Elspet Gray
The Lady Rix | |
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Born | Elspet Jean MacGregor Gray 12 April 1929 Inverness, Scotland |
Died | 18 February 2013 London, England | (aged 83)
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 1948–2013 |
Spouse |
Brian Rix (m. 1949) |
Children | 4, including Jamie and Louisa |
Elspet Jean Gray, Baroness Rix (née Gray; 12 April 1929 – 18 February 2013) was a Scottish actress, who first became known for her partnership with her husband, Brian Rix, and later was cast in many television roles in the 1970s and 1980s.[1] She played Lady Collingford in the television series Catweazle and Mrs. Palmer in the television series Solo, alongside Felicity Kendal.
Career
Gray had a long stage career, particularly known for her appearances in the
Gray appeared in many films and television programmes, her earliest being
Gray continued her acting career until the late 1990s, appearing in Agatha Christie's Poirot, the films The Girl in a Swing (1988) and Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994), and as Hilary in the British television comedy Dinnerladies.[8]
Personal life and death
Gray married Brian Rix in 1949. The couple had four children – two sons and two daughters. Their eldest child, daughter Shelley (born 1951)[9] had Down syndrome. The experience of caring for her led the couple to become active campaigners for the disabled. Rix later became Mencap chairman and president. He became a life peer in 1992. Shelley died in July 2005, aged 53.[10]
Their younger daughter
Gray served on the Council of the
Gray died in hospital on 18 February 2013, aged 83.[12]
Filmography
Year | Title | Role | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1948 | The Blind Goddess | Daphne Dearing | ||
1948 | Fly Away Peter | Phyllis Hapgood | ||
1948 | Love in Waiting | Brenda Lawrence | ||
1949 | Trottie True | Honor Bellaire | Uncredited | |
1951 | Reluctant Heroes | Lt. Virginia | ||
1954 | Johnny on the Spot | Joan Ingram | ||
1954 | Devil's Point | June Mallard | ||
1961 | The Night We Got the Bird | Woman with dog | ||
1969 | Goodbye, Mr. Chips | Lady Sutterwick | Uncredited | |
1979 | Fawlty Towers | Mrs Abbott | ||
1983 | Blackadder | Gertrude of Flanders | ||
1987 | Inspector Morse | Mrs Bartlett | Episode - "The Silent World of Nicholas Quinn" | |
1988 | The Girl in a Swing | Mrs. Dresland | ||
1990 | Double Sin | Miss Penn | ||
1994 | Four Weddings and a Funeral | Laura's Mother – Wedding One | ||
1998 | dinnerladies |
Phillipa's mother - Hilary |
References
- ISBN 9780313295508– via Google Books.
- ^ Barker, Dennis (19 February 2013). "Elspet Gray obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
- ^ "Elspet Gray | Movies and Filmography". AllMovie.
- ^ "Elspet Gray". HeraldScotland. 22 February 2013.
- ^ "Elspet Gray". www.aveleyman.com.
- ^ "BFI Screenonline: Blackadder (1983-89) Credits". www.screenonline.org.uk.
- ^ Guide, British Comedy. "Solo - BBC1 Sitcom". British Comedy Guide.
- ^ "Elspet Gray". BFI. Archived from the original on 22 March 2018.
- ^ a b c d England & Wales, Birth Index: 1916–2005 (registration required)
- ^ England & Wales, Death Index: 1984–2005 (registration required)
- ^ Jonty Rix at Open University
- ^ "Actress Elspet Gray dies aged 83". ITV News.
External links
- Elspet Gray at IMDb