🔗 Share this article Acclaimed Performer Patricia Routledge, Legendary for Keeping Up Appearances, Passes Away at the Age of 96 Actress Dame Patricia Routledge, famous for embodying Hyacinth Bucket in the beloved television comedy Keeping Up Appearances, has passed away at the 96, as confirmed by. Additionally, she starred in monologues by Alan Bennett and took on the role of BBC One's amateur sleuth Hetty Wainthropp. "We mournfully announce to announce the death of Patricia Routledge, who died peacefully in her sleep today in the presence of family." "Despite her advanced years, her dedication to acting and for engaging with theatergoers remained strong, just as younger viewers keep discovering her work through her popular screen performances." The announcement continued: "She leaves a void by those closest to her and by her devoted admirers globally." Dame Patricia in the role of Hyacinth Bucket with Clive Swift as long-suffering husband Richard in the series Keeping Up Appearances Decades of Performance Dame Patricia was most famous as Hyacinth Bucket - who insisted it be said "bouquet" - a humorous character who represented the peak of affectation and class consciousness. "She's an absolute monster and I enjoyed playing her enormously," the actress commented. The series Keeping Up Appearances was broadcast from 1990 to 95, and a year later she was voted the most beloved female performer at the BBC's 60th anniversary awards. Additionally, she found acclaim in theater and film after launching her acting journey in the theater in the 1950s era. After appearances in London theater, she established herself in the United States when she won the Tony for best lead actress in a musical on New York theater for Darling of the Day in the late 1960s. Her talents extended at serious drama as she was at song-and-dance and humor - she appeared in Shakespeare's histories at the RSC, then won an theater prize for leading musical actress for Candide in the eighties. That decade also marked her rise as a true national TV star - being given roles by Victoria Wood in her comedy series, and writer Alan Bennett in his acclaimed monologue series, including 1988's A Lady of Letters, for which she received a British Academy nomination. She garnered additional Bafta nods, for Keeping Up Appearances, in 1992 and 1993, then headlined the main character as a senior citizen on a mission to investigate mysteries in the series Hetty Wainthropp Investigates between the late 1990s. She was made an OBE in 1993, a CBE in the 2000s, and the title of Dame in 2017. A Lasting Legacy Through her unforgettable roles, Dame Patricia Routledge brought laughter and delight to millions, establishing a rich body of work that is still enjoyed by fans for generations to come.