Wendy Richard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wendy Richard
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Richard in 2007
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Wendy Emerton
20 July 1943 Middlesbrough, North Riding of Yorkshire, England
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| Died | 26 February 2009 (aged 65) Harley Street, London, England
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| Resting place | East Finchley Cemetery and Crematorium, East Finchley, London |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1960–2009 |
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Wendy Richard was an English actress. She was born Wendy Emerton on 20 July 1943 and passed away on 26 February 2009. She was famous for her roles on British television.
Many people knew her as Miss Shirley Brahms in the BBC comedy show Are You Being Served?. She played this role from 1972 to 1985. Later, she became even more well-known as Pauline Fowler in the soap opera EastEnders. She starred in EastEnders from 1985 until 2006.
Even though she was known for her Cockney accent, Wendy was born in Middlesbrough. When she was a child, her father passed away. To pay for her drama school, she worked in department stores. She started appearing on TV regularly in the early 1960s.
She played Joyce Harker in The Newcomers from 1967 to 1969. Wendy also appeared in two Carry On movies. In the TV series Dad's Army, she played Private Walker's girlfriend.
After Are You Being Served? finished, Wendy joined EastEnders from its very first episode. She played a main character, Pauline Fowler, in over two thousand episodes. In 2000, she received an MBE award. In 2007, she won a 'Lifetime Achievement Award' at the British Soap Awards for her work on EastEnders.
After leaving EastEnders, Wendy continued acting until she passed away in 2009. She was married four times. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1996. The illness returned in 2002 and again in 2008. This last time, it had spread. Wendy made a TV show about the last few months of her life before she died in February 2009.
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Wendy Richard's Early Life
Wendy Emerton was born on 20 July 1943 in Middlesbrough. She was an only child. Her parents, Henry and Beatrice Emerton, ran a hotel called the Corporation Hotel.
When Wendy was a baby, her family moved to Bournemouth. One time, Wendy and a friend got stuck trying to climb cliffs and the fire brigade had to rescue them! The family later moved to the Isle of Wight and then to London. In London, they ran another hotel called the Shepherds Tavern. Famous people like Elizabeth Taylor sometimes visited their hotel.
Wendy enjoyed family holidays to Jersey and Blackpool. She went to St George's Hanover Square Primary school. But her schooling was interrupted because her family moved often. They moved to hotels in Gants Hill, Essex, and then to Streatham, south London.
In December 1954, when Wendy was 11, her father passed away. Her mother, Beatrice, never remarried. She died in May 1972.
After her father's death, Wendy went to The Royal Masonic School for Girls in Rickmansworth. Her father had been a Freemason, and the organisation helped with her school fees. Wendy found the school very strict.
From a young age, Wendy dreamed of becoming a TV or film star. After leaving school at 15, she worked in a department store called Fortnum and Mason. This helped her pay for her drama lessons at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts in London. She also worked briefly at another store, Fenwicks. She was fired after two days for telling a customer a coat did not suit them! Around this time, she decided to change her last name to Richard. She thought it was "short and neat."
While at drama school, Wendy became a model. She got jobs for magazines like Woman's Own. One day, she was hit by a car outside her drama school. Her injuries were serious, and she needed many stitches in her head. She made her first TV appearance in November 1961. She was on a show called Saturday Spectacular.
Wendy's Acting Career
After finishing drama school, Wendy wrote to many agents to find acting jobs. In 1962, her unique cockney voice helped her. She sang on a song called "Come Outside" with Mike Sarne. The song became number one on the UK singles chart. This led to many TV appearances, making her known to more people.
Because of the song's success, Wendy joined a new acting agency. Her first role with them was in a comedy show called Bulldog Breed. Then she played a receptionist, Susan Sullivan, in five episodes of Harpers West One. This show was about a made-up department store. Wendy also appeared in other TV shows like Danger Man, No Hiding Place, and The Likely Lads. She even had a small part in The Beatles' movie Help! (1965).
Wendy became well-known to TV audiences in 1967. She played Joyce Harker, a teenage supermarket worker, in The Newcomers. She was a regular character until the show ended in 1969. After that, Wendy had a repeating role as Edith Parish in Dad's Army from 1970 to 1973. Edith was Private Walker's girlfriend. She also appeared in shows like Up Pompeii!, Please Sir!, and On the Buses.
Starring in Are You Being Served?
