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Born in [[w:Camberwell|Camberwell]], [[w:South London|South London]], Coombs was one of three children; her father worked in insurance for the Employers' Liability, the forerunner of [[w:Commercial Union|Commercial Union]]. | Born in [[w:Camberwell|Camberwell]], [[w:South London|South London]], Coombs was one of three children; her father worked in insurance for the Employers' Liability, the forerunner of [[w:Commercial Union|Commercial Union]]. | ||
Coombs attended the County School for Girls in [[w:Beckenham|Beckenham]], [[w:Kent|Kent]]. After leaving school, she began her working life as a student [[w:kindergarten|infant school]] teacher, but soon a keenness to act prompted her to take drama lessons during the [[w:Second World War|Second World War]] with her friend and neighbour [[w:Vivien Merchant|Vivien Merchant]].<ref name="pat4">"[https://www.theguardian.com/obituaries/story/0,3604,723345,00.html Pat Coombs]", ''[[w:The Guardian|The Guardian]]'', last accessed 15 February 2007</ref> At the age of 19 she won a scholarship to train as an actress at [[w:London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art|LAMDA]], where she subsequently taught [[w:dialect|dialect]].<ref name="pat2">"[http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20020528/ai_n12618507 Obituary: Pat Coombs]", ''[[w:The Independent|]]'', last accessed 15 February 2007</ref> | Coombs attended the County School for Girls in [[w:Beckenham|Beckenham]], [[w:Kent|Kent]]. After leaving school, she began her working life as a student [[w:kindergarten|infant school]] teacher, but soon a keenness to act prompted her to take drama lessons during the [[w:Second World War|Second World War]] with her friend and neighbour [[w:Vivien Merchant|Vivien Merchant]].<ref name="pat4">"[https://www.theguardian.com/obituaries/story/0,3604,723345,00.html Pat Coombs]", ''[[w:The Guardian|The Guardian]]'', last accessed 15 February 2007</ref> At the age of 19 she won a scholarship to train as an actress at [[w:London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art|LAMDA]], where she subsequently taught [[w:dialect|dialect]].<ref name="pat2">"[http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20020528/ai_n12618507 Obituary: Pat Coombs]", ''[[w:The Independent|The Independent]]'', last accessed 15 February 2007</ref> | ||
==Career== | ==Career== | ||
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===Television=== | ===Television=== | ||
An early television break came when she appeared with [[Tony Hancock]] in an episode of his series ''[[Hancock's Half Hour]]'' (1957). She followed this with regular appearances in ''[[Cyril Fletcher|The Cyril Fletcher Show]]'' (1959) and later she became a regular performer in ''[[The Dick Emery Show]]''. She also starred in the sitcoms ''[[Barney Is My Darling]]'' (1965–66) alongside Irene Handl and ''[[Wild, Wild Women]]'' (1969) alongside [[Barbara Windsor]]. She also appeared in [[Dombey and Son (1969 TV series)| | An early television break came when she appeared with [[Tony Hancock]] in an episode of his series ''[[Hancock's Half Hour]]'' (1957). She followed this with regular appearances in ''[[Cyril Fletcher|The Cyril Fletcher Show]]'' (1959) and later she became a regular performer in ''[[The Dick Emery Show]]''. She also starred in the sitcoms ''[[Barney Is My Darling]]'' (1965–66) alongside Irene Handl and ''[[Wild, Wild Women]]'' (1969) alongside [[Barbara Windsor]]. She also appeared in the BBC's 13-part adaptation of [[w:Dombey and Son (1969 TV series)|''Dombey and Son'']] as Lucretia Tox. | ||
After a relatively unsuccessful partnership with [[Peggy Mount]] in the television series ''[[Lollipop Loves Mr Mole]]'' ([[ITV Network|ITV]], 1971), the two women found a better platform for their talents when they were reunited in [[ITV Yorkshire|Yorkshire Television]]'s ''[[You're Only Young Twice]]'' (1977–81), set in a home for the elderly; the actresses became close friends. During her long career Coombs made two contributions to ''[[Dad's Army]]''. In 1970 she played Mrs Hall in [[Dad's Army (1971 film)|the first film adaptation]], and in 1975 she played the dual part of Marie and the Clippie in the [[List of Dad's Army radio episodes|radio adaptation]] of "[[A Soldier's Farewell]]". | After a relatively unsuccessful