Sheila Keith

Sheila Keith (9 June 1920 – 14 October 2004) was a Scottish stage and screen actress. She is well-known to horror film fans for her collaborations with director Pete Walker, starring in House of Whipcord, Frightmare, House of Mortal Sin, The Comeback and House of the Long Shadows. She was once referred to as the "Female Boris Karloff" and a "British horror icon."

Early life Keith was born to Scottish parents in London while they were visiting the city and brought up in Aberdeen, Scotland. Longing to act, she trained at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London.

Career Her stage career took her from repertory theatre at the Bristol Old Vic and Pitlochry, to West End appearances including Noël Coward's Present Laughter, Mame with Ginger Rogers, An Italian Straw Hat, Anyone for Denis?, and Deathtrap. Also, too, the Housekeeper, Mrs. Mitcham, in the Lord Peter Wimsey (TV series), The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club episode, 1973.

Keith remains best known for her excellent performances in the cult horror films of director Pete Walker, having played leading roles in shockers such as House of Whipcord, Frightmare, House of Mortal Sin, The Comeback and House of the Long Shadows. She played variously, a lesbian prison warder, a one eyed housekeeper, and an elderly cannibal, amongst other parts.

Sheila Keith also had a memorable role as the Reverend Mother Stephen opposite Arthur Lowe, in all three series of the LWT sitcom Bless Me, Father.

Her final role was in the first episode of a horror spoof TV series, Dr. Terrible's House of Horrible, starring Steve Coogan, in 2001.

Death Keith died in Chertsey, Surrey in October 2004, at the age of 84.

