The Good Life Star Dame Penelope Keith Has Died Aged 86

The Good Life actor Dame Penelope Keith has died aged 86.

In a statement, her family said: “We are deeply saddened to announce that Dame Penelope Keith died peacefully whilst living with cancer at her home in Surrey, where she had lived for more than 50 years.

“The family is grateful for the care and support she received throughout her treatments, and ask that their privacy be respected at this time.”

Aside from playing Margo Leadbetter in The Good Life, the actor also starred as Audrey fforbes-Hamilton in To The Manor Born.

Speaking of her To The Manor Born role with The Guardian in 2013, she said: “I loved it because we had to do all our own stunts.

“I am a country girl at heart, and I got to ride horses again, to learn about bee keeping, to drive a two-tonne Rolls-Royce with impossible gears; I scaled a five-bar gate with a picnic hamper to flee a bull.”

On X, fans have already begun expressing their grief at her loss. 

“So very sad, a wonderful actress,” a reply to the BBC’s post about the news reads. 

“She was so unique: loved her,” another said.

Writer James Hogg, who interviewed Dame Keith for his biography of Good Life co-star Richard Briers, said in an Instagram post: “She was one of the first people I interviewed for my biography of Richard Briers and, as expected, she was incredibly charming, witty, and generous. She was truly a remarkable actress.

“Richard himself was so impressed by her and Paul Eddington’s performances as Margo and Jerry Leadbetter in The Good Life that he encouraged the writers to expand their roles and focus the show more on the four of them, which they did to great success.

“She will be greatly missed.”

Dame Keith was awarded a CBE, OBE, and damehood throughout her life. 

She also won two BAFTAS and an Olivier award.