Deddie Davies
Born
Gillian Nancy Davies

(1938-03-02)2 March 1938
Bridgend, Wales
Died21 December 2016(2016-12-21) (aged 78)
OccupationActress
Years active1967–2016

Deddie Davies (born Gillian Nancy Davies, 2 March 1938 – 21 December 2016)[1] was a Welsh character actress.[2]

Biography

Davies was born in Bridgend, Wales.[2] She trained at RADA and is most familiar to television viewers for comedy roles in a host of series, including The Rag Trade, That's My Boy, Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em and Chance in a Million.[2][3]

She appeared in non-comedic roles in series such as The Bill, Upstairs, Downstairs, The Forsyte Saga and Grange Hill.[2] Her film roles include that of Nell Perks in The Railway Children (1970), and The Amazing Mr. Blunden (1972).[2]

In her later life, Davies was concerned for issues facing the elderly. In May 2007 she had musical success as a member of superannuated pop group The Zimmers. Their cover version of "My Generation" reached number 26 in the UK Singles Chart.[citation needed] In 2008, Davies investigated the quality of life in elderly care facilities by posing as the aunt of a BBC reporter, being admitted to a rest home, and spending five days there.[4] She recorded her experiences and treatment and concluded that life in many facilities was a "slow death", featuring inactivity, loneliness and minimal interpersonal interaction. Davies's research was reported on BBC Radio 4's Today programme.[5][6] She became a trustee and recorded a video for UK registered charity Compassion in Care.[7]

From 2012, she appeared as Marj Brennig in the British TV series Stella.[8][9]

She died of ovarian cancer on 21 December 2016, aged 78.[10]

Partial filmography

TV

Year Title Character Original Network Notes
1967 The Forsyte Saga Millie BBC Two 2 episodes
Vanity Fair Lady Crawley 2 episodes
1968 Late Night Horror Yvonne Episode: "The Kiss of Blood"
1971 Doctor at Large Mrs. Coates London Weekend Television Episode: "Upton Sells Out"
1972 Both Ends Meet Flo 7 episodes
Clochemerle Madame Fouache BBC Two 7 episodes
1973 Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em Miss Thomas BBC One Episode: "The Hospital Visit"
The Adventures of Black Beauty Miss Hudson London Weekend Television Episode: "Wild Justice"
1975 My Old Man Bride Yorkshire Television 1 episode
Upstairs, Downstairs Mrs Tibbitt London Weekend Television Episode: "Noblesse Oblige"
1977 Just William Miss Fairman Episode: "Waste Paper Please"
1977–78 The Rag Trade Mabel 22 episodes
1978 Get Some In! Akela Thames Television Episode: "Labrador"
The Mayor of Casterbridge Nancy BBC Two 2 episodes
1981 You're Only Young Twice Flo Yorkshire Television Episode: "Breakfast at Peabody's"
1982 A.J. Wentworth, B.A. Miss Coombes Thames Television 4 episodes
The Gentle Touch Miss Thing London Weekend Television Episode: "One of Those Days"
Solo Mrs McNally BBC One 1 episode
1983 Give Us a Break Penny Episode: "When It Rains, It Pours"
Grange Hill Cook 1 episode
1984–86 Chance in a Million Doreen Little Channel 4[11] 6 episodes
That's My Boy Miss Edith Parfitt/Polly Bennett Yorkshire Television 12 episodes
1985 The Pickwick Papers Mrs. Cluppins BBC One 2 episodes
Titus Andronicus Nurse BBC Two TV Movie [12]
1986 Miss Marple Mrs. Salisbury BBC1 Episode: "The Murder at the Vicarage"
1987 C.A.T.S. Eyes Mrs Best TVS Episode: "Country Weekend"
My Husband and I Bambi Bamber Yorkshire Television 15 episodes
No Place Like Home Mrs. Dagwood BBC One Episode: "Hero"
The Growing Pains of Adrian Mole Flapper Thames Television 1 episode
1989 Forever Green Rose London Weekend Television 1 episode
1990 Close to Home Miss Trible Episode: "And Then There Was One"
Jeeves and Wooster Serving Lady Granada Television Episode: "The Purity of the Turf"
You Rang M'Lord? Queen of Dalmatia BBC One Episode: "Royal Flush"
1991 The Upper Hand Mrs. Olive Central Episode: "Common Evidence"
Trouble in Mind Charlotte London Weekend Television Episode: "The Chance to Dream"
1992 Covington Cross Sybil ABC Episode: "Blinded Passions"
1992-4 Waiting For God Sister Sheila BBC One 4 episode
1994–95 Time After Time Auntie Dot London Weekend Television 10 episodes[13]
1995 Coogan's Run Post Office Barbara BBC2 Episode: "Handyman For All Seasons"
1997 Cows Cook Channel 4 TV Movie [13]
1998 Dangerfield Mrs. Robinson BBC One Episode: "The Last Picture"
Keeping Mum Elsie Episode: "The Picnic"
2001 Bernard's Watch Agnes Bell Central 5 episodes
2005 My Hero Mrs. Osborne BBC One Episode: "The First Husband's Club"
Ultimate Force Sylvia ITV Episode: "Deadlier Than the Male"
2007 Sensitive Skin Deddie BBC Two Episode: "Three Lost Loves" [14]
2009 Midsomer Murders Mrs Fuller ITV Episode: "The Great and The Good"
The Catherine Tate Show Gail BBC Two 1 episode [15]
2011 Land Girls Miss Betty Ganderton BBC One Episode: "Fight the Good Fight"
White Van Man Irene BBC Three Episode: "The Stand"
2012 The Neighbourhood TBC BBC North Comedy pilot, screened at BBC's Salford Comedy Festival[16]
2013 Whitechapel Dorothy Cade ITV 3 episodes
2012–16 Stella Marj Brennig Sky One Series 1–5

