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// Workers AI · dad joke modeIs Anna Dawson a great singer? Anna-dote to music.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Anna Dawson
Born
Anna F. Dawson

(1937-07-27)27 July 1937
Bolton, Lancashire, England
Died27 June 2026(2026-06-27) (aged 88)
Kerikeri, New Zealand
OccupationActress
Years active1964–1995
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1985; died 2025)​

Anna F. Boulter (née Dawson; 27 July 1937 – 27 June 2026) was an English actress and singer, who had a career on stage and screen lasting three decades. She appeared in various theatre productions and had several roles in television and entertainment programmes including Dixon of Dock Green, Bad Boyes, The Benny Hill Show and The Kenny Everett Show. Her final acting role was as Violet in the BBC sitcom Keeping Up Appearances, before moving to a retirement village in New Zealand.

Life and career

[edit]

Anna F. Dawson was born in Bolton, Lancashire, on 27 July 1937.[1] She spent part of her childhood in Tanganyika, where her father worked. Dawson attended the Elmhurst Ballet School and after training at the Central School of Speech and Drama, she learned her craft by playing in repertory theatre companies.[2]

During her career, Dawson appeared in several West End musicals and theatre productions, as well as making various appearances in television shows and entertainment programmes, which included Dixon of Dock Green, The Benny Hill Show, The Generation Game, Give Us a Clue and 3-2-1.[3] Her later roles included Bonnie in Bad Boyes and Stella Whipple in Don't Tell Father, with her final role prior to retirement being as Hyacinth Bucket's sister Violet ("the one with the Mercedes, sauna and room for a pony") in the fifth and final series of the sitcom Keeping Up Appearances in 1995.[4][5][6]

Dawson married former Black and White Minstrel Show soloist John Boulter in 1985.[7] They subsequently moved to New Zealand where they lived in various retirement villages.[8] They remained together until Boulter's death in December 2025.[9][10] Dawson died in Kerikeri, New Zealand, on 27 June 2026, aged 88.[11][12]

Filmography

[edit]

Film

[edit]
YearTitleRole
1973O Lucky Man!Becky
Love Thy NeighbourBetty
1975The Sexplorer a.k.a.
The Girl From Starship Venus		Store
Manageress
1977Stand Up, Virgin SoldiersGlam #1
1981If You Go Down in the Woods TodayCourting woman
1984Gabrielle and the DoodlemanWicked Witch
Bloodbath at the House of DeathNurse
Sources:[6][5]

Television

[edit]
YearTitleRole Notes
1964–1966Dixon of Dock GreenMary Crawford 23 episodes
1965Mother GooseSquire's daughter TV film
1971Slapstick and Old LaceVarious
Brian Rix Presents... 7 episodes
1973Z-CarsSheila Clowes Episode: "Domestic"
1975–1989The Benny Hill ShowVarious 9 episodes
1976–1978, 1980What's on Next?
1976–1981 The Generation Game Self 4 episodes
1977Hi Summer!
Larry GraysonBubbles 3 episodes
Miss Jones and SonCarole Episode: 'Baby Talk'
1978Bernie 1 episode
'ITV Votes for Women' 50th Anniversary Gala One-Off special
Whodunnit?Panellist 5 episodes
1978–1979, 1985Blankety Blank
1978–1989Give Us a ClueGuest Contestant 8 episodes
1978The Morecambe & Wise ShowBandaged Newsreader
/ Lola		 Christmas Special
1978–1979Rings on Their FingersDeirdre 4 episodes
1979The Dick Emery SpecialVarious
1979Leslie Crowther's Scrapbook
1979, 1982, 19863-2-1Guest Entertainer 10 episodes
1980Robin's NestAtalanta
Episode: "Just an Old-Fashioned Girl"
Life Begins at FortyJill Simpson 4 episodes
The Crowther CollectionVarious
The Dick Emery Hour
The Allan Stewart Show
1980–1981The Kenny Everett Video ShowCarla / Various 8 episodes
1980–1982Keep It in the FamilyMrs Morgan / Woman Juror 2 episodes
1981It's A Celebrity KnockoutCelebrity Contestant (Budgie)
The Jim Davidson Show 1 episode
The Paul Squire Show
The Kenny Everett Video CassetteCarla
1982Royal Variety PerformanceIntroductory Sequence
The Generation GameGuest during run-up to 1982 Wimbledon Pantomime
The Good Old DaysGuest Entertainer 3 episodes
1983All for LoveWife Episode: "Down at the Hydro"
1984The Steam Video CompanyVarious 6 episodes
1985The New StatesmanEnid Vance 6 episodes
1986CrosswitsCelebrity Panellist
Rainbow Self Episode: "Decision Making"
The Sooty ShowGuest (Swimming Pool etc.)
Smith & JonesVarious Episode: "Football Supporters on a Plane"
Super GranWendy Whiplash Episode: "Supergran and the World's Worst Circus"
1988Bad BoyesBonnie 7 episodes
1991Benny Hill: UnseenVarious TV film
1992Don't Tell FatherStella Whipple 3 episodes
1995Keeping Up AppearancesViolet 4 episodes
Sources:[6][5]

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ "Anna Dawson, actress and revue star who gave comic support to Benny Hill and Kenny Everett". The Telegraph. 2 July 2026. Retrieved 2 July 2026.
  2. ↑ "Unsung Heroines". musical-theatre.net. Archived from the original on 21 July 2013. Retrieved 10 May 2013.
  3. ↑ Ross, Robert (1999). Benny Hill: merry master of mirth; the complete companion. London: Batsford. p. 122. ISBN 978-0-7134-8422-9. Retrieved 17 January 2011.
  4. ↑ "Siblings: Relationships we love to hate". BBC. Retrieved 30 June 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 "Anna Dawson". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 30 June 2026.
  6. 1 2 3 "Anna Dawson". Plex. Archived from the original on 1 July 2026. Retrieved 30 June 2026.
  7. ↑ "John Boulter obituary". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 8 January 2026. Retrieved 30 June 2026.
  8. ↑ "John Boulter obituary". The Times. Retrieved 30 June 2026.
  9. ↑ John Michael Boulter Archived 8 January 2026 at the Wayback Machine. Legacy. Retrieved 27 December 2025.
  10. ↑ "Where are the surviving cast of Keeping Up Appearances now?". Hello!. 21 October 2025. Retrieved 30 June 2026.
  11. ↑ Sansome, Jessica (1 July 2026). "Keeping Up Appearances star Anna Dawson dies six months after husband". Manchester Evening News. Archived from the original on 1 July 2026. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  12. ↑ Dosani, Rishma; O'Neill, Emma (1 July 2026). "Keeping Up Appearances star Anna Dawson dies aged 88". Irish Mirror. Archived from the original on 1 July 2026. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
[edit]
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