Topzle Topzle

Jean Marsh

Updated: Wikipedia source

Jean Marsh

Jean Lyndsey Torren Marsh (1 July 1934 – 13 April 2025) was an English actress and writer. She co-created and starred in the ITV series Upstairs, Downstairs (1971–1975), for which she won the 1975 Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her performance as Rose Buck. She reprised the role in the BBC's revival of the series (2010–2012). Marsh co-created the television series The House of Eliott in 1991. Her film appearances include Cleopatra (1963), Frenzy (1972), The Eagle Has Landed (1976), The Changeling (1980), Return to Oz (1985), Willow (1988), Fatherland (1994) and Monarch (2000). She is also known for three roles in Doctor Who: as Joan of England in The Crusade; Sara Kingdom, a companion of the First Doctor; and a villain opposite the Seventh Doctor. From 1955 to 1960 she was married to Jon Pertwee, who played the Third Doctor in the series.

Infobox

Born
Jean Lyndsey Torren Marsh(1934-07-01)1 July 1934Stoke Newington, London, England
Died
13 April 2025(2025-04-13) (aged 90)London, England
Occupations
mw- .inline, .inline dl, .inline ol, .inline ul, dl dl, dl ol, dl ul, ol dl, ol ol dd dd dd , dd dt , dd li , dt dd , dt dt , dt li , li dd dd dd , dd dt , dd li , dt dd , dt dt , dt li , li dd dd ol li Actresswriter
Years active
1953–2014
Spouse
mw- Jon Pertwee (m. 1955; div. 1960)