partnership with [[Peggy Mount]] in the television series ''[[Lollipop Loves Mr Mole]]'' ([[w:ITV Network|ITV]], 1971), the two women found a better platform for their talents when they were reunited in [[w:ITV Yorkshire|Yorkshire Television]]'s ''[[You're Only Young Twice]]'' (1977–81), set in a home for the elderly; the actresses became close friends. During her long career Coombs made two contributions to ''[[Dad's Army]]''. In 1970 she played Mrs Hall in [[Dad's Army (1971 film)|the first film adaptation]], and in 1975 she played the dual part of Marie and the Clippie in the [[List of Dad's Army radio episodes|radio adaptation]] of "[[A Soldier's Farewell]]". | ||
Her other television work included ''[[Beggar My Neighbour (TV series)|Beggar My Neighbour]]'' (1966-68), ''[[Don't Drink the Water (TV series)|Don't Drink the Water]]'' (1974–75), ''[[Up Pompeii!]]'' (1970), ''[[Till Death Us Do Part]]'' (1966–75) and its sequel ''[[In Sickness and in Health]]'' (1990, 1992) and ''The Lady is a Tramp'' (1983), in the last of which she co-starred with [[Patricia Hayes]] in a series set among 'down-and-outs'. Coombs was also the subject of ''[[This Is Your Life (British TV series)|This Is Your Life]]'' in 1978, | Her other television work included ''[[Beggar My Neighbour (TV series)|Beggar My Neighbour]]'' (1966-68), ''[[Don't Drink the Water (TV series)|Don't Drink the Water]]'' (1974–75), ''[[Up Pompeii!]]'' (1970), ''[[Till Death Us Do Part]]'' (1966–75) and its sequel ''[[In Sickness and in Health]]'' (1990, 1992) and ''The Lady is a Tramp'' (1983), in the last of which she co-starred with [[Patricia Hayes]] in a series set among 'down-and-outs'. Coombs was also the subject of ''[[w:This Is Your Life (British TV series)|This Is Your Life]]'' in 1978, and appeared regularly as a guest on [[w:Noel Edmonds|Noel Edmonds]]'s Saturday night entertainment show ''[[w:Noel's House Party|Noel's House Party]]'' (1992–95) and on the game shows ''[[w:Blankety Blank|Blankety Blank]]'' and ''[[w:Celebrity Squares|Celebrity Squares]]'' (1975–79), returning for its revival in 1993–94. | ||
In 1989, she appeared in the [[BBC]] [[soap opera]] ''[[EastEnders]]''. For a year she played [[Marge Green]], [[tawny owl|Brown Owl]] of the [[Walford]] [[Brownies (Girl Guides)|Brownies]]' pack, where she worked closely with ''EastEnders'' regulars [[June Brown]], [[Edna Doré]] and [[Gretchen Franklin]]. Coombs's character was introduced as part of a deliberate attempt to bring humour into the programme, which had come under attack for being too depressing. The character subsequently became one of many to be axed in 1990 following the appointment of new executive producer [[Michael Ferguson (director)|Michael Ferguson]]. Coombs was said to be extremely upset that the character of Marge only lasted for one year, but the producers felt there was no place in the programme's new plan for a character "whose prime function was to be comic relief".<ref name="first10years">{{cite book |last=Brake|first= Colin|author-link= Colin Brake|title= EastEnders: The First 10 Years: A Celebration |year=1995|publisher=BBC Books|isbn=978-0-563-37057-4|title-link= EastEnders spin-offs#Non-fiction books}}</ref> | In 1989, she appeared in the [[w:BBC|BBC]] [[w:soap opera|soap opera]] ''[[w:EastEnders|EastEnders]]''. For a year she played [[w:Marge Green|Marge Green]], [[w:tawny owl|Brown Owl]] of the [[w:Walford|Walford]] [[w:Brownies (Girl Guides)|Brownies]]' pack, where she worked closely with ''EastEnders'' regulars [[w:June Brown|June Brown]], [[w:Edna Doré|Edna Doré]] and [[w:Gretchen Franklin|Gretchen Franklin]]. Coombs's character was introduced as part of a deliberate attempt to bring humour into the programme, which had come under attack for being too depressing. The character subsequently became one of many to be axed in 1990 following the appointment of new executive producer [[w:Michael Ferguson (director)|Michael Ferguson]]. Coombs was said to be extremely upset that the character of Marge only lasted for one year, but the producers felt there was no place in the programme's new plan for a character "whose prime function was to be comic relief".<ref name="first10years">{{cite book |last=Brake|first= Colin|author-link= w:Colin Brake|title= EastEnders: The First 10 Years: A Celebration |year=1995|publisher=BBC Books|isbn=978-0-563-37057-4|title-link= EastEnders spin-offs#Non-fiction books}}</ref> | ||
