# Patsy Rowlands > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Patsy_Rowlands > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Patsy_Rowlands.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patsy_Rowlands > Source revision: 1357102574 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|British actress (1931–2005)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}} {{Infobox person | name = Patsy Rowlands | image = Patsy Rowlands.jpg | imagesize = | caption = | birth_name = Patricia Amy Rowlands | birth_date = {{birth date|1931|1|19|df=y}} | birth_place = [Palmers Green](/source/Palmers_Green), [Middlesex](/source/Middlesex), England | death_date = {{death date and age|2005|1|22|1931|1|19|df=y}} | death_place = [Hove](/source/Hove), [East Sussex](/source/East_Sussex), England | years_active = 1959–2001 | spouse = {{marriage|[Malcolm Sircom](/source/Malcolm_Sircom)|1962|1971|reason=divorced}} | children = 1 | television = ''[Bless This House](/source/Bless_This_House_(British_TV_series))''
''[Hallelujah!](/source/Hallelujah!_(TV_series))'' }} '''Patricia Amy Rowlands''' (19 January 1931 – 22 January 2005){{Cite news | url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4203011.stm | title=BBC News - Carry On Star Patsy Rowlands dies | date=24 January 2005 | access-date=21 November 2013 }}{{Cite news | url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4203011.stm | title=Patsy Rowlands - Obituaries - The Independent | date=24 January 2005 | access-date=21 November 2013 }} was an English actress who is best remembered for her roles in the [''Carry On'' films](/source/Carry_On_(franchise)) series, as Betty Lewis in the [ITV Thames](/source/ITV_Thames) sitcom ''[Bless This House](/source/Bless_This_House_(British_TV_series))'', and as Alice Meredith in the [Yorkshire Television](/source/Yorkshire_Television) sitcom ''[Hallelujah!](/source/Hallelujah!_(TV_series))''.{{cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Patsy-Rowlands|title=Patsy Rowlands - British actress|website=Britannica.com}} ==Early years== Rowlands was born on 19 January 1931 in [Palmers Green](/source/Palmers_Green), [Middlesex](/source/Middlesex) and attended the Sacred Heart [convent](/source/convent) school at Whetstone. An [elocution](/source/elocution) teacher spotted her potential and encouraged her to pursue a career in acting. She applied to the [Guildhall School of Music and Drama](/source/Guildhall_School_of_Music_and_Drama) and won a scholarship aged 15. ==Early career== Rowlands began her career in the chorus of ''[Annie Get Your Gun](/source/Annie_Get_Your_Gun_(musical))'', followed by a summer season in [Torquay](/source/Torquay). She then spent several years with the [Players' Theatre](/source/Players'_Theatre) in London, before making her [West End theatre](/source/West_End_theatre) debut in [Sandy Wilson](/source/Sandy_Wilson)'s musical ''[Valmouth](/source/Valmouth_(musical))''. Rowlands's other West End credits included ''[Semi-Detached](/source/Semi-Detached_(play))'' with [Laurence Olivier](/source/Laurence_Olivier) and directed by [Tony Richardson](/source/Tony_Richardson) (with whom she was to work often, appearing in his 1963 film [Tom Jones](/source/Tom_Jones_(1963_film))), ''Shut Your Eyes and Think of England'', with [Donald Sinden](/source/Donald_Sinden), ''[The Seagull](/source/The_Seagull)'' and [Ben Travers](/source/Ben_Travers)'s ''The Bed Before Yesterday'', both directed by [Lindsay Anderson](/source/Lindsay_Anderson) and ''[When We Are Married](/source/When_We_Are_Married)'' for [Ronald Eyre](/source/Ronald_Eyre).