Tables

· Filmography › Film
1947
Role(s)
Sewing Girl
Notes
Uncredited
1953
Role(s)
Dancer
Role(s)
The Landlady's Daughter
1954
Role(s)
Dancer in Sally's Dream
Notes
Uncredited
1961
Role(s)
Strange Woman at Party
Role(s)
Party Guest
1963
Role(s)
Octavia
Role(s)
Miss Ballard
1964
Role(s)
Grace
1967
Role(s)
Waitress
Notes
Uncredited
1968
Role(s)
Dilys
1970
Role(s)
Bertha Rochester
1972
Role(s)
Monica Barling
1974
Role(s)
Victoria
1976
Role(s)
Joanna Grey
1980
Role(s)
Joanna Russell
1985
Role(s)
Nurse Wilson/Mombi
1988
Role(s)
Queen Bavmorda
2009
Role(s)
Mrs. Mason
Year
Title
Role
Notes
1947
The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby
Sewing Girl
Uncredited
1953
Will Any Gentleman...?
Dancer
The Limping Man
The Landlady's Daughter
1954
The Love Lottery
Dancer in Sally's Dream
Uncredited
1961
Call Me Genius
Strange Woman at Party
The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone
Party Guest
1963
Cleopatra
Octavia
Unearthly Stranger
Miss Ballard
1964
Face of a Stranger
Grace
1967
Charlie Bubbles
Waitress
Uncredited
1968
The Limbo Line
Dilys
1970
Jane Eyre
Bertha Rochester
1972
Frenzy
Monica Barling
1974
Dark Places
Victoria
1976
The Eagle Has Landed
Joanna Grey
1980
The Changeling
Joanna Russell
1985
Return to Oz
Nurse Wilson/Mombi
1988
Willow
Queen Bavmorda
2009
The Heavy
Mrs. Mason
· Filmography › Television
1952
The Infinite Shoeblack
Notes
Televised play on the BBC
1956
Role(s)
Christine
Notes
Episode: "Woman in a Dressing Gown"
1958
Role(s)
Mimi in La bohème
Notes
Episode: "What Makes Opera Grand?"
1959
Role(s)
Helene
Notes
Episode: "The Angry Young Man"
Role(s)
Ata
Notes
TV film
Role(s)
Alicia
Notes
Episode: "The Lonely"
1961
Role(s)
Kim Russell
Notes
Episode: "Name, Date, Place"
Role(s)
Andrienne
Notes
Episode: The Horsemasters
1962
Role(s)
Peggy Mann
Notes
TV play
1963–64
Role(s)
ITV Play of the Week
Notes
Dorothy Lemonade/Margo Robertson
1964
Role(s)
Grace
Notes
Episode: "Face of a Stranger"
1964–68
Role(s)
The Saint
Notes
Various
1965
Role(s)
Joanna
Notes
Serial: The Crusade
Role(s)
Sheila
Notes
Episode: "Suspense Hour: Curtains for Sheila"
1965–66
Role(s)
Gideon C.I.D.
Notes
Elspeth McCrae/Sandra Casey
1965–66
Role(s)
Doctor Who
Notes
Sara Kingdom
1966–67
Role(s)
The Informer
Notes
Sylvia Parish
1967
Role(s)
Katherine Faulkner
Notes
Episode: "The War Lord"
Role(s)
Lady Lydia
Notes
Episode: "Face in a Mirror"
1968
Role(s)
Julie Oliver
Notes
Episode: "The Deadly Climate"
Role(s)
Edna
Notes
Episode: "A Bit of Crucixion, Father"
Role(s)
Alex
Notes
Episode: "Cross Examine"
1969
Role(s)
Sybil Houghton
Notes
Episode: "The Yellow Torrish"
Role(s)
Agatha Pollen
Notes
Episode: "The Perfect Operation"
Role(s)
Anabel
Notes
Episode: "What's in It For Me?"
1970
UFO
Role(s)
Janna
Notes
Episode: "Exposed"
1970–72
Role(s)
ITV Saturday Night Theatre
Notes
Mrs. Philpott/Jenny
1971
Role(s)
Nicola
Notes
Episode: "Five Miles to Midnight"
Role(s)
Madeline Walsh
Notes
Episode: "Skin Deep"
1971–75
Role(s)
Upstairs, Downstairs
Notes
Rose Buck
1972
Role(s)
Miranda Rawling
Notes
Episode: "Nobody Understands Miranda"
1973
Role(s)
Mrs. Vanrenen
Notes
Episode: "The Looting of the Specie Room"
1976
Notes
Episode: "Mad About the Boy: A Noel Coward Celebration"
1977
Role(s)
Hilary Von Kleist
Notes
Episode: "The Hiding Place"
1978
Role(s)
Sister Harmony
Notes
Episode: "The Miracle Man"
1981
Role(s)
Sally Hackman
Notes
TV film
Role(s)
Claire Browning
Notes
Episode: "Earthquake"
Role(s)
Dr. Goldman
Notes
Miniseries; 2 episodes
1982–83
Role(s)
9 to 5
Notes
Roz Keith
1983
Role(s)
Ceilia Hoffman
Notes
Episode: "Japan Cruise"
1984
Role(s)
Mrs. Talley
Notes
Miniseries; 1 episode
1985
Role(s)
Mazzere
Notes
TV film
Role(s)
Joan Matlin
Notes
Episode: "Answer Me"
1989
Role(s)
Miss Hunter
Notes
TV film
Role(s)
Eliza Crowther
Notes
Miniseries; 1 episode
Role(s)
Morgaine
Notes
Serial: Battlefield
1992
Role(s)
Lisbeth Bede
Notes
Episode: "Adam Bede"
1993
Role(s)
Glenda Highsmith
Notes
Episode: "Murder in White"
1994
Role(s)
Dr. Culex
Notes
Serial: "The Culex Experiment"
Role(s)
Matron in Psycho Ward 11
Notes
6 episodes
Role(s)
Anna Von Hogen
Notes
TV film
1996
1997
Role(s)
Mrs. Matthews
Notes
Episode: "Guilt"
1999
Role(s)
Lady Tibbit
Notes
Episode: "End Game"
2000–02
Role(s)
The Ghost Hunter
Notes
Mrs. Croker
2002
Role(s)
Vera Engells
Notes
Episode: "Pills and Frills"
2003
Role(s)
Furmity Woman
Notes
TV film
Role(s)
Liz
Notes
Episode: "Today's the Day"
2005
Role(s)
Violet Sidney
Notes
Episode: "The Case of the Croydon Poisonings"
