Jean Marsh, the Emmy award-winning actor who co-created and acted in the ’70s British drama series “Upstairs, Downstairs,” died Sunday in her London home. She was 90.
Marsh’s death was confirmed by The New York Times, with the cause being complications of dementia, according to filmmaker and close friend Michael Lindsay-Hogg.
Marsh co-created “Upstairs, Downstairs” with actor Eileen Atkins. Marsh ended up playing Rose Buck, the house parlor maid, throughout 54 episodes of the show from 1971-1975. She also reprised her role in the 2010 continuation of the series.
For her on-screen work, Marsh won a Primetime Emmy in 1975 in the outstanding lead actress in a drama series category. The original run of the show took home seven Emmys and a Peabody Award. In total, Marsh was nominated for four Emmys throughout her career, including for her work in the “Upstairs, Downstairs” reprisal.
Over the years, Marsh starred in numerous films and shows, including her memorable turn as Queen Bavmorda in Ron Howard’s “Willow” with Val Kilmer. She appeared in Alfred Hitchcock’s thriller “Frenzy,” Walter Murch’s “Return to Oz,” 26 episodes of the sitcom “Nine to Five,” an episode of “Hawaii Five-O” and 15 episodes of “Doctor Who” from 1965-1989. Marsh’s last on-screen credit was in an episode of Disney’s 2022 “Willow” remake, where she reprised her role as Queen Bavmorda.
Marsh also appeared on the London stage, with appearances in “The Bird of Time” in 1961, “The Chalk Circle” in 1992 and “The Old Country” in 2006. Before “Upstairs, Downstairs,” she was in John Gielgud’s 1959 Broadway production of “Much Ado About Nothing.”
From Variety US