Joan Sanderson: Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox person | {{Infobox person | ||
| name = Joan Sanderson | | name = Joan Sanderson | ||
| Line 5: | Line 4: | ||
| occupation = Actress | | occupation = Actress | ||
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1912|11|24}} | | birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1912|11|24}} | ||
| birth_place = [[ | | birth_place = [[Bristol]], England | ||
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|1992|05|24|1912|11|24}} | | death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|1992|05|24|1912|11|24}} | ||
| death_place = [[ | | death_place = [[Norwich]], [[Norfolk]], England | ||
| years_active = 1939–1992 | | years_active = 1939–1992 | ||
}} | }} | ||
'''Joan Sanderson''' (24 November 1912 – 24 May 1992) was a British television and stage actress born in [[ | '''Joan Sanderson''' (24 November 1912 – 24 May 1992) was a British television and stage actress born in [[Bristol]].<ref name=bfi>{{cite web|url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b9f57acf0|title=Joan Sanderson}}</ref> During a long career, her tall and commanding disposition led to her playing mostly dowagers, spinsters and matrons, as well as intense [[William Shakespeare|Shakespearean]] roles. Her television work included the sitcoms ''[[Please Sir!]]'' (1968–72), ''[[Fawlty Towers]]'' (1979) and ''[[Me and My Girl (TV series)|Me and My Girl]]'' (1984–88).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmovie.com/artist/joan-sanderson-p62974|title=Joan Sanderson – Biography, Movie Highlights and Photos – AllMovie|website=AllMovie}}</ref> | ||
==Theatre== | ==Theatre== | ||
Born and educated in Bristol, Sanderson trained at [[ | Born and educated in Bristol, Sanderson trained at [[RADA]]. She had teaching diplomas in elocution. She appeared in repertory theatres, on the West End stage and at the [[Royal Shakespeare Theatre|Stratford Memorial Theatre]], where she made her début in 1939 playing Amelia in ''[[The Comedy of Errors]]'', a phase in her career that culminated in 1953 when she played both [[Goneril]] to [[Michael Redgrave]]'s [[King Lear]], and [[Margaret of Anjou|Queen Margaret]] in ''[[Richard III (play)|Richard III]]''. | ||
During the [[ | During the [[Second World War]] she gained experience in repertory and toured North Africa and Italy entertaining the troops. In 1948 she married fellow actor Gregory Moseley. She achieved her apotheosis as Delia, Lady Rumpers, in ''[[Habeas Corpus (play)|Habeas Corpus]]'' by [[Alan Bennett]] (Lyric Theatre 1973). She starred in numerous [[West End theatre|West End]] productions including ''[[See How They Run (play)|See How They Run]]'' and ''[[Anyone for Denis]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://theatricalia.com/play/3m1/see-how-they-run/production/7y7|title=Production of See How They Run|publisher=theatricalia.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://archive.spectator.co.uk/article/16th-may-1981/28/theatre|title=Theatre " 15 May 1981 " The Spectator Archive}}</ref> | ||
==TV and film== | ==TV and film== | ||
| Line 22: | Line 21: | ||
==Personal life== | ==Personal life== | ||
Joan Sanderson died of natural causes in [[ | Joan Sanderson died of natural causes in [[Norwich]] on 24 May 1992.<ref>''Please Sir! The Official History'', Barry David Barry (2020) {{isbn|9781789824735}}</ref> A memorial service was held for her four days later at [[St Paul's, Covent Garden|St Paul's]].<ref>''Travelling to Work: Diaries 1988–1998'', [[Michael Palin]] (2015), p. 240 {{isbn|9781466888913}}</ref> | ||
The final series of ''After Henry'' was broadcast July-August 1992, following her death; the last episode of which paid tribute to Sanderson. | The final series of ''After Henry'' was broadcast July-August 1992, following her death; the last episode of which paid tribute to Sanderson. | ||
Latest revision as of 15:38, 15 September 2024
Joan Sanderson | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 24 November 1912 Bristol, England |
| Died | 24 May 1992 (aged 79) |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1939–1992 |
Joan Sanderson (24 November 1912 – 24 May 1992) was a British television and stage actress born in Bristol.[1] During a long career, her tall and commanding disposition led to her playing mostly dowagers, spinsters and matrons, as well as intense Shakespearean roles. Her television work included the sitcoms Please Sir! (1968–72), Fawlty Towers (1979) and Me and My Girl (1984–88).[2]
Theatre
Born and educated in Bristol, Sanderson trained at RADA. She had teaching diplomas in elocution. She appeared in repertory theatres, on the West End stage and at the Stratford Memorial Theatre, where she made her début in 1939 playing Amelia in The Comedy of Errors, a phase in her career that culminated in 1953 when she played both Goneril to Michael Redgrave's King Lear, and Queen Margaret in Richard III.