2007
Role(s)
Lizzie Galbraith
Notes
Miniseries
2008
Role(s)
Mrs. Ferrars
Notes
Miniseries; 1 episode
Role(s)
Lady Constance de Momery
Notes
2 episodes
2010–12
Role(s)
Upstairs Downstairs
Notes
Mrs. Rose Buck
2013
Role(s)
Party Guest
Notes
Uncredited
2014
Role(s)
Daisy Livingstone
Notes
1 episode
2022
Role(s)
Queen Bavmorda
Notes
Episode: "The Whispers of Nockmaar", via archive footage
Year
Title
Role
Notes
1952
The Infinite Shoeblack
Televised play on the BBC
1956
ITV Television Playhouse
Christine
Episode: "Woman in a Dressing Gown"
1958
Omnibus
Mimi in La bohème
Episode: "What Makes Opera Grand?"
1959
The Third Man
Helene
Episode: "The Angry Young Man"
The Moon and Sixpence
Ata
TV film
The Twilight Zone
Alicia
Episode: "The Lonely"
1961
Danger Man
Kim Russell
Episode: "Name, Date, Place"
The Magical World of Disney
Andrienne
Episode: The Horsemasters
1962
Heart to Heart (The Largest Theatre in the World)
Peggy Mann
TV play
1963–64
ITV Play of the Week
Dorothy Lemonade/Margo Robertson
2 episodes
1964
The Edgar Wallace Mystery Theater
Grace
Episode: "Face of a Stranger"
1964–68
The Saint
Various
4 episodes
1965
Doctor Who
Joanna
Serial: The Crusade
1965
ITV Sunday Night Drama
Sheila
Episode: "Suspense Hour: Curtains for Sheila"
1965–66
Gideon C.I.D.
Elspeth McCrae/Sandra Casey
2 episodes
1965–66
Doctor Who
Sara Kingdom
Serial: The Daleks' Master Plan
1966–67
The Informer
Sylvia Parish
17 episodes
1967
I Spy
Katherine Faulkner
Episode: "The War Lord"
Adam Adamant Lives!
Lady Lydia
Episode: "Face in a Mirror"
1968
Detective
Julie Oliver
Episode: "The Deadly Climate"
The Wednesday Play
Edna
Episode: "A Bit of Crucixion, Father"
Thirty-Minute Theatre
Alex
Episode: "Cross Examine"
1969
The Expert
Sybil Houghton
Episode: "The Yellow Torrish"
Department S
Agatha Pollen
Episode: "The Perfect Operation"
The Root of All Evil?
Anabel
Episode: "What's in It For Me?"
1970
UFO
Janna
Episode: "Exposed"
1970–72
ITV Saturday Night Theatre
Mrs. Philpott/Jenny
2 episodes
1971
The Persuaders!
Nicola
Episode: "Five Miles to Midnight"
Play for Today
Madeline Walsh
Episode: "Skin Deep"
1971–75
Upstairs, Downstairs
Rose Buck
54 episodes, also co-creator
1972
The Befrienders
Miranda Rawling
Episode: "Nobody Understands Miranda"
1973
The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes
Mrs. Vanrenen
Episode: "The Looting of the Specie Room"
1976
Camera Three
Episode: "Mad About the Boy: A Noel Coward Celebration"
1977
The Waltons
Hilary Von Kleist
Episode: "The Hiding Place"
1978
Hawaii Five-O
Sister Harmony
Episode: "The Miracle Man"
1981
See China and Die
Sally Hackman
TV film
Trapper John, M.D.
Claire Browning
Episode: "Earthquake"
Goliath Awaits
Dr. Goldman
Miniseries; 2 episodes
1982–83
9 to 5
Roz Keith
Series regular
1983
The Love Boat
Ceilia Hoffman
Episode: "Japan Cruise"
1984
Master of the Game
Mrs. Talley
Miniseries; 1 episode
1985
The Corsican Brothers
Mazzere
TV film
Tales from the Darkside
Joan Matlin
Episode: "Answer Me"
1989
Danny, the Champion of the World
Miss Hunter
TV film
Act of Will
Eliza Crowther
Miniseries; 1 episode
Doctor Who
Morgaine
Serial: Battlefield
1991–94
The House of Eliott
Co-creator
1992
Screen One
Lisbeth Bede
Episode: "Adam Bede"
1993
Murder, She Wrote
Glenda Highsmith
Episode: "Murder in White"
· Theatre
1959
Role(s)
Hero
Notes
A Broadway production starring John Gielgud
1961
The Bird of Time
Role(s)
Shirley O'Neill
Notes
Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool and Savoy Theatre
1979
Role(s)
Dr. Scott
Notes
Trafalgar Theatre
1987
Let Us Go Then You and I
Role(s)
Narrator
Notes
Lyric Theatre
1992
Role(s)
Miss Madrigal
Notes
King's Head Theatre
2006
The Old Country
Role(s)
Bron
Notes
Trafalgar Studios 1, Yvonne Arnaud Theatre and other locations
2007–2008
Role(s)
Boeing Boeing
Notes
Bertha
2008
Role(s)
Mrs. Touchett
Notes
Theatre Royal, Bath and Rose Theatre
Year
Title
Role
Notes
1959
Much Ado About Nothing
Hero
A Broadway production starring John Gielgud
1961
The Bird of Time
Shirley O'Neill
Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool and Savoy Theatre
1979
Whose Life Is It Anyway?
Dr. Scott
Trafalgar Theatre
1987
Let Us Go Then You and I
Narrator
Lyric Theatre
1992
The Chalk Garden
Miss Madrigal
King's Head Theatre
2006
The Old Country
Bron
Trafalgar Studios 1, Yvonne Arnaud Theatre and other locations
2007–2008
Boeing Boeing
Bertha
Comedy Theatre
2008
The Portrait of a Lady
Mrs. Touchett
Theatre Royal, Bath and Rose Theatre

