Janet Brown, the actress and comedian who is widely remembered for her impersonations of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, died yesterday (Friday 27 May) aged 87.
Her agent, Susan Angel, said that she died in her sleep after a short illness at a nursing home in Hove.
Brown became well known as a children’s TV presenter in the 1950s and won even greater fame after impersonating Mrs Thatcher on the Mike Yarwood Show in the 1970s.
She even played Mrs Thatcher in the James Bond film For Your Eyes Only.
She was born in Rutherglen, near Glasgow, in 1923 and took to the stage in the 1930s.
Her husband was the actor Peter Butterworth, best known for his appearances in the Carry On films.
Butterworth died in 1979. Brown never remarried.and lived the rest of her life in Hove.
She continued to work on radio, television and the stage.
She is survived by her son, the actor Tyler Butterworth. Her daughter Emma died in 1996 at the age of 34.
Ms Angel said: “She was a delightful client and we will all miss her very much.
“Her knowledge of sport was second to none.
“We will miss the endless discussions about football and her fellow Scot, the tennis star Andy Murray.”
Like Reagan it’s hard to remember what Margaret Thatcher was actually for. All she ever was was ‘against.’ Most female conservatives are like this. That’s why they leave such a negligible footprint aside from sourness once they pass on.
“Whatever the failings on her part;
She tried to entertain us with all of her heart…”
RIP Janet
like janet brown .Rip.