From 1972 to 1985, Wendy Richard was a main cast member in the comedy show Are You Being Served?. She played Shirley Brahms, a young shop assistant. Miss Brahms had a strong Cockney accent and worked in the clothing department of a fictional store called Grace Brothers. She worked with Mrs. Slocombe and was often the subject of jokes from Mr. Lucas. Wendy later played Miss Brahms again in the show's sequel, Grace & Favour, from 1992 to 1993.
Wendy also appeared in two Carry On movies. These were Carry On Matron (1972) and Carry On Girls (1973). Her future EastEnders co-star Barbara Windsor was also in these films. Other movies Wendy appeared in around this time included On The Buses (1971) and Are You Being Served? (1977). While working on Are You Being Served?, she also had parts in other TV shows like Z Cars.
Becoming a Star in EastEnders
In the same year that Are You Being Served? ended, Wendy Richard began a new big role. She started playing Pauline Fowler in the BBC soap opera EastEnders. She was in the very first episode in 1985. Pauline Fowler became a very famous character, described as a "legend" and a "television icon."
On 10 July 2006, the BBC announced that Wendy had decided to leave EastEnders after more than 20 years. Her character died on screen at Christmas 2006. Until then, she was one of only two original actors who had been in the show continuously since 1985. The other was Adam Woodyatt, who played her on-screen nephew, Ian Beale.
In 2007, Wendy Richard received a British Soap Award for 'Special Achievement' for her role in EastEnders.
Later Work and Awards
Wendy Richard was a regular guest on the BBC Radio show Just a Minute from 1989 to 1994. She also appeared on the TV version of the show.
In 2000, Wendy was given the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) award by the Queen. This is a special honour for people who have done great things.
After leaving EastEnders, Wendy appeared on many TV shows. She was a guest presenter on City Hospital and presented a documentary about her friend John Inman. She also gave interviews on shows like The Paul O'Grady Show and Parkinson.
In April 2007, Wendy announced a new acting role. She was going to be in a new comedy show called Here Comes The Queen. She had asked the show's writer, David Croft, to write something for her. Wendy said the part was "like an older version of Miss Brahms." A trial episode was made, but it was never shown on TV.
In September 2007, it was announced that Wendy would join the TV show Benidorm. She played a "loud-mouthed, rude" character who used a wheelchair. Her episode aired in April 2008.
In January 2008, Wendy appeared in adverts for The Post Office. Her last acting role was as Mrs. Crump in an episode of Agatha Christie's Marple. This episode aired after she passed away in 2009.
Wendy's Personal Life
Wendy Richard was married four times. Her first marriage was to Len Blach in 1972, but it only lasted five months. She then lived with Will Thorpe for six years and married him in 1980. That marriage ended after 18 months. Her third marriage was to Paul Glorney in 1990, which ended four years later.
Wendy later lived with John Burns, who was a painter and decorator. They lived together from 1996 and got married on 10 October 2008. They were together until her death four months later. Wendy did not have any children.
Her Illness
In 1996, Wendy was diagnosed with breast cancer. She had surgery and was told she was clear of the disease. However, the cancer returned in 2002. After years of treatment, her cancer went into remission in 2005.
In January 2008, cancer cells were found again. In October 2008, it was reported that she had an aggressive form of breast cancer. Further tests showed it had spread to her kidney and bones. Wendy made a half-hour TV programme called Wendy Richard: To Tell You the Truth. It showed the last three months of her life and was broadcast on BBC One in March 2009.
Wendy Richard's Passing
Wendy Richard's agent, Kevin Francis, announced that she passed away on 26 February 2009. She was 65 years old and died from breast cancer at a clinic in London. Her husband, John Burns, was with her. Kevin Francis said she was "incredibly brave" and kept her sense of humour until the end.
On the day she died, an episode of EastEnders and a special memorial programme were shown on BBC One, both dedicated to Wendy. Actor Bill Treacher, who played her on-screen husband in EastEnders, said Wendy was a "true professional."
Wendy's funeral was held on 9 March 2009. Many people from the media industry and many fans attended. Her body was later cremated. It was reported that Wendy had planned her own funeral and written her will.
In July 2009, David Croft, who created Are You Being Served?, unveiled a special plaque. This plaque was placed at The Shepherds Tavern in London, which Wendy's parents used to run. Many entertainers were there to remember her.
Images for kids
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A Heritage Foundation commemorative plaque at The Shepherds Tavern in London in memory of Richard
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See also
In Spanish: Wendy Richard para niños
