Penelope Keith obit

Penelope Keith Dies: BAFTA-Winning ‘The Good Life’ Actress Was 86

 

She was not on the list.

Dame Penelope Keith, the BAFTA-winning British actress best known for the BBC comedy The Good Life, has died. She was 86.

In a statement sent to British media, Keith’s family said: “We are deeply saddened to announce that Dame Penelope Keith died peacefully whilst living with cancer at her home in Surrey where she had lived for more than 50 years.

“The family is grateful for the care and support she received throughout her treatments, and ask that their privacy be respected at this time.”

Keith was born in 1940 under her real name, Penelope Anne Constance Hatfield. She joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1963 and secured her first major screen credit in The Army Game, the ITV comedy that aired between 1957 and 1961.

Keith progressed to roles in Carry on Doctor, The Avengers, and Private Lives before she was cast in The Good Life in 1975.

The Good Life is woven into the fabric of British comedy and featured Keith as Margo Leadbetter, a straight-laced neighbour to Richard Briers and Felicity Kendal’s Tom and Barbara Good, who escape the rat race to live a self-sufficient lifestyle in suburbia.

Keith won her first BAFTA for The Good Life in 1977. A year later, she doubled her tally of bronze masks, winning for her work in The Norman Conquests: Living Together, a television play written by Alan Ayckbourn.

She was also BAFTA-nominated for To the Manor Born, the BBC comedy. One of her final screen credits was Death Comes to Pemberley, the 2013 limited series based on PD James’s homage to Pride and Prejudice, co-starring Matthew Rhys.

Early in her career she worked in repertory in Manchester and while there obtained occasional television roles. When offered scripts she can usually tell within 5 pages if it is suitable for her. When it came to 'To the Manor Born' which was intended for a radio series, she considered it one of the best scripts that she'd read and asked to show it to BBC television light entertainment head John Howard Davis and the rest is history.

She made her name in the theatre in Alan Ayckbourn's The Norman Conquests before which she had played mostly everything including a season at Stratford. She was spotted in 'Conquests' and offered a role in the tv series The Good Life. Her 1st tv break had been in 'Kate' with Phyllis Calvert.

Penelope Keith was educated at a convent school in Bedford then spent 2 years at a drama school before going to a reportary theatre at Chesterfield in Derbyshire for 6 months. She's best known for the television series The Good Life and To the Manor Born. She has produced a production of Hayfever.

Actress

Matthew Rhys and Anna Maxwell Martin in Death Comes to Pemberley (2013)

Death Comes to Pemberley

7.1

TV Mini Series

Lady Catherine de Bourgh

2013

1 episode

 

Tinga Tinga Tales (2010)

Tinga Tinga Tales

7.6

TV Series

Queen Bee (voice)

2011

1 episode

 

Peter Bowles and Penelope Keith in To the Manor Born (1979)

To the Manor Born

7.4

TV Series

Audrey fforbes-HamiltonAudrey DeVere

1979–2007

22 episodes

 

Kate Harbour and Rob Rackstraw in The Secret Show (2006)

The Secret Show

7.0

TV Series

Nana Poo-Poo (voice)

2006

1 episode

 

June Brown and Penelope Keith in Margery and Gladys (2003)

Margery and Gladys

6.9

TV Movie

Margery Heywood

2003

 

A Garden is Lovesome Thing

Video

(voice)

2001

 

Pui Fan Lee, John Simmit, Nikky Smedley, and Dave Thompson in Teletubbies (1997)

Teletubbies

3.9

TV Series

The BearDancing Bear (voice)

1997–1998

2 episodes

 

Peter O'Toole, Joanna Lumley, and Emily Mortimer in Coming Home (1998)

Coming Home

6.8

TV Mini Series

Aunt Louise

1998

1 episode

 

Next of Kin (1995)

Next of Kin

8.1

TV Series

Maggie

1995–1997

22 episodes

 

Flight of the Amazon Queen (1995)

Flight of the Amazon Queen

7.9

Video Game

Temple Guardian (voice)

1995

 

Penelope Keith in Law and Disorder (1994)

Law and Disorder

7.8

TV Series

Phillippa Troy

1994

6 episodes

 

