Anna Dawson obit

Keeping Up Appearances' Anna Dawson dies at 88

Anna Dawson, best known for playing Hyacinth Bouquet’s sister in the beloved BBC show, tragically passed away just six months after her husband John Boulter.

 

She was not on the list.

The actress, best known for playing Hyacinth Bouquet’s sister in the beloved BBC show, tragically passed away just six months after her husband John Boulter - a soloist in the Black and White Minstrel Show.

Her death on June 27 (26) was announced by the Christ Church Anglican at Kororāreka Russell on New Zealand’s Paihia Community Facebook page.

The post read: “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). Anna died peacefully on Saturday 27 June in Kerikeri at 3pm.

“Many from the Russell community will remember Anna and her late husband John Boulter who lived in Okiato and Tapeka. Funeral details to follow.”

Tributes quickly flooded in, with Only Fools and Horses star John Challis’ widow Carol leading the way, as she wrote: “Sad news. An old friend. God bless you, Anna.”

Another added: “Anna Dawson aka Violet from Keeping Up Appearances has died I do hope heaven has a Mercedes, sauna and a room for a pony. RIP queen.”

While a third commented: “Oh no, how sad. Goodness - Penelope Keith, Michael Byrne and now Anna Dawson.”

And someone else wrote: “I was sad to hear that the actress and singer Anna Dawson has died.”

While Dawson was best known for Keeping Up Appearances, she began her career on stage, starring in musicals on the West End, before landing a screen role in 1960s police show Dixon of Dock Green.

She also appeared on The Benny Hill Show and The Kenny Everett Video Show, before taking on the role of Violet - often referred to by Patricia Routledge’s Hyacinth as “the one with the Mercedes, sauna and room for a pony”.

Dawson retired from acting in 1995, after which she and husband John relocated to New Zealand, where they lived in a retirement village.

John passed away six months ago, “peacefully, surrounded by family”.

 

Filmography

Film

Year     Title     Role

1973    O Lucky Man! Becky

Love Thy Neighbour   Betty

1975    The Sexplorer a.k.a.

The Girl From Starship Venus            Store

Manageress

1977    Stand Up, Virgin Soldiers       Glam #1

1981    If You Go Down in the Woods Today Courting woman

1984    Gabrielle and the Doodleman Wicked Witch

Bloodbath at the House of Death        Nurse

Sources:[5][4]

Television

Year     Title     Role     Notes

1964–1966      Dixon of Dock Green Mary Crawford           23 episodes

1965    Mother Goose Squire's daughter         TV film

1971    Slapstick and Old Lace           Various           

Brian Rix Presents...   7 episodes

1973    Z-Cars Sheila Clowes Episode: "Domestic"

1975–1989      The Benny Hill Show Various            9 episodes

1976–1978 & 1980     What's on Next?         

1976-1981       The Generation Game Self      4 episodes

1977    Hi Summer!                

Larry Grayson Bubbles           3 episodes

Miss Jones and Son    Carole  Episode: 'Baby Talk'

1978    Bernie              1 episode

'ITV Votes for Women' 50th Anniversary Gala                      One-Off special

Whodunnit?     Panellist           5 episodes

1978-9 and 1985         Blankety Blank

1978-1989       Give Us a Clue            Guest Contestant         8 episodes

1978    The Morecambe & Wise Show          Bandaged Newsreader

/ Lola   Christmas Special

1978–1979      Rings on Their Fingers           Deirdre            4 episodes

1979    The Dick Emery Special         Various           

1979    Leslie Crowther's Scrapbook 

1979, 1982 and 1986  3-2-1    Guest Entertainer         10 episodes

1980    Robin's Nest    Atalanta          

Episode: "Just an Old-Fashioned Girl"

Life Begins at Forty    Jill Simpson    4 episodes

The Crowther Collection         Various           

The Dick Emery Hour

The Allan Stewart Show                    

1980–1981      The Kenny Everett Video Show         Carla / Various 8 episodes

1980–1982      Keep It in the Family  Mrs Morgan / Woman Juror    2 episodes

1981    It's A Celebrity Knockout       Celebrity Contestant (Budgie)           

The Jim Davidson Show                     1 episode

The Paul Squire Show           

The Kenny Everett Video Cassette     Carla   

1982    Royal Variety Performance     Introductory Sequence           

The Generation Game Guest during run-up to 1982 Wimbledon Pantomime           

The Good Old Days    Guest Entertainer         3 episodes

1983    All for Love    Wife     Episode: "Down at the Hydro"

1984    The Steam Video Company    Various            6 episodes

1985    The New Statesman    Enid Vance      6 episodes

1986    Crosswits         Celebrity Panellist      

Rainbow          Self      Episode: "Decision Making"

The Sooty Show         Guest (Swimming Pool etc.)  

Smith & Jones Various            Episode: "Football Supporters on a Plane"

Super Gran      Wendy Whiplash         Episode: "Supergran and the World's Worst Circus"

1988    Bad Boyes       Bonnie 7 episodes

1991    Benny Hill: Unseen    Various            TV film

1992    Don't Tell Father         Stella Whipple 3 episodes

1995    Keeping Up Appearances       Violet   4 episodes