Filmography

Film

Television Year Title Role Type 1961 Comedy Matinee Miniseries, episode 2: "Thark" 1964 Crane Mrs Ambrose TV series, season 2, episode 3: "Dead Reckoning" 1964 Armchair Mystery Theatre Miss Tripp TV series, season 2, episode 2: "The Blackmailiing of Mr S" 1965 Sherlock Holmes Miss Stoper TV series, season 1, episode 3: "The Copper Beaches"The Adventure of the Copper Beeches 1965 The Sullavan Brothers Miss Diamond TV series, season 2, episode 6: "The Salvation Man" 1966 Love Story Mrs Black TV series, season 4, episode 4: "Casanova and the Old Crow" 1965; 1966 Public Eye Mrs Wyncherley / Susan Manning TV series, 2 episodes 1967 ITV Play of the Week Miss Erikson TV series, season 12, episode 26: "Present Laughter" 1967 Crossroads Mrs Cornet TV series, 31 episodes 1967 Mrs Thursday Gertrude Tallifer / Honor TV series, 3 episodes 1968 Dr. Finlay’s Casebook Miss Talbot TV series, season 6, episode 15: "A Moral Problem" 1968 Nicholas Nickleby Mrs Squeers Miniseries, 2 episodes 1968 The Ronnie Barker Playhouse Mrs Granville TV series, season 1, episode 3: "The Fastest Gun in Finchley" 1968 ITV Playhouse Marion TV series, season 2, episode 9: "The Kindness of Mrs Radcliffe" 1968 The Saint Cynthia Ffouldes TV series, season 6, episode 3: "Legacy for the Saint" 1968 George and the Dragon Dr Martin TV series, season 4, episode 4: "Life Insurance" 1970 Me Mammy Hotel Manageress TV series, season 2, episode 4: "The Last of the Red Hot Mammies" 1970 Rules, Rules, Rules Troupe #2 TV series, season 1, episode 3: "Conventions and Customs" 1970 Play for Today Una TV series, season 1, episode 8: "Hearts and Flowers" 1971 Kate Miss Shaw TV series, season 2, episode 13: "The Great Female Rebellion" 1971; 1973 The Flaxton Boys Chief Officer Juliet Mincing-Sterne / Lady Agatha Ponsonby 1972 The Moonstone Mrs Yolland TV series, season 1, episode 2 1972 Z-Cars Mrs Jenkins TV series, season 7, episode 51: "Quilley" 1972 It's Murder But Is It Art Mrs MacPherson TV series, season 1, 5 episodes 1973 The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club Mrs Mitcham Miniseries, episode 3: "That Damned Dorland Woman" 1973 The Regiment Miss Hagan TV series, season 2, episode 9: "Women" 1974 The Liver Birds Sister TV series, season 4, episode 20: "Follow That Ring" 1974 The Pallisers Lady Rosina de Courcy Miniseries, episode 21 1974 Father Brown Mrs Sands TV series, season 1, episode 8: "The Actor and the Alibi" 1974–75 David Copperfield Mrs Steerforth Miniseries, 4 episodes 1974–75 Moody and Pegg Auntie Ethel TV series, 5 episodes 1975 Ballet Shoes Dr Jake's Miniseries, 6 episodes 1975 The Doll Mrs. Cassidy TV series, 3 episodes 1975 Within These Walls Lettice Nayland TV series, season 3, episode 14: "Inside Out" 1976 Angels Joan White TV series, season 2, episode 2: "Vocation" 1976 Murder Mrs Cleary TV series, season 1, episode 2: "Nobody's Conscience" 1977 The Cedar Tree Gwenneth Abercrombie TV series, season 2, episode 2: "Party Manners: Part 2" 1977 The Velvet Glove Pamela Leonard TV series, season 1, episode 3: "Mother" 1977 Jubilee Mother TV series, season 1, episode 7: "Our Kid" 1977 Sea Tales: The Return Mrs Varley Miniseries, season 4: "Captain Varley Goes Home" 1977 A Roof Over My Head Mrs Bagworth TV series, 3 episodes 1978 Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em Sister TV series, season 3, episode 2: "Wendy House" 1978 Bernie TV series, season 1, episode 6 1979 Rings on Their Fingers The Neighbour TV series, season 2, episode 6: "Mother's Old, Pastures New" 1979 The Dick Francis Thriller: The Racing Game Mrs Kite TV series, season 1, episode 5: "Horsenap" 1980 Heartland Grace TV series, season 2, episode 5: "Working Arrangements" 1980 Cribb Miss Plummer TV series, season 1, episode 2: "Swing, Swing Together" 1980 The Other 'Arf Mrs Lilley TV series 1980 Escape Dowager Lady Lucan TV series, season 1, episode 1: "Lord Lucan" 1979; 1981 Agony Emily Bakewell TV series, 2 episodes 1978; 1979; 1981 Bless Me, Father Reverend Mother Stephen TV series, seasons 1–3, 8 episodes 1982 Frost in May Aunt Leah Miniseries, 2 episodes 1983 All For Love Mrs Bannerman TV series, season 2, episode 5: "Fireworks for Elspeth" 1984 Poor Little Rich Girls Maude Wellington TV series, season 1, episode 4: "Lonely as a Crowd" 1984 Dear Ladies Aunt Morag TV series, season 3, episode 2: "Where There's a Will" 1985 Mog Magistrate TV series, season 1, episode 1: "A Suitable Case for Treatment" 1986 Lovejoy Curator TV series, season 1, episode 4: "Friends, Romans and Enemies" 1986 Hell’s Bells Country Woman Miniseries, episode 1: "On Your Bike, Pilgrim!" 1986 Fresh Fields Hotelier TV series, season 4, episode 4: "Life is Full of Ups and Downs" 1987 Never the Twain Lady Mottram TV series, season 6, episode 3: "Love Is a Many-Splendoured Thing" 1985–87 Drummonds Dorothy Fisher TV series, 17 episodes 1988 All in Good Faith Mrs Davidson TV series, season 3, episode 2: "And He Fell Among Thieves" 1988 Sophia and Constance Aunt Harriet TV series, season 1, episode 2 1989 A Fine Romance Miss Roy TV series, season 1, episode 5: "Below Suspicion" 1989 The Paradise Club Clara Malone / Ma Kane TV series, 3 episodes 1990 After Henry Lady Newby RV series, season 3, episode 4: "Relative Movement" 1992 Tell Tale Hearts Sylvia Miniseries 1993 Health and Efficiency Rex's Patient TV series, season 1, episode 1: "But He Never Said He Loved Me" 1994 Love Hurts Lady Oonagh Oppenheim TV series, season 3, episode 10: "Cards on the Table" 1994 The Brittas Empire Mrs Heaton-Jones TV series, season 5, episode 5: "The Boss" 1995 Doctor Finlay Mrs Annie Renfrew TV series, season 3, episode 5: "A Natural Mistake" 1996 Hamish Macbeth Aunt Ella TV series, season 2, 2 episodes 2001 Dr. Terrible's House of Horrible Grandma Lee TV series, episode 1: "And Now the Fearing" (final role)