Elspet Jean Gray, Baroness Rix (née Gray; 12 April 1929 – 18 February 2013) was a Scottish actress, who first became known for her partnership with her husband, Brian Rix, and later was cast in many television roles in the 1970s and 1980s. She played Lady Collingford in the television series Catweazle and Mrs. Palmer in the television series Solo, alongside Felicity Kendal.
Career Gray had a long stage career, particularly known for her appearances in the Whitehall farces, the company being managed by her husband Brian Rix, which were originally performed at the Whitehall Theatre and later at the Garrick.
Gray appeared in many films and television programmes, her earliest being The Blind Goddess (1948). In 1955 she appeared in an episode of Strange Experiences. She had several roles in the 1970s including parts in Fawlty Towers, as the paediatrician wife of a psychiatrist baffled by Basil Fawlty’s behaviour, The Crezz, Catweazle, and in the 1980s with Doctor Who story Arc of Infinity and the World War Two drama Tenko. She appeared as the Queen in the BBC sitcom The Black Adder (1983), with Rowan Atkinson as her son in the title role, and as Mrs. Palmer in Solo (1981–82), another comedy, this time with Felicity Kendal in the lead as her daughter.
Gray continued her acting career until the late 1990s, appearing in Agatha Christie's Poirot, the films The Girl in a Swing (1988) and Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994), and as Hilary in the British television comedy Dinnerladies.
Personal life and death Gray married Brian Rix in 1949. She died in hospital on 18 February 2013, aged 83.
Filmography YearTitleRoleNotes1948 The Blind Goddess Daphne Dearing 1948 Fly Away Peter Phyllis Hapgood 1948 Love in Waiting Brenda Lawrence 1949 Trottie True Honor Bellaire Uncredited1951 Reluctant Heroes Lt. Virginia 1954 Johnny on the Spot Joan Ingram 1954 Devil's Point June Mallard 1961 The Night We Got the Bird Woman with dog 1969 Goodbye, Mr. Chips Lady Sutterwick Uncredited1979 Fawlty Towers Dr Abbott1982 The Agatha Christie Hour Sylvia Carslake1983 Blackadder Gertrude of Flanders1987 Inspector Morse Mrs Bartlett Episode - "The Silent World of Nicholas Quinn"1988 The Girl in a Swing Mrs. Dresland 1990 Double Sin Miss Penn 1994 Four Weddings and a Funeral Laura's Mother – Wedding One 1998 dinnerladies Phillipa's mother - Hilary
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