La Treizième voiture (1993)

La Treizième voiture

4.5

TV Movie

Aunt Tanya

1993

 

Beauty and the Beast (1992)

Beauty and the Beast

3.8

Video

Madame Bonbec (voice)

1992

 

Tales of the Tooth Fairies (1992)

Tales of the Tooth Fairies

7.4

TV Series

(voice: English version)

1992

 

Aladdin (1992)

Aladdin

2.7

Video

Madam Dim Sum (voice)

1992

 

No Job for a Lady (1990)

No Job for a Lady

7.2

TV Series

Jean Price

1990–1992

18 episodes

 

Woof! (1989)

Woof!

7.1

TV Series

Miss Robson

1989–1992

2 episodes

 

Santa and the Tooth Fairies (1991)

Santa and the Tooth Fairies

7.1

TV Movie

(voice: English version)

1991

 

Executive Stress (1986)

Executive Stress

7.3

TV Series

Caroline Fielding

1986–1988

19 episodes

 

Tickle on the Tum (1984)

Tickle on the Tum

6.2

TV Series

Dora the Driver

1984–1987

8 episodes

 

Moving (1985)

Moving

TV Series

Sarah Gladwyn

1985

6 episodes

 

Hay Fever (1984)

Hay Fever

7.6

TV Movie

Judith Bliss

1984

 

Jackanory (1965)

Jackanory

7.2

TV Series

Storyteller

1975–1984

11 episodes

 

Waters of the Moon (1983)

Waters of the Moon

7.9

TV Movie

Helen Lancaster

1983

 

Sweet Sixteen (1983)

Sweet Sixteen

7.0

TV Series

Helen WalkerHelen Morgan

1983

6 episodes

 

Spider's Web (1982)

Spider's Web

7.3

TV Movie

Clarissa Hailsham-Brown

1982

 

BBC Play of the Month (1965)

BBC Play of the Month

7.0

TV Series

Maria Wislack

1982

1 episode

 

Priest of Love (1981)

Priest of Love

6.0

The Honourable Dorothy Brett

1981

 

Donkeys' Years (1980)

Donkeys' Years

5.3

TV Movie

Lady Driver

1980

 

Penelope Keith, Eric Morecambe, and Ernie Wise in Morecambe and Wise at the BBC (1979)

Morecambe and Wise at the BBC

7.7

TV Series

Various

1979

1 episode

 

Much Ado About Nothing (1978)

Much Ado About Nothing

7.0

TV Movie

Beatrice

1978

 

The Hound of the Baskervilles (1978)

The Hound of the Baskervilles

4.5

Massage Receptionist

1978

 

Richard Briers and Felicity Kendal in The Good Life (1975)

The Good Life

8.0

TV Series

Margo Leadbetter

1975–1978

30 episodes

 

Richard Briers, Tom Conti, and Penelope Keith in The Norman Conquests (1977)

The Norman Conquests

8.7

TV Mini Series

Sarah

1977

3 episodes

 

Lynda Bellingham in Cottage to Let (1977)

Cottage to Let

TV Series

Peggy Rodway

1977

1 episode

 

Mr & Mrs Edgehill (1985)

Private Lives

7.6

TV Movie

Amanda Prynne

1976

 

Seven Nights in Japan (1976)

Seven Nights in Japan

5.7

Mrs. Hollander (voice)

1976

 

Two's Company (1975)

Two's Company

7.8

TV Series

Mrs. Philips

1975

1 episode

 

Parker Pens: Finishing School

5.5

Video

1975

 

Turandot (1974)

Turandot

Short

Turandot (voice, voice: English version)

1974

 

Susan Hampshire, Philip Latham, Donal McCann, Barbara Murray, and Bryan Pringle in The Pallisers (1974)

The Pallisers

8.3

TV Mini Series

Mrs. Hittaway

1974

2 episodes

 

Larry Dann, Marianne Faithfull, Vivian MacKerrell, Murray Melvin, and Barbara Shelley in Ghost Story (1974)

Ghost Story

4.9

Rennie

1974

 

Penny Gold (1973)

Penny Gold

5.4

Miss. Hartridge

1973

 

Phyllis Calvert and Jack Hedley in Kate (1970)

