Sheila Mathews obit

West End and ITV icon Sheila Mathews dies aged 99 after incredible 90-year career

Mathews made her theatrical debut when she was just three years old

 She was not on the list.

Sheila Mathews, the acclaimed West End performer who enjoyed one of the longest careers in British entertainment history, has died at the age of 99.

The actress passed away on Tuesday after suffering a series of strokes, her close friend Michael Thornton confirmed in a statement released on behalf of her family.

Mathews made her theatrical debut at three years old, beginning a career that spanned more than 90 years.

The statement read: "Sheila Mathews achieved almost all of her career ambitions, but the last one eluded her.

"She wanted desperately to live to be 100 and to receive a royal telegram from the King.

"She made it to 99, but then, sadly, her time ran out.

"Her daughter, Sally Reading, with whom she shared the family home in Southwick, West Sussex, was at her bedside when she died."

Her first performance took place at London’s Alexandra Palace in June 1930, where she appeared as Bebe Sheila in a group of young dancers named The Rosebuds. She went on to feature in various capital productions, including Out Of This World, which earned her a spot in the 21st Royal Variety Performance at the London Palladium in 1950.

The performance was attended by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, later the Queen Mother, as well as Princess Elizabeth, later Queen Elizabeth II, and Princess Margaret.

She moved to the United States in 1951 to work in cabaret, where she met and married American singer William (Bill) Bender, whom she later divorced.

Returning to the UK in 1955, Mathews became a leading star during the launch of Independent Television (ITV), fronting her own show, Friday’s Girl. In 1957, she married writer and director Charles Reading, who earned the nickname "Mr Palladium" for his work at the venue.

Mathews’s television credits included Sweet ‘N’ Sour alongside Clement Freud from 1961 to 1962, playing Mrs Nash in Shelley opposite Hywel Bennett in 1982, and appearing as Mrs Boswell in Minder with George Cole and Dennis Waterman in 1984.

Her most widely recognized role came as the glamorous Laura Marshall, girlfriend of motel manager David Hunter, in Crossroads. She was also a regular performer on BBC television’s The Good Old Days, making frequent appearances between 1955 and 1983.

 

Actress

George Cole in Minder (1979)

Minder

7.8

TV Series

Mrs. Boswell

1984

1 episode

 

The Good Old Days (1953)

The Good Old Days

6.8

TV Series

Prince CharmingJessie Matthews

1965–1983

2 episodes

 

Shelley (1979)

Shelley

7.5

TV Series

Mrs. Nash

1982

2 episodes

 

Patrick McGoohan in Secret Agent (1964)

Secret Agent

8.2

TV Series

Diana (uncredited)

1964

1 episode

 

Crossroads (1964)

Crossroads

4.5

TV Series

Laura Marshall

1964–1988

 

Bill Dana and Maggie Peterson in The Bill Dana Show (1963)

The Bill Dana Show

7.2

TV Series

Maria

1963

1 episode

 

Sweet 'N' Sour

TV Series

1961–1962

 

Channel Nine

TV Movie

Performer

1955

 

Gerry's Inn

TV Movie

1947

 

Writer

Sweet 'N' Sour

TV Series

Writer

1961–1962

 

Self

Morecambe & Wise: The Whole Story (2013)

Morecambe & Wise: The Whole Story

7.4

TV Series

Self - Dancer, 'Strike a New Note', 1943

2013

1 episode

 

The Good Old Days (1953)

The Good Old Days

6.8

TV Series

Self - Performer

1973–1983

4 episodes

 

Don't Say a Word

TV Series

Self - Guest

1964

1 episode

 

Garrison Theatre

TV Series

Self

1954

1 episode

 

Face the Music

TV Series

Self

1953

1 episode

 

The Boltons Revue

TV Special

Self - Performer

1948

 

Variety

4.3

TV Series

Self

1947

2 episodes