Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Sad News.... Mollie Sugden "Are You Being Served? "

Actress Mollie Sugden dies at 86

Mollie Sugden had a long and successful acting career , best known for playing Mrs. Slocombe in long -running BBC sitcom Are You Being Served? died at the Royal Surrey Hospital after a long illness.

Mary Isobel Sugden (July 21, 1922 - June 30, 2009) was an English comedy actress, known as Mollie Sugden, who is best known for playing Mrs. Slocombe in the popular and long running British sitcom Are You Being Served? from 1972 to 1985.
She later reprised this role for Grace & Favour (called Are You Being Served? Again! in the United States), which ran from 1992 to 1993.

The Yorkshire-born actress's twin sons, Robin and Simon Moore, were at her bedside, agent Joan Reddin said.
David Croft, one of the writers of Are You Being Served?, remembered her as a "marvellous character" who would never turn down chances to make people laugh.


"She would never refuse any sort of comedy situation no matter how undignified it was she would always go along with it. She was marvellously funny," he said.
Farewell Mollie you will be missed.
Photo credits: Wikipedia, BBC

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thats a shame. She played some classic comedy roles.

Patsy said...

I watched this show years ago. Sorry to hear that she is gone.
Patsy

Anonymous said...

I am so sad to hear about "Mrs. Slocombe".
Are you being served,is one of my favorite show. My husband and I have watch the British comedies every Saturday night on PBS for years and years. Mr. Humphries, Mr. Grangler, Captian Peacock, and all the rest were some fascinating characters.

Mollie Sugden seemed like a wonderfully nice woman.
Her family are in my thoughts and prayers.
She will be missed.

Pam

Winifred said...

She was so funny in everything. I loved her. Wendy Richard in the last photo died just before her too although a lot younger.

What a great character.

A Brit in Tennessee said...

Dave: yes, she was a natural...
I still watch her in Are you Being Served ;0

Bennie and Patsy: I think she was loved by many people on both sides of the Atlantic.

gafarmwoman: Such a funny show "Are You Free?"...

Winifred: I don't think they make them as funny as Mrs. Slocombe any longer.. she was a classic.
I did a post in March when Wendy Richards passed away, they will be missed.

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Oh Jo----I didn't know that she had died. She was so so so funny--and will be missed.

Another actor died today. It was Karl Maldin.. I loved him way back when in the "Streets of San Francisco" TV series.

Hugs,
Betsy

Sharon Rose said...

Oh, that is very sad. This woman has kept me laughing to the point of tears on many late nights. I love the show so much, I have watched reruns and continued to laugh.
She was a talented actress! She will be missed and remembered!

Cass @ That Old House said...

She has always been one of my favorites, and we still enjoy "Are You Being Served" on TV. Such a gifted actress and "clown" -- one of the greats.

Cass

Vagabonde said...

I went to Djan’s blog to catch up on her posts as I’ve been away and, from the corner of my eye, I saw something on “Are you being served?” which is a show I’ve been watching for years, so I clicked on it and here I am at your blog. I did not know she passed. She was such a wonderful actress, so funny. Her expressions said so much without her even uttering a word. I watch “Are you being served?” with the other Brit comedies every Saturday night. I like them ever so much better than the US shows – they are humorous without being vulgar. I’ll come back and read the rest of your posts; you have beautiful pictures and are close to me (I’m in Ga.)

cheshire wife said...

Mollie Sudgen has not been on the TV here the the UK for some time but she was an unforgettable character. We don't seem to have comedy like that any more. She will be missed.

L. D. said...

Mollie would come Iowa PBS to help raise funds for the station. She was such a gracious lady. They had her do verbal promos for the station here so it isn't nothing to hear her tell us to support our local PBS. She was the star of that show.

L. D. said...

Mollie would come Iowa PBS to help raise funds for the station. She was such a gracious lady. They had her do verbal promos for the station here so it isn't nothing to hear her tell us to support our local PBS. She was the star of that show.

Mama Freemans' cafe' said...

I am glad you posted Mollys passing. I did not know. Reading through all the comments makes me feel so close to everyone in that there are so many viewers from all over who have watched and enjoyed her shows for so long. I hail from Nebraska and watch PBS every Sat nite too. She will be missed but I am thankful that we have her shows to contiue to make us laugh and remember her.

Anonymous said...

My husband and I quote Mrs. Slocombe frequently, especially her "I am unanimous in this!" line.

When she would appear on the PBS telethons, she always looked lovely--she aged so beautifully. I'd have thought she would have been bald after all those color changes.

We have the collection of shows on DVD and I can't even guess the number of times my husband has said, "Let's put Mrs. Slocombe on." As far as he's concerned, she WAS the show.

I'm glad you posted this.