The veteran star also featured in Absolutely Fabulous, Eastenders and Terry and June
Actress June Whitfield has died at the age of 93, according to her agent.
The London-born star graced TV, films and radio – where she played the role of Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple a dozen times – across six decades, appearing in four Carry On films during a prolific career.
Whitfield had a memorable turn in Absolutely Fabulous as lead character Edina Monsoon’s mother, while she also starred in Last of the Summer Wine, Terry and June, The Goodies and the London-set edition of Friends.
Still acting at the age of 89, Whitfield played Sister Ruth in Eastenders before being made a Dame by the time she turned 92.
Her agent confirmed that she passed away peacefully on Friday night at the age of 93.
Tributes have poured in on social media from the likes of comedian David Walliams, who paid his respects to Whitfield’s “incredible” career:
#JuneWhitfield ‘s incredible career in British comedy stretched all the way from ‘Hancock’s Half Hour’ to ‘Absolutely Fabulous’. She was always there, always being brilliant. @ferrifrump wrote June one of the funniest lines in television history… https://t.co/zFeBkCgksY
— David Walliams HQ (@davidwalliams) December 29, 2018
Rory Bremner, meanwhile, hailed Whitfield’s “always graceful and elegant” character:
RIP June Whitfield- go-to comedy actress for 3 generations, from 60s radio to 70s, 80s, even 90s TV. Always graceful & elegant with a real comic glint in her eye & (absolutely) fabulous timing.
— Rory Bremner 💙🇺🇦 (@rorybremner) December 29, 2018
While Absolutely Fabulous producer Jon Plowman said that “there was no-one with more warmth or a better ability to just place a line, always an act of utter precision”.
https://twitter.com/bimpsonbun1/status/1079080063004536832
We're sorry to learn that Dame June Whitfield – celebrated for her comic roles in Absolutely Fabulous, Terry and June, and numerous Carry On films – has passed away https://t.co/M21cjY9RX9 pic.twitter.com/ry8Zs4mPcj
— BFI (@BFI) December 29, 2018
A true comedy icon, the brilliant Dame June Whitfield has died. She was 93. https://t.co/6BcLPKby4n pic.twitter.com/BLfKTFiOG3
— British Comedy Guide (@BritishComedy) December 29, 2018