References

  1. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/13/obituaries/jean-marsh-dead.html
  2. "Jean Marsh"
    http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/1399007/index.html
  3. tvguide.com
    https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/jean-marsh/credits/3030645440/
  4. Internet Archive
    https://archive.org/details/jean-marsh-international-animation-festival-evolution-nfbc
  5. "Upstairs Downstairs makes festive return"
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-15150560
  6. "Jean Marsh to miss start of Upstairs Downstairs"
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-15150560
  7. Gloucestershire Echo
    https://web.archive.org/web/20120925082147/http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/ll-acting-forever-says-Jean/story-13214530-detail/story.html
  8. Watford Observer
    http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/685493.print/
  9. GRO Register of Marriages: JUN 1955 5f 63 MIDDLESEX S. – Jon D. R. Pertwee = Jeann L. T. Marsh
  10. GRO Register of Marriages: SEP 1960 6a 1385 WYCOMBE – Jon D. R. Pertwee = Ingeborg R. Rhosa
  11. The Daily Telegraph
    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/8207094/Upstairs-Downstairs-Jean-Marsh-interview-A-touch-of-class-below-stairs.html
  12. Digital Spy
    http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/news/a377762/upstairs-downstairs-dropped-by-bbc.html
  13. "Upstairs Downstairs axed by the BBC after two series"
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-17811617
  14. "Upstairs Downstairs actress Jean Marsh dies aged 90"
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c045dk29xqqo
  15. The London Gazette
    https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/60173/supplement/11
  16. "Kenneth Branagh knighted in Queen's Birthday Honours"
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-18461536
  17. "Face of a Stranger"
    https://www.tvguide.com/movies/face-of-a-stranger/cast/2000261397/
  18. "Jane Eyre"
    https://www.tvguide.com/movies/jane-eyre/cast/2000005255/
  19. "Frenzy"
    https://www.tvguide.com/movies/frenzy/cast/2030101177/
Image
Source:
Tip: Wheel or +/− to zoom, drag to pan, Esc to close.