{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/30/obituaries/patsy-rowlands-actress-in-the-carry-on-comedies-dies-at-71.html?mcubz=0|title=Patsy Rowlands, Actress in the 'Carry On' Comedies, Dies at 71|newspaper=The New York Times| date=30 January 2005 |access-date=24 October 2018}} She also starred in [Cameron Mackintosh](/source/Cameron_Mackintosh)'s revival of ''[Oliver!](/source/Oliver!)'' in the mid-1990s, as well as playing Jack's mother in the original London cast of Sondheim's ''[Into the Woods](/source/Into_the_Woods)''.{{cite web|url=https://theatricalia.com/person/13d0/patsy-rowlands|title=Patsy Rowlands - Theatricalia|website=Theatricalia.com}} Her final appearance was as Mrs Pearce in the [National Theatre](/source/Royal_National_Theatre)'s production of ''[My Fair Lady](/source/My_Fair_Lady)'' which also starred [Jonathan Pryce](/source/Jonathan_Pryce).{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2001/legit/reviews/my-fair-lady-6-1200467240/|title=Review: 'My Fair Lady'|first=Matt|last=Wolf|date=21 March 2001|website=Variety.com}} Rowlands also appeared quite frequently on television early in her career. Amongst the various series in which she appeared, were several appearances in ''[Gert and Daisy](/source/Gert_and_Daisy)'' (1959) as Bonnie, as well as appearing in 2 episodes of ''[Danger Man](/source/Danger_Man)'' (as different, unrelated characters) and in ''[The Avengers](/source/The_Avengers_(TV_series))'' episode "Love All".{{cite web|url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b9f4e8b23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160228132721/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b9f4e8b23|url-status=dead|archive-date=28 February 2016|title=Patsy Rowlands|website=Bfi.org.uk}}{{cite web|url=http://danger-man.co.uk/episodeDetails.asp?episodeID=57&seriesNo=4|title=The Danger Man Website|website=Danger-man.co.uk|access-date=24 October 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.allmovie.com/movie/avengers-love-all-v182515/cast-crew|title=Avengers: Love All (1969) - Peter Sykes - Cast and Crew - AllMovie|website=AllMovie}} Rowlands played the role of a love interest for George called "Beryl" in the 1979 Christmas special and final episode of ''[George and Mildred](/source/George_and_Mildred)'' ==From 1969 to 1991== Rowlands made her debut in the ''[Carry On](/source/Carry_On_(franchise))'' films in ''[Carry On Again Doctor](/source/Carry_On_Again_Doctor)'' in 1969 and soon became a regular member of the repertory company of performers, usually playing the dowdy, put-upon wife or the long-suffering secretary.{{cite web|url=https://www.thestage.co.uk/obituaries--archive/obituaries/patsy-rowlands/|title=Patsy Rowlands - Obituaries - The Stage|date=1 February 2005|website=Thestage.co.uk}} Between 1969 and 1975 she appeared in nine of the films in increasingly large roles, appearing in ''[Carry On Again Doctor](/source/Carry_On_Again_Doctor)'', ''[Carry On Loving](/source/Carry_On_Loving)'', ''[Carry On Henry](/source/Carry_On_Henry)'', ''[Carry On Matron](/source/Carry_On_Matron)'', ''[Carry On Abroad](/source/Carry_On_Abroad)'' and ''[Carry On Dick](/source/Carry_On_Dick)'' - more substantial roles include ''[Carry On at Your Convenience](/source/Carry_On_at_Your_Convenience)'', ''[Carry On Girls](/source/Carry_On_Girls)'' and ''[Carry On Behind](/source/Carry_On_Behind)''. On 7 March 1971, Rowlands starred in a single episode ''(You've Really Landed Me In It This Time)'' of the ITV sitcom ''[Doctor at Large](/source/Doctor_at_Large_(TV_series))'', with [Barry Evans](/source/Barry_Evans_(actor)) and [George Layton](/source/George_Layton), as a nymphomaniac secretary, the kind of role she had played in ''[Carry On Loving](/source/Carry_On_Loving)''.