Kathy Staff (born Minnie Higginbottom; 12 July 1928 – 13 December 2008) was an English actress known for her work on British television. She is best known for her portrayal of Nora Batty in Last of the Summer Wine, the longest running sitcom in the world.
Kathy Staff | |
|---|---|
 Kathy Staff | |
| Born | Minnie Higginbottom 12 July 1928 Dukinfield, Cheshire, England |
| Died | 13 December 2008 (aged 80) Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester, England |
| Resting place | Dukinfield Cemetery and Crematorium |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1946–2008 |
| Spouse |
John Staff (m. 1951) |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | Constance (sister) |
Career
editEarly career
editShe began her acting career with touring repertory companies in 1946, changing her name to Katherine Brant. After she married John Staff in 1951,[1] she adopted the surname as her stage name, hence Kathy Staff. She retired from the stage at this point to raise her family, but started working as an extra for Granada Television in Manchester in the 1960s. In her autobiography, Staff revealed herself to be a Conservative, and noted that she had once stood as an election candidate for the party.[2] This appears to have been in 1971, when a Ms. M. Staff contested the Central ward in the Municipal Borough of Dukinfield. The seat was comfortably held by Labour, with the Liberals beating all three Conservative candidates, the last-placed of whom was Staff.[3][4]
Last of the Summer Wine
editStaff was best known for her role as one of the main characters, Nora Batty, in the long-running BBC sitcom Last of the Summer Wine. She played Nora Batty from the pilot episode in 1973 [1] until 2008, the year she died from a brain tumour, totalling 245 episodes.
Following the death of actor Bill Owen on 12 July 1999, Staff left the show briefly. She stated in interviews that things just were not the same since his death, and her heart was no longer in it. She would later return to the show and remain until her death in 2008.
Television
editStaff had a regular role as Doris Luke in the popular ATV soap opera, Crossroads from 1978 to 1984 and 2001 to 2002. Her other television roles included Coronation Street as Vera Hopkins,[1] No Frills as Molly Bickerstaff, Open All Hours as Mrs Blewett, Dawson's Weekly and The Benny Hill Show. She appeared in a television version of Separate Tables in 1983.
She was the subject of This Is Your Life in 1984 when she was surprised by Eamonn Andrews while shopping in Harrods.[citation needed] She also appeared on Lily Savage's Blankety Blank,[5] plus a brief appearance in Follyfoot.
Theatre
editHer theatre roles included Lady Bracknell in The Importance of Being Earnest at Birmingham Rep, Madame Arcati and Mrs Malaprop in touring productions of Blithe Spirit and The Rivals respectively and a touring production of the comedy Sailor, Beware!, as well as two West End plays: the farce Two into One and comedy When We Are Married, and many pantomimes.[2]
Films
editShe appeared in A Kind of Loving (1962) as Thora Hird's neighbour, as well as The Family Way (1966), The Dresser (1983), Camille (1984), Little Dorrit (1988), and Mary Reilly (1996).[6]
Illness and death
editStaff died on 13 December 2008 at the Willow Wood Hospice in Ashton-under-Lyne, at the age of 80, with her husband John at her bedside, after a brain tumour was diagnosed earlier in the year.[7][8] Her death was announced on 14 December.[9] Her funeral took place at St Mark's Church, Dukinfield, where she was a lifelong member and sang in the choir. She is commemorated in a memorial screen at the church.[10]
Television roles
edit| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Castle Haven | Lorna Everitt |
| 1970 | Queenie's Castle | Mrs Blakely |
| 1973 | Hadleigh | Mrs Brennan |
| 1973–2001 2002–2008 |
Last of the Summer Wine | Nora Batty; 243 episodes |
| 1973–1975 | Coronation Street | Vera Hopkins |
| 1975 | Emmerdale | Winnie Purvis |
| 1976–1981 | Open All Hours | Mrs Blewett |
| 1978–1984 2001–2002 |
Crossroads | Doris Luke |
| 1983–1986 | The Benny Hill Show | Various |
| 1988 | No Frills | Molly Bickerstaff |
References
edit- ^ a b c "Nora: Kathy Staff". The Huddersfield Daily Examiner. 1 January 2000. Archived from the original on 12 May 2008. Retrieved 14 December 2008.
- ^ a b Staff, Kathy (1997). My story : wrinkles and all. Hodder & Stoughton. ISBN 9780340694299.
- ^ "Non-County Boroughs". Elections Centre. 9 March 2018. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
- ^ "1971.xlsx". Google Docs. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
- ^ Lily Savage's Blankety Blank. 25 March 2001. ITV.
- ^ The Independent
- ^ Dowling, Nicola (14 December 2008). "Summer Wine's Nora Batty dies". Manchester Evening News. M.E.N. Media. Retrieved 14 December 2008.
- ^ "Kathy Staff". The Daily Telegraph. 14 December 2008. Retrieved 14 December 2008.
- ^ "Summer Wine star Staff dies at 80". BBC News. 14 December 2008. Retrieved 14 December 2008.
- ^ Chester Diocesan News, February 2011
Further reading
edit- Staff, Kathy (1999). Book of Happy Families.
- Staff, Kathy (1999). My Story, Wrinkles & All.
External links
edit- Kathy Staff at IMDb
- Kathy Staff discography at Discogs
- Obituary in The Times. Retrieved 2008-12-15
- Obituary in The Independent