Dame Penelope Keith: The Good Life and To The Manor Born actress dies aged 86

Tributes have been paid to actress Dame Penelope Keith, best known for her roles in the classic 1970s British sitcoms The Good Life and To the Manor Born, following her death at the age of 86. In a statement, her family said on Monday that she "died peacefully whilst living with cancer at her home in Surrey". Felicity Kendal, her co-star in The Good Life, remembered her as a "comic genius" who was "a joy to know and work with". Dame Penelope famously played snobbish suburban neighbour Margo Leadbetter in The Good Life, as well as the widowed aristocrat Audrey fforbes-Hamilton in To the Manor Born. The statement released on behalf of her family said: "We are deeply saddened to announce that Dame Penelope Keith died peacefully whilst living with cancer at her home in Surrey where she had lived for more than 50 years. "The family is grateful for the care and support she received throughout her treatments, and ask that their privacy be respected at this time." In her tribute, Kendal said: "I am deeply saddened to hear of my friend Penelope's death. "The shows I worked on with her were such special times in our lives and demonstrated her comic genius. "My heart goes out to her beloved R

Jun 29, 2026 → Jun 29, 2026