🔗 Share this article Acclaimed Actress Dame Patricia Routledge, Famous for Hyacinth Bucket, Dies at 96 Years Old Star Dame Patricia Routledge, best known for embodying Hyacinth Bucket in the popular television comedy Keeping Up Appearances, has left us at the age of 96, her agent announced. She also featured in Alan Bennett's TV monologues and took on the role of BBC One's crime-solving retiree Hetty Wainthropp Investigates. "We are deeply saddened to announce the loss of Patricia Routledge, who left this world peacefully in her sleep this morning with loved ones near." "At the remarkable age of 96, her dedication to acting and for reaching out to fans remained strong, just as new generations are still enjoying her roles through her popular TV characters." The announcement added: "She will be dearly missed by her inner circle and by her dedicated supporters worldwide." Dame Patricia playing the iconic Hyacinth next to Clive Swift as Richard, her beleaguered husband in the series Keeping Up Appearances Decades of Performance Patricia Routledge was primarily recognized as the character Hyacinth Bucket - pronounced "bouquet" - a comic creation who exemplified the extremes of British social climbing. "She's an absolute monster and I had great fun with the role tremendously," the actress remarked. The series Keeping Up Appearances ran from 1990 until 1995, and a year later she was chosen as the nation's most popular actress at the BBC anniversary ceremony. She also earned praise both live and recorded after starting her career in the stage in the 1950s. After appearances in London theater, she built a reputation in the US when she received the Tony for outstanding actress in a musical on New York theater for Darling of the Day in 1968. Her talents extended at intense theater as she was at light entertainment - she performed in Shakespeare's histories at the Royal Shakespeare Company, then won an Laurence Olivier Award for leading musical actress for Candide in the eighties. That decade also marked her rise as a household name - receiving parts by comedian Victoria Wood in the show As Seen on TV, and writer Alan Bennett in three of his renowned Talking Heads monologues, including the 1988 piece A Lady of Letters, for which she was given a Bafta award nomination. She earned more award nominations, for the popular sitcom, in 1992 and 1993, then headlined the main character as a senior citizen on a journey into detective work in BBC One's Hetty Wainthropp Investigates between the late 1990s. She was made an Order of the British Empire in the nineties, a CBE in 2004, and the title of Dame in 2017. An Enduring Impact Through her iconic performances, Dame Patricia Routledge provided comedy and entertainment to audiences worldwide, creating a impressive collection of performances that remains cherished by viewers for generations to come.