{{cite web|url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b87348aa3|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170917043204/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b87348aa3|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 September 2017|title=You've Really Landed Me in It This Time (1971)|website=Bfi.org.uk}}{{cite web|url=http://carryonfan.blogspot.co.uk/2017/01/patsy-rowlands-her-carry-on-story.html|title=Patsy Rowlands: Her Carry On Story|website=Carryonfan.blogspot.co.uk| date=19 January 2017 }} From 1971 to 1976, Rowlands played Betty, the feckless neighbour in the ITV sitcom ''[Bless This House](/source/Bless_This_House_(British_TV_series))'', which starred fellow ''Carry On'' star [Sid James](/source/Sid_James).{{cite web|url=http://www.aveleyman.com/ActorCredit.aspx?ActorID=15048|title=Patsy Rowlands|website=Aveleyman.com}} Her other television credits at this time included a couple of episodes of ''[For the Love of Ada](/source/For_the_Love_of_Ada)'', playing a pregnant woman in the maternity ward also appearances with comedians such as [Les Dawson](/source/Les_Dawson) and [Dick Emery](/source/Dick_Emery). In the early 1980s, she appeared with [Thora Hird](/source/Thora_Hird) in the sitcom ''[Hallelujah!](/source/Hallelujah!_(TV_series))'', in which they played an aunt and niece in [The Salvation Army](/source/The_Salvation_Army). In 1991, she appeared in an episode of ''[Zorro](/source/Zorro_(1990_TV_series))'' filmed in [Madrid](/source/Madrid), Spain.{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0755199/|title=Miracle of the Pueblo|date=8 December 1991|website=IMDb.com}}{{cite web|url=http://www.newworldzorro.com/presskitinfo/prodnotes.html|title=New World Zorro Production Notes|website=Newworldzorro.com}} Rowlands also appeared in screen versions of two of [Frances Hodgson Burnett](/source/Frances_Hodgson_Burnett)'s books: the television film ''[Little Lord Fauntleroy](/source/Little_Lord_Fauntleroy_(1980_film))'' (1980), as Mrs. Dibble, and a TV dramatisation of ''[A Little Princess](/source/A_Little_Princess_(1986_miniseries))'' (1986) as the baker's wife.{{cite web|url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b739b7cf7|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170425083406/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b739b7cf7|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 April 2017|title=Little Lord Fauntleroy (1980)|website=Bfi.org.uk}}{{cite web|url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b739d5f31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170921182623/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b739d5f31|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 September 2017|title=A Little Princess Part 5 (1987)|website=Bfi.org.uk}} ==Later years== Towards the end of her life, Rowlands appeared in several revivals of major [musicals](/source/Musical_theatre) such as ''[Oliver!](/source/Oliver!)'' at the [London Palladium](/source/London_Palladium) and ''[My Fair Lady](/source/My_Fair_Lady)'' at the [Theatre Royal, Drury Lane](/source/Theatre_Royal%2C_Drury_Lane).{{cite web|url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/obituaries/patsy-rowlands-1-672697|title=Patsy Rowlands|website=Scotsman.com}} Rowlands later television credits include ''[The Cazalets](/source/The_Cazalets)'', ''[The Canterbury Tales](/source/The_Canterbury_Tales)'', ''[The Cater Street Hangman](/source/The_Cater_Street_Hangman)'', ''[Get Well Soon](/source/Get_Well_Soon_(TV_series))'', ''[Vanity Fair](/source/Vanity_Fair_(1998_TV_serial))'', ''Murder Most English'', and ''[Bottom](/source/Bottom_(TV_series))'' for the [BBC](/source/BBC). In 2002, she was a guest on the paranormal series ''[Most Haunted](/source/Most_Haunted)''. Rowlands took part in several DVD audio commentaries along with other surviving stars of the ''Carry On'' films in 2003.