Joan Sanderson

Joan Sanderson (24 November 1912 – 24 May 1992) was an English actress. During a long career on stage and screen, her tall and commanding disposition led to her playing mostly dowagers, spinsters and matrons, as well as intense Shakespearean roles. Her television work included appearances in the comedy series Please Sir! (1968–72), Rising Damp, Fawlty Towers, Ripping Yarns (both 1979), and Me and My Girl (1984–88).

Early life Born and educated in Bristol, Sanderson trained at RADA, having harboured an interest in the performing arts from a young age. She had teaching diplomas in elocution, where she lost her Bristolian accent. playing Emilia in The Comedy of Errors, a phase in her career that culminated in 1953 when she played both Goneril to Michael Redgrave's King Lear, and Queen Margaret in Richard III.

During the Second World War, Sanderson gained experience in repertory and toured North Africa and Italy entertaining the troops. In 1948, she married fellow actor Gregory Scott (born: Alphaeus Moseley).

TV and film Sanderson played Doris Ewell in the television comedy series Please Sir! (1968–72) and Mrs Pugh-Critchley, in the series All Gas and Gaiters (1970–71), as well as a role in the short-lived sitcom Wild, Wild Women (1969). In 1978 she appeared in an episode of Rising Damp, and the following year she played Mrs Richards in the Fawlty Towers episode "Communication Problems". She also appeared in After Henry, which was broadcast on the radio (1985–88) and television (1988–92), in which she played Eleanor.

Sanderson's film roles were rare, but she appeared in the Hylda Baker film She Knows Y'Know (1962), Who Killed the Cat? (1966), the film version of Please Sir! (1971), The Great Muppet Caper (1981), playing John Cleese's wife, and Prick Up Your Ears (1987), the film based on the life of playwright Joe Orton. She died following a long illness with bone cancer in Norwich on 24 May 1992, aged 79, and was buried in Burnham Norton churchyard. A memorial service was held for her two months later at St Paul's, Covent Garden. Her husband died in October 1992.

The final series of After Henry was broadcast in July and August 1992, following her death; the last episode was dedicated to Sanderson. Following Sanderson's death – a month before the premiere of her final series, Land of Hope and Gloria – the creators, despite originally intending to make a second series, opted not to go ahead with it.

Credits

TV and film

Radio