Anna Dawson, an actress celebrated for her role as Violet in the BBC sitcom "Keeping Up Appearances," has died at the age of 88. Her death was announced on June 27 in Kerikeri, New Zealand.
Dawson portrayed Violet, the sister of the main character Hyacinth Bouquet, in the popular British series before retiring from acting in 1995. Her character was often referenced by Hyacinth as "the one with the Mercedes, sauna and room for a pony."
Her passing comes approximately six months after the death of her husband, John Boulter, who was a soloist in "The Black and White Minstrel Show." The couple had relocated to a retirement village in New Zealand after Dawson retired from her acting career.
Dawson's career began after attending drama school, with early roles in West End musicals. She also appeared in 23 episodes of the 1960s police procedural "Dixon of Dock Green," alongside comedy icon Benny Hill in his sitcom, and "The Kenny Everett Video Show" in the 1980s.
Fans and colleagues shared tributes on social media following the news of her death. Carol, the widow of "Only Fools And Horses" star John Challis, remembered Dawson as an "old friend."
Born in Lancashire, Dawson spent part of her childhood in Tanganyika, a British colonial territory in East Africa, now part of Tanzania. Her death was announced through a post on the Paihia Community Facebook page by the Christ Church Anglican at Kororāreka Russell in New Zealand.