UK Comic Actress Mollie Sugden, Star Of 'Are You Being Served?', Dead At 86

The UK Telegraph has reported that beloved English comedy actress, Mollie Sugden, who was best known for playing Mrs. Slocombe in the popular and long running British sitcom 'Are You Being Served?' has passed away at the age of 86.

She later reprised this role of Mrs. Slocombe for Grace & Favour, which ran from 1992 to 1993. Sugden also appeared in UK series The Liver Birds and Coronation Street.

Mary Isobel Sugden was born in Keighley in Yorkshire on July 21 1922. Her father ran an iron and steel company. Mollie Sugden was educated at the local Grammar School, then worked during the war in a munitions factory in Keighley making shells for the Royal Navy. When she was later made redundant, she enrolled at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London.

After graduation she spent eight years in rep with a company that included Eric Sykes and Roy Dotrice, then took small roles on radio and television. Before Are You Being Served? she appeared with Benny Hill, Just Jimmy (as Jimmy Clitheroe's mother), Z-Cars, Up Pompeii!, The Goodies, Steptoe and Son and, in 1968, five episodes of Jackanory.

In 1973 she had a 23 week stint on the show That's Life! and also appeared as Terry Scott's mother in Son of the Bride.

In 2002 a tribute programme called Celebrating Mollie Sugden: An Are You Being Served? Special aired on American PBS stations featuring many of the Are You Being Served? cast. In her later years, after enjoying her success on television, Mollie Sugden enjoyed gardening, cooking and driving fast cars.

Mollie Sugden and her husband had identical twin sons, born when she was 41. Her husband died in 2000. After a long illness Sugden died at the Royal Surrey Hospital in Guildford on 1 July 2009.

She is survived by her sons Robin and Simon as well as several grandchildren. To read the full article in the UK Telegraph, click here.