Jean Marsh, the Emmy-winning actress and co-creator of Upstairs Downstairs, has passed away at 90, her agent confirmed. Best known for portraying the compassionate yet strong maid Rose Buck in the beloved drama about class divides in Edwardian England, Marsh received widespread acclaim.
In addition to her television success, she appeared in films such as Cleopatra, Willow, and Hitchcock’s Frenzy, and had TV roles in Doctor Who and The Twilight Zone.
Marsh co-created Upstairs Downstairs with Dame Eileen Atkins while house-sitting in France, later working with John Hawkesworth and John Whitney to develop the series. The show became a critical success in the 1970s, earning popularity in both the UK and U.S., and influencing later period dramas like Downton Abbey. She reprised her role in the BBC’s 2010 revival. Marsh also co-created The House of Elliott in 1991 and had a notable stage career, performing in works by Shakespeare and Shaw. After a stroke in later years, she made fewer public appearances. In a tribute, her longtime friend, director Sir Michael Lindsay-Hogg, remembered her as “wise, funny, kind, and talented,” noting that she passed away peacefully, surrounded by a devoted caregiver.
Marsh, who was once married to Doctor Who actor Jon Pertwee, was named an OBE in 2012 for her contributions to drama.