During the Second World War she gained experience in repertory and toured North Africa and Italy entertaining the troops. In 1948 she married fellow actor Gregory Moseley. She achieved her apotheosis as Delia, Lady Rumpers, in Habeas Corpus by Alan Bennett (Lyric Theatre 1973). She starred in numerous West End productions including See How They Run and Anyone for Denis.[3][4]
TV and film
She played Doris Ewell in the television comedy series Please Sir! (1968–72) and Mrs Pugh-Critchley, in the series All Gas and Gaiters (1970–71), as well as a role in the short-lived sitcom Wild, Wild Women (1969).[5] In 1979, she played the abrasive and selectively deaf Mrs. Richards in the Fawlty Towers episode: "Communication Problems".[6] She also appeared in After Henry, a gently comic series on both radio (1985–88) and television (1988–92), in which she played the domineering Eleanor, mother of Sarah (Prunella Scales), who lives below her in the basement flat in Sarah's large house.[7] Her movie roles were rare but she appeared in the Hylda Baker film She Knows Y'Know (1962), Who Killed the Cat? (1966), the film version of Please Sir! (1971), The Great Muppet Caper (1981), playing John Cleese's wife, and Prick Up Your Ears (1987), the film based on the life of playwright Joe Orton.[1]
Personal life
Joan Sanderson died of natural causes in Norwich on 24 May 1992.[8] A memorial service was held for her four days later at St Paul's.[9]
The final series of After Henry was broadcast July-August 1992, following her death; the last episode of which paid tribute to Sanderson.
Credits
TV and film
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | Young Wives' Tale | Nurse |
| 1954 | Sunday Night Theatre | Mrs. Dangerfield |
| 1955 | St. Ives | Miss Gilchrist |
| 1961 | The Pocket Lancer | Countess of Clarencourt |
| 1962 | She Knows Y'Know | Euphemia Smallhope |
| 1962 | Dial RIX | Mrs. Hathaway |
| 1963 | Maigret | Unknown |
| 1964 | Detective | Mrs. Blayne |
| 1965 | The Wednesday Play: The Confidence Course |
Angela Walker |
| 1965 | Night Train To Surbiton | Manageress |
| 1966 | Seven Deadly Sins | Hotel Receptionist |
| 1966 | Who Killed the Cat? | Mrs. Sandford |
| 1967 | Boy Meets Girl | Germaine |
| 1967 | The Wednesday Play: Fall of the Goat |
Isobel |
| 1969 | Wild, Wild Women | Mrs. Harcourt |
| 1970 | The Human Element | Lady Brancaster |
| 1970–1971 | All Gas and Gaiters | Mrs. Grace Pugh-Critchley |
| 1971 | Please Sir! | Miss Doris Ewell |
| 1975 | The Les Dawson Show | various |
| 1975 | Crown Court | Susan Halls |
| 1975 | Upstairs, Downstairs: "Noblesse Oblige" |
Mrs. Waddilove |
| 1976 | Yus, My Dear | Mrs. Hartington |
| 1976 | Well Anyway | The Countess |
| 1976 | Wodehouse Playhouse: Strychnine in the Soup |
Lady Bassett |
| 1977 | Jubilee: Silver Lining |
Unknown |
| 1978 | The Ghosts of Motley Hall | Alexandra |
| 1978 | Rising Damp "Pink Carnations" |
Mother |
| 1978 | Mixed Blessings | Aunt Dorothy |
| 1978 | Doris and Doreen | Dorothy Binns |
| 1979 | Fawlty Towers: "Communication Problems" |
Mrs. Richards |
| 1979 | Ripping Yarns "Roger of the Raj" |
Lady Bartlesham |
| 1980 | How's Your Father? | Unknown |
| 1981 | The Great Muppet Caper | Dorcas |
| 1981 | Barriers | Miss Morton |
| 1981 | Janet and Company | Unknown |
| 1982 | Play for Today: Intensive Care |
Miss Tunstall |
| 1982 | Anyone for Denis? | Rear Admiral |
| 1983 | All for Love | Mrs. Davidson |
| 1983 | Agatha Christie's Partners in Crime The House of Lurking Death | Rachel Logan |
| 1984 | The Fainthearted Feminist | Mother |
| 1984–1988 | Me and My Girl | Nell Cresset |
| 1985 | Alice in Wonderland | The Queen of Hearts (voice) |
| 1986 | Full House | Mrs. Hatfield |
| 1987 | Prick Up Your Ears | John Lahr's mother-in-law |
| 1987 | East of Ipswich | Miss Wilbraham |
| 1988 | Thompson | Unknown |
| 1988–1992 | After Henry | Eleanor Prescott |
| 1989 | Alexei Sayle's Stuff "Tinkering With Teeth" |
Wilma Gatling |
| 1992 | Land of Hope and Gloria | Nancy Princeton |
Radio
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1954 | Personal Call | Mrs. Lamb |
| 1962–1977 | The Men from the Ministry | Various |
| 1971–1972 | All Gas and Gaiters | Mrs. Grace Pugh-Critchley |
| 1973–1981 | What Ho! Jeeves | Aunt Agatha |
| 1976–1979 | Jim the Great | Queen Esmeralda |
| 1985–1989 | After Henry | Eleanor Prescott |
References
- ^ a b "Joan Sanderson".
- ^ "Joan Sanderson – Biography, Movie Highlights and Photos – AllMovie". AllMovie.
- ^ "Production of See How They Run". theatricalia.com.
- ^ "Theatre " 15 May 1981 " The Spectator Archive".
- ^ "A Short Biography of Joan Sanderson". radiosoundsfamiliar.com.
- ^ "Fawlty Towers, Communication Problems". British Classic Comedy. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
- ^ BBC. "After Henry".
- ^ Please Sir! The Official History, Barry David Barry (2020) ISBN 9781789824735
- ^ Travelling to Work: Diaries 1988–1998, Michael Palin (2015), p. 240 ISBN 9781466888913
