awake Mrs. Burns  

2008    A Necessary Death   Matt's Mother

2011    Pig            Narrator          

2019    Down's Revenge            Mrs. McBride          

Television

Year     Title            Role            Notes

1969    Happy Ever After            Miss Grimble            Episode: "Feeling the Pinch"

1971    Out of the Unknown            Jeanette            Episode: "The Sons and Daughters of Tomorrow"

1971    Jason King            Alexandra Lanova            Episode: "To Russia with... Panache"

1972    The Onedin Line            Emma Callon  2 episodes

1972    Man at the Top            Jane Wilson

1972    The Adventurer            Michele            Episode: "Return to Sender"

1972    New Scotland Yard            Ann Denbury            Episode: "Two Into One Will Go"

1974    The Carnforth Practice            Dr. Helen Rheinman            5 episodes

1974    The Early Life of Stephen Hind            Sarah Bernard            2 episodes

1977    Van der Valk            Millie Sanger            Episode: "Dead on Arrival"

1977, 1988            Doctor Who     Rachel / Toos / Xoanon            9 episodes

1978    Blake's 7          Kara            Episode: "Cygnus Alpha"

1978            Scorpion Tales Ursula            Episode: "The Great Albert"

1978    Tycoon            Marjorie Reynolds            Episode: "Personal Account"

1978    The Professionals            Marikka Schuman / Ann Seaford            2 episodes

1978–1988            All Creatures Great and Small    Zoe Bennett 5 episodes

1979    General Hospital (British TV series)  Angela Wilding            Episode: "Technical Hitch"

1980    Flesh and Blood            Jill Cornforth            Episode: "Time of Life"

1980            Buccaneer       Monica Burton  13 episodes

1981    Seagull Island   Carol            3 episodes

1981–1982            Into the Labyrinth            Belor            21 episodes

1981–1984            Crown Court   Juliet Parkinson            4 episodes

1982            Strangers         Helena Russell            Episode: "A Much Underestimated Man"

1983    The Consultant            Jennifer            3 episodes

1984    The Tripods            Countess         4 episodes

1984    Ever Decreasing Circles  Sue            Episode: "A Married Man"

1984    Night Train to Murder Cousin Zelda            Television film

1985            Magnum, P.I.  Alyce            Episode: "Deja Vu"

1985            Thirteen at Dinner            Mrs. Wildburn            Television film

1985    Lytton's Diary    Isabelle de Montfort            Episode: "The Lady in the Mask"

1986    Chance in a Million            Cousin Mary            Episode: "Guess Who's Not Coming to Dinner"

1986            Howards' Way            Mrs. Travis   3 episodes

1987    Boon            Davida Duff            Episode: "Credit Where It's Due"

1987            Succubus         Joy            Television film

1988–1989            EastEnders      Joanne Francis 37 episodes

1989–1991            French Fields   Chantal Moriac 18 episodes

1990    El C.I.D.  Lisa            Episode: "A Proper Copper"

1990    Chain            Vivienne Lynton            Episode: "David Lynton"

1990    The Paradise Club            Delia Rich            Episode: "Dead Dogs Don't Bark"

1992    Perfect Scoundrels            Julia Jones            Episode: "The Goodbye Look"

1993    Then Churchill Said to Me            Baroness Hannah von Thump            Episode: "The Goose Has Landed"

1993    Don't Leave Me This Way     Sandra Neil            Television film

1996    ER            Marian Vucelich            Episode: "True Lies"

2000    Party of Five      Ms. Shaw    3 episodes

2003    L/R: Licensed by Royalty Mrs. Butterfield            Episode: "Gyakuten no hosoku"

2005    The West Wing            P.M. Maureen Graty            Episode: "The Wake Up Call"

2008    Hellsing            The Queen            Episode: "Hellsing Ultimate, Vol. 4"

2010    Big Love    —            Episode: "Under the Roof"