Actor whose best known role in a seven-decade career came in a Harry Potter film in her 80s
The actor Hazel Douglas, who has died aged 92, landed her most prominent role in her 80s, when she joined the starry cast of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 (2010), as Bathilda Bagshot, the author of A History of Magic, a textbook used at Hogwarts school, and great-aunt of the dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald. And there were more performances to come in a stage and screen career that altogether spanned seven decades.
In the ITV series Vicious, Ian McKellen and Derek Jacobi played Freddie and Stuart, a longstanding and quarrelsome couple. Hazel joined them in 2013 as Mildred, Stuart’s no-nonsense mother, failing to understand the relationship between the two men. In Elephants Can Remember, an episode of Agatha Christie’s Poirot from the same year with David Suchet, Zoë Wanamaker and Greta Scacchi,...
The actor Hazel Douglas, who has died aged 92, landed her most prominent role in her 80s, when she joined the starry cast of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 (2010), as Bathilda Bagshot, the author of A History of Magic, a textbook used at Hogwarts school, and great-aunt of the dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald. And there were more performances to come in a stage and screen career that altogether spanned seven decades.
In the ITV series Vicious, Ian McKellen and Derek Jacobi played Freddie and Stuart, a longstanding and quarrelsome couple. Hazel joined them in 2013 as Mildred, Stuart’s no-nonsense mother, failing to understand the relationship between the two men. In Elephants Can Remember, an episode of Agatha Christie’s Poirot from the same year with David Suchet, Zoë Wanamaker and Greta Scacchi,...
- 10/11/2016
- by Brian Taylor
- The Guardian - Film News
Pauline Collins has just had another big break – playing an ex-opera singer with dementia in Dustin Hoffman's directing debut. She talks to Simon Hattenstone about her mother, escaping Shirley Valentine – and the baby she gave up
"Surprises," says Pauline Collins. "That's what I love about this business. Even at my age, you can get surprises." The surprise in question was a request from Dustin Hoffman to star in Quartet, his debut as a director. "I thought, he doesn't even know me." And actually he didn't. But Maggie Smith and Tom Courtenay had recommended her, and Hoffman watched her give an interview on the red carpet for some movie event and decided he wanted her.
He phoned her and they chatted for two hours, and then he offered her the part. Collins plays Cissy, a former opera singer with vascular dementia living in a home for retired musicians, in this gentle,...
"Surprises," says Pauline Collins. "That's what I love about this business. Even at my age, you can get surprises." The surprise in question was a request from Dustin Hoffman to star in Quartet, his debut as a director. "I thought, he doesn't even know me." And actually he didn't. But Maggie Smith and Tom Courtenay had recommended her, and Hoffman watched her give an interview on the red carpet for some movie event and decided he wanted her.
He phoned her and they chatted for two hours, and then he offered her the part. Collins plays Cissy, a former opera singer with vascular dementia living in a home for retired musicians, in this gentle,...
- 12/13/2012
- by Simon Hattenstone
- The Guardian - Film News
Television comedy director and producer known for Fawlty Towers, Steptoe and Son and Till Death Us Do Part
Douglas Argent, who has died aged 89, was a prolific producer and director who scored hits with Till Death Us Do Part, Steptoe and Son, Fawlty Towers and Spike Milligan's Q8 and Q9 series – all with humour that pushed the boundaries of TV comedy.
He was gifted the second series of Fawlty Towers to produce in 1979. The creation of John Cleese and Connie Booth – who had divorced since the first run, four years earlier – went on to top a British Film Institute list of the 100 best TV programmes, as voted for by industry professionals. Argent modestly insisted that its success lay in the writing. However, producers guide all those working on their programmes and his track record was impressive, particularly in the field of comedy.
Argent was born in Bexleyheath, Kent, and his parents ran ironmonger's shops.