Kate

8.3

TV Series

Wenda Padbury

1970–1972

33 episodes

 

Julie Ege in Rentadick (1972)

Rentadick

3.8

Reporter

1972

 

Take a Girl Like You (1970)

Take a Girl Like You

5.6

Tory Lady

1970

 

Marty Feldman in Every Home Should Have One (1970)

Every Home Should Have One

5.0

Lotte

1970

 

Grounds for Suspicion (1969)

Grounds for Suspicion

Short

Jo

1969

 

Gerald Harper in Hadleigh (1969)

Hadleigh

7.1

TV Series

Angela Frampton

1969

1 episode

 

Reginald Barratt, Richard Beckinsale, Freddie Fletcher, Bernard Hepton, Arthur Lowe, Brian Miller, Ron Moody, Jack Rosenthal, Liz Smith, and Paula Wilcox in ITV Playhouse (1967)

ITV Playhouse

7.2

TV Series

Housekeeper

1969

1 episode

 

A Touch of Love (1969)

A Touch of Love

6.3

Nurse (uncredited)

1969

 

The Avengers (1961)

The Avengers

8.3

TV Series

Audrey LongBrideNanny Brown

1965–1969

3 episodes

 

John Bennett in Market in Honey Lane (1967)

Market in Honey Lane

6.1

TV Series

Frankie

1969

2 episodes

 

Robert Mitchum, Elizabeth Taylor, and Mia Farrow in Secret Ceremony (1968)

Secret Ceremony

6.3

Hotel Assistant (uncredited)

1968

 

Comedy Playhouse (1961)

Comedy Playhouse

7.0

TV Series

Daisy

1968

1 episode

 

Barbara Windsor in Wild, Wild Women (1968)

Wild, Wild Women

TV Series

Daisy

1968

1 episode

 

Jim Dale, Anita Harris, Frankie Howerd, Hattie Jacques, Sidney James, Valerie Van Ost, Jennifer White, Kenneth Williams, and Barbara Windsor in Carry on Doctor (1967)

Carry on Doctor

6.5

Plain Nurse (uncredited)

1967

 

ITV Play of the Week (1955)

ITV Play of the Week

6.7

TV Series

Betty Brogan

1967

1 episode

 

Emergency-Ward 10 (1957)

Emergency-Ward 10

6.4

TV Series

Iris BedfordMiss Willy Williams

1966–1967

5 episodes

 

William Lucas and Neil McCallum in Vendetta (1966)

Vendetta

7.5

TV Series

W.P.C. Ritchie

1966

2 episodes

 

Sam Kydd, David Munro, and Judy Robinson in Orlando (1965)

Orlando

6.5

TV Series

Waitress

1966

1 episode

 

Love Story (1963)

Love Story

7.0

TV Series

HelenThe waitress

1965–1966

2 episodes

 

The Liars

8.5

TV Series

Lady Winnie

1966

1 episode

 

Pamela Brown and Barry Warren in Six Shades of Black (1965)

Six Shades of Black

TV Series

Lady Pandora Brewster

1965

1 episode

 

Derek Godfrey and Roddy McMillan in Front Page Story (1965)

Front Page Story

TV Series

Morgue Girl

1965

1 episode

 

Jack Warner in Dixon of Dock Green (1955)

Dixon of Dock Green

6.9

TV Series

Miss Nash

1965

1 episode

 

Call Oxbridge 2000

TV Series

Eileen

1962

1 episode

 

Alfie Bass, Bill Fraser, and William Hartnell in The Army Game (1957)

The Army Game

7.4

TV Series

1957–1961

 

Director

A Garden is Lovesome Thing

Video

Director

2001

 

Soundtrack

Peter Bowles and Penelope Keith in To the Manor Born (1979)

To the Manor Born

7.4

TV Series

performer: "Cheek to Cheek"

1979

1 episode

 

The Morecambe & Wise Show (1968)

The Morecambe & Wise Show

8.1

TV Series

performer: "Darn It, Baby, That's Love"

1977

1 episode

 

Richard Briers and Felicity Kendal in The Good Life (1975)

The Good Life

8.0

TV Series

performer: "My Favourite Things", "The Sound of Music"performer: "Do Re Mi"

1976

2 episodes

 

Self

Saving Country Houses with Penelope Keith

TV Series

Self - Presenter

2026

 

Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh (2020)

Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh

6.5

TV Series

Self

2023–2024

3 episodes

 

Peter Bowles and Penelope Keith in To the Manor Born: Britain's Best Loved Comedy (2024)

To the Manor Born: Britain's Best Loved Comedy

7.1

TV Special

SelfSelf - Various Characters

2024

 

Martin Scorsese, David Harewood, Zoë Wanamaker, David Olusoga, and Gemma Arterton in Remembers... (2022)

Remembers...