Following her stint in ''EastEnders'', Coombs went on to guest in the BBC comedy ''[[Birds of a Feather (TV series)|Birds of a Feather]]'', ''[[Boon (TV series)|Boon]]'' and the BBC medical drama ''[[Doctors (2000 TV series)|Doctors]]'' in 2001, which was her last appearance on screen. | Following her stint in ''EastEnders'', Coombs went on to guest in the BBC comedy ''[[Birds of a Feather (TV series)|Birds of a Feather]]'', ''[[w:Boon (TV series)|Boon]]'' and the BBC medical drama ''[[w:Doctors (2000 TV series)|Doctors]]'' in 2001, which was her last appearance on screen. | ||
According to ''[[Guinness World Records|The Guinness Book of Records]]'' she holds the record for the largest number of takes for a TV commercial. According to Coombs: "I just couldn't remember the name of the product." | According to ''[[w:Guinness World Records|The Guinness Book of Records]]'' she holds the record for the largest number of takes for a TV commercial. According to Coombs: "I just couldn't remember the name of the product." | ||
===Film=== | ===Film=== | ||
Coombs had also appeared in many films, including ''[[A Stitch in Time (film)|A Stitch in Time]]'' (1963), ''[[Carry On Doctor]]'' (1967), ''[[Carry On Again Doctor]]'' (1969), ''[[Cucumber Castle (film)|Cucumber Castle]]'' (1970) starring the [[Bee Gees]], ''[[Ooh... You Are Awful]]'' (1972) with [[Dick Emery]], and [[Spike Milligan]]'s ''[[Adolf Hitler: My Part in his Downfall (film)|Adolf Hitler: My Part in His Downfall]]'' (1972), as well as the movie versions of ''[[Till Death Us Do Part (film)|Till Death Us Do Part]]'' (1969), ''[[On the Buses (film)|On the Buses]]'' (1971) and ''[[Dad's Army (1971 film)|Dad's Army]]'' (1971). She also had a minor uncredited role as Henrietta Salt in ''[[Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory]]'' in 1971. | Coombs had also appeared in many films, including ''[[A Stitch in Time (film)|A Stitch in Time]]'' (1963), ''[[Carry On Doctor]]'' (1967), ''[[Carry On Again Doctor]]'' (1969), ''[[Cucumber Castle (film)|Cucumber Castle]]'' (1970) starring the [[w:Bee Gees|Bee Gees]], ''[[Ooh... You Are Awful]]'' (1972) with [[Dick Emery]], and [[Spike Milligan]]'s ''[[Adolf Hitler: My Part in his Downfall (film)|Adolf Hitler: My Part in His Downfall]]'' (1972), as well as the movie versions of ''[[Till Death Us Do Part (film)|Till Death Us Do Part]]'' (1969), ''[[On the Buses (film)|On the Buses]]'' (1971) and ''[[Dad's Army (1971 film)|Dad's Army]]'' (1971). She also had a minor uncredited role as Henrietta Salt in ''[[w:Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory|Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory]]'' in 1971. | ||
===Children’s TV=== | ===Children’s TV=== | ||
Coombs was also a regular on children's television. Hers was one of the voices heard in the children's series ''[[Ragdolly Anna]]'' (1982–87), she played Policewoman Pat in ''[[Mooncat|Mooncat and Co]]'' (1984–85) and voiced one of the puppets in the children's show ''[[Playbox (1980s TV series)|Playbox]]'' (1988) alongside [[Keith Chegwin]]. She was seen in ''[[Rainbow (TV series)|Rainbow]]'' (1981–82), ''[[The Basil Brush Show]]'' (1977–79) and ''[[Supergran]]'', and joined [[Stanley Baxter]] to play Miss Flavia Jelly in the first two series of ''[[Mr Majeika]]'' (1988–89), among many others. | Coombs was also a regular on children's television. Hers was one of the voices heard in the children's series ''[[w:Ragdolly Anna|Ragdolly Anna]]'' (1982–87), she played Policewoman Pat in ''[[w:Mooncat|Mooncat and Co]]'' (1984–85) and voiced one of the puppets in the children's show ''[[w:Playbox (1980s TV series)|Playbox]]'' (1988) alongside [[w:Keith Chegwin|Keith Chegwin]]. She was seen in ''[[w:Rainbow (TV series)|Rainbow]]'' (1981–82), ''[[w:The Basil Brush Show|The Basil Brush Show]]'' (1977–79) and ''[[w:Supergran|Supergran]]'', and joined [[Stanley Baxter]] to play Miss Flavia Jelly in the first two series of ''[[w:Mr Majeika|Mr Majeika]]'' (1988–89), among many others. | ||
==Personal life== | ==Personal life== | ||
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==Illness and death== | ==Illness and death== | ||
