Anna Cropper (13 May 1938 – 22 January 2007) was an English stage and television actress.
Early years Cropper was born in Brierfield, Lancashire, the daughter of Margaret, a stage actress and director, and Jack Cropper, a dentist. The family lived on Todmorden Road in Burnley during her early life.
Career Cropper studied acting at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London. She made her television debut as Chrysalis in The Insect Play (1960), based on the 1921 play by Czech brothers Josef and Karel Čapek. She appeared in Emergency Ward 10 three times and on Coronation Street three times in 1962.Obituary, The Burnley Citizen; accessed 12 June 2018.
She came to prominence playing a young schizophrenic in the television play In Two Minds (The Wednesday Play, BBC, 1967) by David Mercer. which won the Writers' Guild Award for the Best Television Play of 1967.
Her film roles included appearances in All Neat in Black Stockings (1968), Cromwell (1970) and Nanou (1986). In 1972 she starred in the television production of The Exorcism and in 1975 took over the lead role in the West End stage version when actress Mary Ure died of an overdose following the play's opening night."'Exorcism' successor", The Times page 4, 8 April 1975
She played Mary Hodgson, the nurse of the boys who inspired the creation of Peter Pan in the BBC docudrama The Lost Boys (1978). Other television roles included two episodes of the BBC's Play for Today, as Norah Palmer in the James MacTaggart-directed Robin Redbreast (1970), a Christmas supernatural thriller by John BowenBBC Genome - Radio Times listing for 10 December 1970 and Dennis Potter's play Schmoedipus (1974).BBC Genome - Radio Times listing for 20 June 1974
She appeared in The Jewel in the Crown (1984) and featured in Anna of the Five Towns (1985) a 4-part BBC period drama. Her last television credit is for an episode of Midsomer Murders entitled "Death's Shadow" (1999).
Personal life and death Cropper married Coronation Street actor William Roache in 1961. They had two children, son Linus Roache and daughter Vanya. They divorced in 1974.
Cropper died of a heart attack in January 2007, aged 68, at her home in Tangmere, West Sussex.
Television Year Title Role Notes 1960 Probation Officer Various 3 episodes1960–62BBC Sunday-Night PlayChrysalis/Lucy2 episodes1961Deadline Midnight Beth GibsonEpisode: "Doggo"Harpers West OneYvonne Seymour1 episode1961–66Emergency Ward 10Eileen Burton/April Sands7 episodes1962Coronation StreetJoan Akers4 episodesNo Hiding PlaceTerryEpisode: "The Front Man"1963The Odd Man trilogyRuth Jenkins10 episodesFirst Night ElsaEpisode: "Funny Noises with Their Mouths"1965Sherlock HolmesMrs. St. ClairEpisode: "The Man with the Twisted Lip"The Troubleshooters PatEpisode: "Meet Miss Mogul"1966The Spies Jane PatrickEpisode: "Go Ahead, I Only Live Here"Redcap Penny AmisEpisode: "An Ambush Among Friends" 1967 Angel Pavement Miss Cadham 3 episodes The Wednesday Play Kate Winter Episode: In Two MindsDr. Finlay's CasebookFiona HadleyEpisode: "Criss-Cross"City '68CarolEpisode: "Son of the City"1968–81ITV PlayhouseJean Clavering/Marjorie Mansion2 episodes1970Z-CarsHelen CarterEpisode: "Eleanor Rigby Slept Here"1970–74 Play for Today Norah Palmer/Elizabeth Carter 2 episodes, including Robin Redbreast 1971Take Three GirlsIda2 episodesThirty-Minute TheatreLyndaEpisode: "Gun Play"1971–74Armchair TheatreOlga/Joanna2 episodes1972 Mistress of Hardwick Lady Arbella Stuart5 episodesThe Moonstone Rosanna Spearman4 episodesDead of Night RachelEpisode: "The Exorcism"1972–75Softly, Softly: Task ForcePat Nolan/Barbra Broszac2 episodes1973Spy TrapPenny ChanceEpisode: "A Hero's Return" Lord Peter Wimsey Ann Dorland4 episodes: "The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club", Dorothy L. Sayers novel, adapted by Anthony Steven and John Bowen 1974Rooms Monica WebsterEpisode: "Monica"1976Emmerdale FarmNan Wheeler6 episodes19771990 Susie CarterEpisode: "Whatever Happened to Cardinal Wolsey" 1978 The Lost Boys Mary Hodgson Miniseries1978–79Crown CourtCelia Harker2 serials1979Shoestring Jean HansfordEpisode: "Higher Ground"1980The Two RonniesBrian1 episode1980–82BBC2 PlayhouseMarge/Babs2 episodes1981–82Nanny Antonia Rudd5 episodes1982Praying MantisGertrudeTV filmJackanory PlayhouseQueen BeatriceEpisode: "The Princess and the Inventor" 1984 The Jewel in the Crown Nicky Paynton 5 episodes 1985 Anna of the Five Towns Mrs. SuttonMiniseries1986Call Me MisterGrace BlairEpisode: "The Creative Accountant"Natural WorldMaggie CorberttEpisode: "Man-Eaters of India"1987 Miss Marple Anthea Bradbury-Scott Episode: Nemesis Worlds Beyond Mrs. LeonardEpisode: "Undying Love"1989–92Woof!Joyce2 episodes1990ChancerMrs. MacIverEpisode: "Wreckage"OmnibusMotherEpisode: "Van Gogh"BoonBeth BensonEpisode: "Bully Boys"1991Van der ValkJulie MeijersEpisode: "The Little Rascals"The Ruth Rendell MysteriesIrene KershawEpisode: "A New Lease of Death"CasualtyMrs. ChassneEpisode: "Facing Up"1992Moon and SonMrs. DenmarkEpisode: "Past, Present and Future"The BillMrs. MatthewsEpisode: "Going Soft" The Old Devils Gwen Cellan Miniseries1992–94Screen TwoMrs. Mofrey/Mrs. Mortimer2 episodes1993Agatha Christie's PoirotLady WillardEpisode: "The Adventure of the Egyptian Tomb"Alleyn MysteriesViolet DuffyEpisode: "Death at the Bar"HarryMrs. Faber1 episodeHeartbeat Helen LessorEpisode: "Going Home"If You See God, Tell HimAvis1 episode1995Everyman Helen BamberSpecial: "Prisoners in Time"Castles Margaret CastleMiniseries1996SeptemberEdieTV movie1997Kavanagh QCMarian BeckEpisode: "Ancient History"1999Midsomer MurdersClaire WilliamsEpisode: "Death's Shadow"
Filmography Year Title Role Notes1968 All Neat in Black Stockings Sis 1970 Cromwell Ruth Carter 1986 Nanou Nanou's mother 1994 Don't Get Me Started Mother Voice, Uncredited
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