{{Cite web | url=http://www.robertross.co.uk/page5.htm | title=Robert Ross DVD | access-date=21 November 2013 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131205202023/http://www.robertross.co.uk/page5.htm | archive-date=5 December 2013 | df=dmy-all }} ==Illness and death== Rowlands developed [breast cancer](/source/breast_cancer), abandoned her plans to become an acting teacher and retired. She died of the disease in an [East Sussex](/source/East_Sussex) [hospice](/source/Hospice_care), aged 74.{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2005/jan/26/guardianobituaries.film | title=Patsy Rowlands | first=Dennis | last=Barker | newspaper=The Guardian | date=26 January 2005 | access-date=15 July 2012}} ==Filmography== {| class="wikitable" ! Year !! Title !! Role !! Notes |- | rowspan="3" |1961 || ''[On the Fiddle](/source/On_the_Fiddle)''|| Evie || |- | ''[Over the Odds](/source/Over_the_Odds)''|| Marilyn || |- | ''[In the Doghouse](/source/In_the_Doghouse_(film))''|| Barmaid || |- | rowspan="2" |1962 || ''[A Kind of Loving](/source/A_Kind_of_Loving_(film))''|| Dorothy || |- | ''[The Brain](/source/The_Brain_(1962_film))''|| Young Woman at Dance Hall || Uncredited |- | rowspan="2" |1963 || ''[Tom Jones](/source/Tom_Jones_(1963_film))''|| Honor || |- | ''[A Stitch in Time](/source/A_Stitch_in_Time_(1963_film))''|| Amy || |- |1964 || ''Love and Maud Carver'' || Maud Carver || |- |1965 || ''[Dateline Diamonds](/source/Dateline_Diamonds)'' || Mrs Edgecomb || |- |1969 || ''[Carry On Again Doctor](/source/Carry_On_Again_Doctor)'' || Miss Fosdick || |- |1970 || ''[Carry On Loving](/source/Carry_On_Loving)'' || Miss Dempsey || |- | rowspan="3" |1971 || ''[Carry On Henry](/source/Carry_On_Henry)'' || Ex-Queen || |- | ''[Please Sir!](/source/Please_Sir!_(film))'' || Angela Cutforth || |- | ''[Carry On at Your Convenience](/source/Carry_On_at_Your_Convenience)'' || Hortence Withering || |- | rowspan="4" |1972 || ''[Carry On Matron](/source/Carry_On_Matron)'' || Miss Banks || |- | ''[Bless This House](/source/Bless_This_House_(film))'' || Betty Lewis || |- | ''[Alice's Adventures in Wonderland](/source/Alice's_Adventures_in_Wonderland_(1972_film))'' || Cook || |- | ''[Carry On Abroad](/source/Carry_On_Abroad)'' || Miss Dobbs || |- |1973 || ''[Carry On Girls](/source/Carry_On_Girls)'' || Mildred Bumble || |- |1974 || ''[Carry On Dick](/source/Carry_On_Dick)'' || Mrs Giles || |- |1975 || ''[Carry On Behind](/source/Carry_On_Behind)'' || Linda Upmore || |- |1977 || ''[Joseph Andrews](/source/Joseph_Andrews_(film))'' || Gammer Andrews || |- |1978 || ''[Sammy's Super T-Shirt](/source/Sammy's_Super_T-Shirt)'' || Mum || |- |1979 || ''[Tess](/source/Tess_(1979_film))'' || The Landlady || |- |1990 || ''Crimestrike'' || Madame Tepinski || |- |2002 || ''[The Princess and the Pea](/source/The_Princess_and_the_Pea_(2002_film))'' || Sasha || Voice |} ==Television roles== {| class="wikitable" ! Year !! Title !! Role !! Notes |- |1959 || ''[Gert and Daisy](/source/Gert_and_Daisy_(TV_series))'' || Bonnie || |- |1960 |''Stuff and Nonsense'' |June Primble | rowspan="3" |TV movie |- | rowspan="2" |1961 |''One Way Pendulum'' |Sylvia Groomkirby |- |''The Final Test'' |Cora |- |1961-1964 || ''[Danger Man](/source/Danger_Man)'' || Mrs. Harkness/Mrs. Farebrother ||2 episodes |- | rowspan="2" |1962 |''The Amazing Dr Clitterhouse'' |Daisy | rowspan="2" |TV movie |- |''Not At All'' |Mrs. Chas |- | 1964 || ''[The Massingham Affair](/source/The_Massingham_Affair_(TV_series))'' || Georgina Deverel ||5 episodes |- |1965 |''[Out of the Unknown](/source/Out_of_the_Unknown)'' |Anne Lovejoy |Episode: "Come Buttercup, Come Daisy, Come..." |- |1966 |''Take A Sapphire'' |Leopoldina |TV movie |- | 1968-1970 || ''[Inside George Webley](/source/Inside_George_Webley)'' || Rosemary Webley || |- |1969 |''[The Avengers](/source/The_Avengers_(TV_series))'' |Thelma |Episode: "Love All" |- |1970 |''[Jackanory](/source/Jackanory)'' |Narrator |Story: "Mrs. Pepperpot" |- |1971 || ''[Doctor at Large](/source/Doctor_at_Large_(TV_series))'' || Liz Hickle ||Episode: "You've Really Landed Me In It This Time" |- |1971-1972 |''[Tottering Towers](/source/Tottering_Towers)'' |Miss Twitty | |- |1971-1976 || ''[Bless This House](/source/Bless_This_House_(British_TV_series))'' || Betty Lewis || |- |1974-1977 || ''[The Squirrels](/source/The_Squirrels_(TV_series))'' || Susan || |- | rowspan="2" |1975 |''[Not on Your Nellie](/source/Not_On_Your_Nellie)'' |Clarissa Cholmondeley-Burnside |Episode: "High Society" |- |''[The Basil Brush Show](/source/The_Basil_Brush_Show)'' |Dazzie |1 episode |- | rowspan="2" |1979 |''[3-2-1](/source/3-2-1)'' |Herself |1 episode |- | ''[George and Mildred](/source/George_and_Mildred)''|| Beryl, the barmaid ||Episode: "The Twenty-Six Year Itch" |- | rowspan="2" |1980 || ''[The Nesbitts Are Coming](/source/The_Nesbitts_Are_Coming)''|| WPC Naylor || |- |''[Little Lord Fauntleroy](/source/Little_Lord_Fauntleroy_(1980_film))'' |Mrs. Dibble | rowspan="2" |TV movie |- | rowspan="3" |1981 |''[Dangerous Davies: The Last Detective](/source/Dangerous_Davies)'' |Madame Tarantella |- | ''[Kinvig](/source/Kinvig)'' || Netta Kinvig || |- | ''[The Incredible Mr Tanner](/source/The_Incredible_Mr_Tanner)'' || Martha || Episode: "The Better Hair" |- |1982-1986 || ''[In Loving Memory](/source/In_Loving_Memory_(TV_series))'' || Tiger-Lilly Longstaff || |- |1989 || ''[Never the Twain](/source/Never_the_Twain)'' || Pamela Davenport ||Episode: "Neighbours" |- |1983-1984 || ''[Hallelujah!](/source/Hallelujah!_(TV_series))'' || Alice Meredith || |- |1987 |''[When We Are Married](/source/When_We_Are_Married)'' |Lottie Grady |TV movie |- |1987-1992 |''[Rainbow](/source/Rainbow_(TV_series))'' |Auntie |5 episodes |- | rowspan="2" |1992 || ''[Bottom](/source/Bottom_(TV_series))'' || Lil Potato ||Episode: "Parade" |- |''In Dreams'' |Royalist Housewife |TV movie |- |1997 || ''[Get Well Soon](/source/Get_Well_Soon_(TV_series))'' || Mrs Clapton ||4 episodes |- |1998 |''[The Cater Street Hangman](/source/The_Cater_Street_Hangman)'' |Mrs. Dumphy |TV movie |- |2001 |''[The Cazalets](/source/The_Cazalets)'' |The Governess |Miniseries |} ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== * {{IMDb name|0746772}} * [https://www.theguardian.com/news/2005/jan/26/guardianobituaries.film Obituary] in ''[The Guardian](/source/The_Guardian)'' * [https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/patsy-rowlands-488228.html Obituary] in ''[The Independent](/source/The_Independent)'' {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Rowlands, Patsy}} Category:1931 births Category:2005 deaths Category:20th-century English singers Category:20th-century English women singers Category:Actors from the London Borough of Enfield Category:Deaths from breast cancer in England Category:English film actresses Category:English musical theatre actresses Category:English stage actresses Category:English television actresses Category:People from Palmers Green --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Patsy Rowlands](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patsy_Rowlands) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patsy_Rowlands?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.