Coombs was diagnosed with [[osteoporosis]] in 1995, and became an active campaigner for the [[National Osteoporosis Society]]. Her Christmas appeal letter raised £100,000 for the charity's research. | Coombs was diagnosed with [[w:osteoporosis|osteoporosis]] in 1995, and became an active campaigner for the [[w:National Osteoporosis Society|National Osteoporosis Society]]. Her Christmas appeal letter raised £100,000 for the charity's research. | ||
She had just completed a role for [[BBC Radio 4|Radio 4]] alongside [[Roy Hudd]] and [[June Whitfield]] in ''Like They've Never Been Gone'' when she died on 25 May 2002, aged 75, from [[emphysema]] in [[Denville Hall]] actors' home, a west London nursing home to which she had moved to be close to her friend [[Peggy Mount]], who had died six months earlier.<ref name="pat4"/> | She had just completed a role for [[w:BBC Radio 4|Radio 4]] alongside [[Roy Hudd]] and [[June Whitfield]] in ''Like They've Never Been Gone'' when she died on 25 May 2002, aged 75, from [[w:emphysema|emphysema]] in [[w:Denville Hall]] actors' home, a west London nursing home to which she had moved to be close to her friend [[Peggy Mount]], who had died six months earlier.<ref name="pat4"/> | ||
==Filmography== | ==Filmography== |
Latest revision as of 22:53, 19 November 2022
Pat Coombs | |
---|---|
Born | Patricia Doreen Coombs 27 August 1926 Camberwell, London, England |
Died | 25 May 2002 Northwood, England | (aged 75)
Occupation | Actress |
Years active | 1959–1994 |
Patricia Doreen Coombs (27 August 1926 – 25 May 2002) was an English actress. She specialised in the portrayal of the eternal downtrodden female, comically under the thumb of stronger personalities. She was known for many roles on radio, film and television sitcoms and Children's ITV's Playbox and Ragdolly Anna. Her authorised biography, written by Andrew Ross, was published in 2021.
Early life
Born in Camberwell, South London, Coombs was one of three children; her father worked in insurance for the Employers' Liability, the forerunner of Commercial Union.
Coombs attended the County School for Girls in Beckenham, Kent. After leaving school, she began her working life as a student infant school teacher, but soon a keenness to act prompted her to take drama lessons during the Second World War with her friend and neighbour Vivien Merchant.[1] At the age of 19 she won a scholarship to train as an actress at LAMDA, where she subsequently taught dialect.[2]
Career
Radio
She first made her name in the post-war era of radio variety as 'Nola', the dim and put-upon daughter of Irene Handl in Arthur Askey's Hello Playmates; their double-act had started as a guest spot on Bob Monkhouse's show. Coombs also gained experience as a comedy stooge in radio shows alongside Ted Ray and Charlie Chester.
Television
An early television break came when she appeared with Tony Hancock in an episode of his series Hancock's Half Hour (1957). She followed this with regular appearances in The Cyril Fletcher Show (1959) and later she became a regular performer in The Dick Emery Show. She also starred in the sitcoms Barney Is My Darling (1965–66) alongside Irene Handl and Wild, Wild Women (1969) alongside Barbara Windsor. She also appeared in the BBC's 13-part adaptation of Dombey and Son as Lucretia Tox.
After a relatively unsuccessful partnership with Peggy Mount in the television series Lollipop Loves Mr Mole (ITV, 1971), the two women found a better platform for their talents when they were reunited in Yorkshire Television's You're Only Young Twice (1977–81), set in a home for the elderly; the actresses became close friends. During her long career Coombs made two contributions to Dad's Army. In 1970 she played Mrs Hall in the first film adaptation, and in 1975 she played the dual part of Marie and the Clippie in the radio adaptation of "A Soldier's Farewell".
Her other television work included Beggar My Neighbour (1966-68), Don't Drink the Water (1974–75), Up Pompeii! (1970), Till Death Us Do Part (1966–75) and its sequel In Sickness and in Health (1990, 1992) and The Lady is a Tramp (1983), in the last of which she co-starred with Patricia Hayes in a series set among 'down-and-outs'. Coombs was also the subject of This Is Your Life in 1978, and appeared regularly as a guest on Noel Edmonds's Saturday night entertainment show Noel's House Party (1992–95) and on the game shows Blankety Blank and Celebrity Squares (1975–79), returning for its revival in 1993–94.