7.4

TV Series

Self

2024

1 episode

 

The Good Life: 50 Years of Laughter

7.6

TV Movie

SelfSelf - Various Characters (as Dame Penelope Keith)

2023

 

When 70s TV Goes Horribly Wrong

5.2

TV Special

Self - Narrator (voice)

2023

 

Agathaland: The Making of Agatha Raisin (2023)

Agathaland: The Making of Agatha Raisin

TV Special

Self - Narrator

2023

 

Elizabeth: Her Passions and Pastimes (2022)

Elizabeth: Her Passions and Pastimes

6.8

TV Movie

Self - Sandringham WI Guest Speaker (as Dame Penelope Keith)

2022

 

Britain's Most Expensive Home: Building for a Billionaire (2020)

Britain's Most Expensive Home: Building for a Billionaire

4.8

TV Movie

Self - Narrator (voice)

2020

 

Penelope Keith in Penelope Keith's Village of the Year (2018)

Penelope Keith's Village of the Year

9.2

TV Series

Self - Host

2018

 

Penelope Keith in Penelope Keith's Coastal Villages (2017)

Penelope Keith's Coastal Villages

8.7

TV Series

Self - Presenter

2017–2018

3 episodes

 

Penelope Keith in Penelope Keith's Hidden Villages (2014)

Penelope Keith's Hidden Villages

8.5

TV Series

Self - Presenter

2014–2016

12 episodes

 

Penelope Keith in Penelope Keith at Her Majesty's Service (2016)

Penelope Keith at Her Majesty's Service

8.5

TV Mini Series

Self - Host

2016

 

BBC: The Secret Files

TV Mini Series

Self - Presenter

2015–2016

2 episodes

 

The Secret Files (2015)

The Secret Files

7.2

TV Movie

Self

2015

 

5 NewsTalk Live (2013)

5 NewsTalk Live

TV Series

Self (as Dame Penelope Keith)

2014

1 episode

 

Morecambe & Wise: The Whole Story (2013)

Morecambe & Wise: The Whole Story

7.4

TV Series

Self - 'The Morecambe & Wise Christmas Show', 1972

2013

1 episode

 

Cat Deeley, Alison Hammond, Dermot O'Leary, and Ben Shephard in This Morning (1988)

This Morning

4.3

TV Series

Self

2013

1 episode

 

Richard Briers: A Tribute

TV Movie

Self

2013

 

Goodbye Television Centre (2013)

Goodbye Television Centre

6.6

TV Movie

Self

2013

 

Tales of Television Centre (2012)

Tales of Television Centre

8.5

TV Movie

Self - Actress

2012

 

John Howard Davies: A Life in Comedy

TV Short

Self - Presenter

2012

 

Penelope Keith and Paul Martin in The Manor Reborn (2011)

The Manor Reborn

7.5

TV Series

Self - Presenter

2011

4 episodes

 

The One Show (2006)

The One Show

3.6

TV Series

Self

2011

1 episode

 

Jo Brand and Alan Yentob in Imagine (2003)

Imagine

7.6

TV Series

Self - Interviewee

2011

1 episode

 

Behind the Britcoms: From Script to Screen

TV Movie

Self - Actress

2011

 

Eric & Ernie: Behind the Scenes (2011)

Eric & Ernie: Behind the Scenes

TV Movie

Self (as Penelope Keith CBE)

2011

 

All About 'The Good Life' (2010)

All About 'The Good Life'

7.1

TV Movie

SelfSelf - Margo Leadbetter

2010

 

The Comedy Christmas

TV Movie

Self

2007

 

Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg (2005)

Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg

6.3

TV Series

Self

2007

1 episode

 

The National Trust: Garden Treasures

TV Mini Series

Self - Narrator

2007

 

Lifeline (1986)

Lifeline

TV Series

Self - Presenter

1989–2006

4 episodes

 

Comedy Connections (2003)

Comedy Connections

7.5

TV Series

Self

2003–2006

2 episodes

 

The Funny Blokes of British Comedy (2005)

The Funny Blokes of British Comedy

7.3

TV Movie

Self

2005

 

Call My Bluff (1996)

Call My Bluff

6.0

TV Series

Self

1996–2005

7 episodes

 

The Unseen Eric Morecambe

6.3

TV Movie

Self

2005

 

The Funny Ladies of British Comedy

7.3

TV Movie

Self - Host

2004

 

Breakfast (2000)

Breakfast

5.2

TV Series

Self

2004

1 episode

 

Britain's Best Sitcom (2004)

Britain's Best Sitcom

7.2

TV Series

Self

2004

3 episodes

 

Masters and Servants

TV Series

Self - Narrator (voice)

2003

1 episode

 

The Royals and Their Pets

TV Series

Self - Narrator

2003

 

The Sitcom Story

5.2

TV Series

Self

2003

1 episode

 

Designing the Decades

TV Series

Self - Narrator

2003

4 episodes

 

A Week in the West End

TV Series

Self

2002

1 episode

 

80 Years: A Royal Celebration

TV Movie

Self

2001

 

Songs of Praise (1961)

Songs of Praise

4.3

TV Series

Self - Presenter

2001

1 episode

 

Funny Turns (1999)

Funny Turns

6.3

TV Series

Self

2000–2001

3 episodes

 

Laughter in the House: The Story of British Sitcom (1999)

Laughter in the House: The Story of British Sitcom

7.2

TV Mini Series

SelfSelf - Margo Leadbetter

1999

1 episode

 

Going for a Song (1995)

Going for a Song

TV Series

Self - Team Captain

1997–1998

3 episodes

 

Auntie: The Inside Story of the BBC (1997)

Auntie: The Inside Story of the BBC

6.2

TV Mini Series

Self

1997

1 episode

 

Auntie's All-Time Greats

8.3

TV Special

Self (uncredited)

1996

 

Northern Eye

TV Series

Self

1995

1 episode

 

One Foot in the Past

7.5

TV Series

Self - Reporter

1995

1 episode

 

Eamonn Andrews in This Is Your Life (1955)

This Is Your Life

6.4

TV Series

Self - Filmed Tribute

1972–1994

5 episodes

 

Pebble Mill at One (1972)

Pebble Mill at One

6.2

TV Series

Self

1994

1 episode

 

The Travel Show (1982)

The Travel Show

6.9

TV Series

Self - Reporter

1993

1 episode

 

Noel Edmonds in Telly Addicts (1985)

Telly Addicts

6.2

TV Series

Self

1993

1 episode

 

Aspel & Company (1984)

Aspel & Company

6.8

TV Series

Self

1991

1 episode

 

The Write Stuff

TV Series

Self

1989

1 episode

 

A Night of Comic Relief 2

8.0

TV Special

Self

1989

 

Terry Wogan in Wogan (1982)

Wogan

6.2

TV Series

Self

1985–1988

2 episodes

 

What's My Line? (1984)

What's My Line?

5.0

TV Series

Self - Host

1988

25 episodes

 

Celia Imrie and Rik Mayall in Comic Relief (1988)

Comic Relief

6.8

TV Special

Self

1988

 

The Royal Variety Show

TV Special

Self

1986

 

The Paul Daniels Magic Show (1979)

The Paul Daniels Magic Show

7.3

TV Series

Self

1985

1 episode

 

Keith Chegwin, John Craven, Sarah Greene, Mike Read, and David Icke in Saturday SuperStore (1982)

Saturday SuperStore

6.6

TV Series

Self

1983

1 episode

 

Michael Parkinson in Parkinson in Australia (1979)

Parkinson in Australia

6.3

TV Series

Self

1982

1 episode

 

Royal Variety Performance (1980)

Royal Variety Performance

TV Special

Self

1980

 

The Variety Club Awards for 1979

TV Special

Self

1980

 

Call My Bluff (1965)

Call My Bluff

7.1

TV Series

Self

1976–1980

6 episodes

 

The 70s Stop Here!

