Elspet Gray facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Right Honourable The Lady Rix
Born	Elspet Jean MacGregor Gray (1929-04-12)12 April 1929 Inverness, Scotland
Died	18 February 2013(2013-02-18) (aged 83) London, England
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1948–2013
Spouse(s)	Brian Rix ​ (m. 1949)​
Children	4, including Jamie and Louisa

Elspet Jean Gray, Baroness Rix (born 12 April 1929 – died 18 February 2013) was a Scottish actress. She became well-known for working with her husband, Brian Rix. Later, she starred in many TV shows during the 1970s and 1980s.

You might remember her as Lady Collingford in the TV series Catweazle. She also played Mrs. Palmer in Solo, acting alongside Felicity Kendal.

Elspet Gray's Acting Career

Elspet Gray had a long career on stage. She was especially famous for her roles in the "Whitehall farces." These were funny plays managed by her husband, Brian Rix. They were first shown at the Whitehall Theatre and later at the Garrick.

Films and TV Shows

Gray appeared in many films and television programs. Her first film was The Blind Goddess in 1948.

In the 1970s, she had several roles, including a part in Fawlty Towers. She played a doctor's wife who was confused by Basil Fawlty’s strange actions. She also appeared in The Crezz and Catweazle.

During the 1980s, Elspet Gray was in the Doctor Who story Arc of Infinity. She also acted in Tenko, a drama about World War II.

She played the Queen in the BBC comedy show The Black Adder (1983). In this show, Rowan Atkinson played her son. She also starred as Mrs. Palmer in Solo (1981–82). This was another comedy where Felicity Kendal played her daughter.

Gray continued acting until the late 1990s. She appeared in Agatha Christie's Poirot. She was also in the films The Girl in a Swing (1988) and Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994). Her last major role was as Hilary in the British TV comedy Dinnerladies.

Her Family and Later Life

Elspet Gray married Brian Rix in 1949. They had four children: two sons and two daughters.

Their oldest child, Shelley, was born in 1951. She had Down syndrome. Because of this, Elspet and Brian became very active in helping people with disabilities. Brian Rix later became the chairman and president of Mencap, a charity that supports people with learning disabilities. He was given a special title, a life peer, in 1992. Shelley passed away in July 2005 at age 53.

Their younger daughter, Louisa (born 1955), used to be an actress. Now, she designs interiors for homes. Their elder son, Jamie (born 1959), is a famous children's author. He has also created TV shows like My Hero. Their younger son, Jonathan (born 1960), is a professor at the Open University.

Elspet Gray also spent many years helping the Actors' Charitable Trust. She was especially involved in managing Denville Hall, a care home for actors.

Elspet Gray passed away in a hospital on 18 February 2013. She was 83 years old.

Filmography