Douglas Argent, who has died aged 89, was a prolific producer and director who scored hits with Till Death Us Do Part, Steptoe and Son, Fawlty Towers and Spike Milligan's Q8 and Q9 series – all with humour that pushed the boundaries of TV comedy.
He was gifted the second series of Fawlty Towers to produce in 1979. The creation of John Cleese and Connie Booth – who had divorced since the first run, four years earlier – went on to top a British Film Institute list of the 100 best TV programmes, as voted for by industry professionals. Argent modestly insisted that its success lay in the writing. However, producers guide all those working on their programmes and his track record was impressive, particularly in the field of comedy.
Argent was born in Bexleyheath, Kent, and his parents ran ironmonger's shops.
- 12/6/2010
- by Anthony Hayward
- The Guardian - Film News
When we are deciding who should be our weekly Digital Spy Icon, sometimes we are shocked by the stars, actors and all-round entertainers that we have so far failed to honour. This week's Icon is no exception, with several members of the team gasping in horror that she hasn't already been included in our unique hall of fame. "Who is this person that has caused such drama?" I hear you ask. Her name... is Nerys Hughes! Best known for her long run in Scouse sitcom The Liver Birds with Mollie Sugden and Polly James, Nerys (more)...
- 4/16/2010
- by By Alex Fletcher
- Digital Spy
Sitcom legend Mollie Sugden passed away yesterday, following a long battle with illness. The Yorkshire-born star first found fame in Liverpool-based comedy The Liver Birds as Mrs Hutchinson, but it wasn't until she took the role of snooty purple-rinsed Mrs Slocombe in 1972 that she really captured the public's imagination. Thanks to a seemingly never-ending list of double entendre gags about her "pussy" Tiddles, she provided comedy gold for millions of viewers of Are You Being Served? for 13 years. Double-teaming with camp co-star John Inman, she turned a dreary '70s British sitcom into a saucy delight. During her pomp, Sugden starred in pretty (more)...
- 7/3/2009
- by By Alex Fletcher
- Digital Spy
Beloved British TV actress Mollie Sugden has died, aged 86.
The TV star passed away in hospital in Surrey, England on Wednesday after a long running illness, according to her agent.
Her twin sons Robin and Simon were by her bedside.
Sugden shot to fame in Brit sitcom Are You Being Served? in 1972 and appeared in a string of other television shows, including The Liver Birds and long-running soap opera Coronation Street.
David Croft, one of the Are You Being Served? writers, remembers the actress as a "marvellous character" who loved to make people laugh.
He says, "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."
Sugden is survived by her two sons and several grandchildren.
The TV star passed away in hospital in Surrey, England on Wednesday after a long running illness, according to her agent.
Her twin sons Robin and Simon were by her bedside.
Sugden shot to fame in Brit sitcom Are You Being Served? in 1972 and appeared in a string of other television shows, including The Liver Birds and long-running soap opera Coronation Street.
David Croft, one of the Are You Being Served? writers, remembers the actress as a "marvellous character" who loved to make people laugh.
He says, "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."
Sugden is survived by her two sons and several grandchildren.
- 7/1/2009
- WENN
Dad's Army star Colin Bean has died at the age of 82.
The British actor played Private Sponge in the long running wartime sitcom, appearing in every episode between 1968 and 1977.
The star spent the last years of his life at a care home in Springfield, England and passed away at an infirmary in Wigan on Saturday.
Bean's career also included appearances in other British shows such as The Liver Birds, Are You Being Served? and Hi-de-Hi!
His last public appearance came at a meeting of the Dad's Army Appreciation Society last year.
The British actor played Private Sponge in the long running wartime sitcom, appearing in every episode between 1968 and 1977.
The star spent the last years of his life at a care home in Springfield, England and passed away at an infirmary in Wigan on Saturday.
Bean's career also included appearances in other British shows such as The Liver Birds, Are You Being Served? and Hi-de-Hi!
His last public appearance came at a meeting of the Dad's Army Appreciation Society last year.
- 6/23/2009
- WENN
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