Film

Year Title Character Notes
1970 The Railway Children Nell Perks
1972 The Amazing Mr Blunden Miss Meakin [17]
1986 The Canterville Ghost Aunt Caroline [18]
1988 Consuming Passions Mrs Coot
1990 The Fool TBC
1997 Food of Love Village Woman
2010 Bad Night for the Blues Dorothy Short film
2011 Swinging with the Finkels Older woman
2014 Pride Old Lady

References

  1. ^ Hayward, Anthony (2 January 2017). "Deddie Davies obituary". Theguardian.com. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Railway Children actor Deddie Davies dies aged 78". The Guardian. 21 December 2016. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  3. ^ Eddie Pedder (1985). Who's Who on Television, 3rd Edition. Michael Joseph. ISBN 0-907965-31-8.
  4. ^ "BBC NEWS | UK | Care home life is 'slow death'". BBC. 4 June 2008. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  5. ^ Ceci, Christine (2012). Perspectives on Care at Home for Older People. New York: Routledge. p. 39.
  6. ^ "BBC NEWS | UK | Deddie Davies". BBC. 4 June 2008. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  7. ^ "Videos | Compassion in Care". Compassionincare.com. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  8. ^ "Cast List - TV Guide UK TV Listings". Archived from the original on 24 November 2016. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
  9. ^ Hayward, Anthony (2 January 2017). "Deddie Davies obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  10. ^ Williams, Kathryn (21 December 2016). "Stella actress Deddie Davies dies at the age of 78". Walesonline. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  11. ^ Blethyn, Brenda; Callow, Simon (1 January 2013), Chance in a million: the complete series., OCLC 862848950
  12. ^ Howell, Jane; Sutton, Shaun; Ranson, Malcolm; Simpson, Dudley George; Lavers, Colin; Anthony, Chick; Wilders, John; Burrough, Tony; Davies-Prowles, Paul (1 January 1984). Titus Andronicus. New York, N.Y.: Ambrose Video Publishing.
  13. ^ a b Perry, Christopher (2015). The British Television Pilot Episodes Research Guide 1936–2015. Lulu. p. 230.
  14. ^ "Three Lost Loves, Series 2, Sensitive Skin – BBC Two". BBC. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  15. ^ "Nan's Christmas Carol, The Catherine Tate Show – BBC Two". BBC. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  16. ^ "BBC – BBC Comedy presents four comedy pilots at Salford Sitcom Showcase – Media Centre". BBC. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  17. ^ Levinson, Barry; Jeffries, Lionel; Shingleton, Wilfrid; Darvas, Teddy; Fisher, Gerry; Bernstein, Elmer; Smith, Roy; Graves, Bryan; Moore, Pat (1 January 1972), The amazing Mr. Blunden, Hemdale Group, OCLC 422869247
  18. ^ Sherman, Fraser (2000). Cyborgs, Santa Claus and Satan: Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films Made for Television. North Carolina, U.S.: MacFarland. p. 31.

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