Jean Marsh, the acclaimed actress and co-creator of the beloved British television series "Upstairs Downstairs," left an estate valued at just over £700,000, according to probate documents. Marsh, who passed away in April of last year at the age of 90, allocated substantial portions of her will to support charitable causes, including £100,000 each to the charity Emergency UK and the London music venue Wigmore Hall.
Emergency UK focuses on aiding civilian victims of war and poverty, while Wigmore Hall is a renowned music venue and registered charity. The distribution of Marsh's estate was overseen by her chosen executors, filmmaker Michael Lindsay-Hogg and Heather Gordon.
Further bequests from Marsh's will include £250,000 designated for her sister, Yvonne. Friends Sophie Scott and Sarah Berger each received £50,000, as did Lisa Lindsay-Hogg, with arrangements for the latter handled by Michael Lindsay-Hogg. Additionally, Marsh left £25,000 to her godson, Louis Berge, and £3,000 to her executors for discretionary distribution according to her most recent wishes.
Marsh, who was living in Chelsea when she signed her will in 2014, died at her London home from complications related to dementia. Her notable career spanned decades and included numerous television and film roles. She was married once to actor Jon Pertwee from 1955 to 1960.
Beyond her iconic role as Rose Buck, the head parlourmaid in "Upstairs Downstairs," Marsh also co-created the series "The House Of Eliott." Her performance in the original "Upstairs Downstairs," which aired from 1971 to 1975 in Britain and 1974 to 1977 in the U.S., earned her a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. The show itself garnered seven Emmy Awards and a Peabody Award.
Born in London in July 1934, Marsh began her career on stage before achieving television and film success in the 1950s and 1960s. Her extensive filmography includes appearances in "Doctor Who," "Cleopatra," Stanley Kubrick's "A Clockwork Orange," Alfred Hitchcock's "Frenzy," the James Bond spoof "Casino Royale," "Return to Oz," and "Willow." She also featured in various television dramas such as "The Twilight Zone" and "The Love Boat," and appeared in Shakespearean adaptations.
Marsh reprised her role as Rose in the BBC's 2010 revival of "Upstairs Downstairs." She was also recognized for her advocacy for women in the arts and was awarded an OBE in the 2012 Birthday Honours for services to drama.