In 1989, she appeared in the BBC soap opera EastEnders. For a year she played Marge Green, Brown Owl of the Walford Brownies' pack, where she worked closely with EastEnders regulars June Brown, Edna Doré and Gretchen Franklin. Coombs's character was introduced as part of a deliberate attempt to bring humour into the programme, which had come under attack for being too depressing. The character subsequently became one of many to be axed in 1990 following the appointment of new executive producer Michael Ferguson. Coombs was said to be extremely upset that the character of Marge only lasted for one year, but the producers felt there was no place in the programme's new plan for a character "whose prime function was to be comic relief".[3]
Following her stint in EastEnders, Coombs went on to guest in the BBC comedy Birds of a Feather, Boon and the BBC medical drama Doctors in 2001, which was her last appearance on screen.
According to The Guinness Book of Records she holds the record for the largest number of takes for a TV commercial. According to Coombs: "I just couldn't remember the name of the product."
Film
Coombs had also appeared in many films, including A Stitch in Time (1963), Carry On Doctor (1967), Carry On Again Doctor (1969), Cucumber Castle (1970) starring the Bee Gees, Ooh... You Are Awful (1972) with Dick Emery, and Spike Milligan's Adolf Hitler: My Part in His Downfall (1972), as well as the movie versions of Till Death Us Do Part (1969), On the Buses (1971) and Dad's Army (1971). She also had a minor uncredited role as Henrietta Salt in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory in 1971.
Children’s TV
Coombs was also a regular on children's television. Hers was one of the voices heard in the children's series Ragdolly Anna (1982–87), she played Policewoman Pat in Mooncat and Co (1984–85) and voiced one of the puppets in the children's show Playbox (1988) alongside Keith Chegwin. She was seen in Rainbow (1981–82), The Basil Brush Show (1977–79) and Supergran, and joined Stanley Baxter to play Miss Flavia Jelly in the first two series of Mr Majeika (1988–89), among many others.
Personal life
Coombs never married or had children. She said that twice she came close to marrying, but was not sure enough to proceed.[1] She once remarked: "I've never been wildly ambitious; I think if I'd been married, my career would have gone out of the window."[4]
Illness and death
Coombs was diagnosed with osteoporosis in 1995, and became an active campaigner for the National Osteoporosis Society. Her Christmas appeal letter raised £100,000 for the charity's research.
She had just completed a role for Radio 4 alongside Roy Hudd and June Whitfield in Like They've Never Been Gone when she died on 25 May 2002, aged 75, from emphysema in w:Denville Hall actors' home, a west London nursing home to which she had moved to be close to her friend Peggy Mount, who had died six months earlier.[1]
Filmography
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1959 | Follow a Star | Simpering Girl in Theatre | Uncredited |
1962 | She'll Have to Go | Lady on Station Platform | Uncredited |
1963 | A Stitch in Time | Nurse | Uncredited |
1968 | Carry On Doctor | Anxious Patient | Uncredited |
Till Death Us Do Part | Neighbour | ||
1969 | Cry Wolf | Mrs. Blades | |
Carry On Again Doctor | New Matron | ||
1970 | Cucumber Castle | Nurse Sarah Charles Bottom | |
1971 | Dad's Army | Mrs. Hall | |
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory | Henrietta Salt | Uncredited | |
On the Buses | Vera | ||
1972 | Ooh... You Are Awful | Libby Niven | |
1973 | Adolf Hitler: My Part in His Downfall | Spike's Mother | |
1980 | High Rise Donkey | Lady attending Donkey Derby | |
1994 | Birds of a feather | Gloria worked at Sharon’s cafe |
References
- ^ a b c "Pat Coombs", The Guardian, last accessed 15 February 2007
- ^ "Obituary: Pat Coombs", The Independent, last accessed 15 February 2007
- ^ Brake, Colin (1995). EastEnders: The First 10 Years: A Celebration. BBC Books. ISBN 978-0-563-37057-4.
- ^ "Pat Coombs", The Telegraph, last accessed 15 February 2007
Pat Coombs - The Authorised biography by Andrew Ross (Fantom Publishing, 2021)
External links
- Obituary, theguardian.com; accessed 16 January 2016.
- Pat Coombs at Find a Grave
- Pat Coombs at IMDb
- Pat Coombs profile, ftvdb.bfi.org.uk; accessed 19 August 2015.
- Pages with script errors
- Articles with short description
- Find a Grave template with ID not in Wikidata
- 1926 births
- 2002 deaths
- 20th-century English actresses
- 21st-century English actresses
- Deaths from emphysema
- Alumni of the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art
- English film actresses
- English radio actresses
- English soap opera actresses
- English television actresses
- People from Camberwell