TV Movie

Self - Presenter

1979

 

The British Academy Awards

TV Special

Self - Presenter

1979

 

The Brian Connell Interview

TV Series

Self

1978

1 episode

 

Keith Chegwin, John Craven, Noel Edmonds, and Maggie Philbin in Multi-Coloured Swap Shop (1976)

Multi-Coloured Swap Shop

6.9

TV Series

Self

1978

1 episode

 

The Morecambe & Wise Show (1968)

The Morecambe & Wise Show

8.1

TV Series

SelfSelf - Roxanne

1977

1 episode

 

Michael Aspel in Ask Aspel (1970)

Ask Aspel

6.2

TV Series

Self

1977

1 episode

 

Night of 100 Stars

TV Special

Self

1977

 

The British Academy Awards

TV Special

Self - Winner & Nominee

1977

 

Andrew Faulds in Open Door (1973)

Open Door

TV Series

Self

1977

1 episode

 

The Variety Club Awards for 1976

TV Special

Self - Show Business Personality

1977

 

It's Childsplay

TV Series

Self

1976

1 episode

 

Archive Footage

Grace Dent in What We Were Watching (2018)

What We Were Watching

6.6

TV Series

Judith BlissAudrey fforbes-HamiltonSelf (archive footage, uncredited, archive footage, uncredited, archive footage, uncredited)

2019–2024

2 episodes

 

Annette Crosbie and Richard Wilson in One Foot in the Grave: 30 Years of Laughs (2023)

One Foot in the Grave: 30 Years of Laughs

6.8

TV Movie

Self - Margo LeadbetterSelf - Audrey fforbes-Hamilton (archive footage, uncredited)

2023

 

Penelope Keith in Penelope Keith: From Margo to the Manor Born (2022)

Penelope Keith: From Margo to the Manor Born

7.0

TV Special

Self (archive footage)

2022

 

Peta Credlin in Credlin (2017)

Credlin

2.4

TV Series

Self (archive footage, uncredited)

2022

1 episode

 

Britain's Best Loved Sitcoms (2015)

Britain's Best Loved Sitcoms

5.0

TV Series

Self - Comedy Role (archive footage, uncredited)

2015

1 episode

 

Eddie Braben, Paul Merton, Eric Morecambe, and Ernie Wise in Morecambe and Wise: The Show What Paul Merton Did (2009)

Morecambe and Wise: The Show What Paul Merton Did

TV Movie

Self (archive footage, uncredited)

2009

 

The Greatest Christmas Comedy Moments

TV Movie

Self - Various Roles (archive footage, uncredited)

2008

 

The Story of Jackanory

TV Movie

Self - 'Jackanory' Storyteller (archive footage)

2007

 

Greatest TV Comedy Moments (2005)

Greatest TV Comedy Moments

5.4

TV Movie

Self - Margo Leadbetter (archive footage, uncredited)

2005

 

Bruce Forsyth's Comedy Heroes

TV Movie

Self - Margo Leadbetter (archive footage)

2005

 

Life Beyond the Box: Margo (2003)

Life Beyond the Box: Margo

TV Movie

Margo Leadbetter (archive footage)

2003

 

The Greatest (1998)

The Greatest

6.4

TV Series

Self - Margo Leadbetter (archive footage, uncredited)

2001

1 episode

 

Jon Anderson, Bill Bruford, Tony Kaye, Chris Squire, Peter Banks, and Yes in Top Ten (1995)

Top Ten

6.0

TV Series

Self - Audrey fforbes-Hamilton (archive footage)

2000

1 episode

 

The 100 Greatest TV Ads (2000)

The 100 Greatest TV Ads

7.0

TV Special

Self - Teacher (archive footage)

2000

 

Monkey Business (1993)

Monkey Business

7.6

Video

Self - PG Tips Chimp (archive sound, voice)

1993

 

Television's Greatest Hits

TV Series

Self - Audrey fforbes-Hamilton (archive footage)

1992

1 episode