Ann Lancaster (5 May 1920 – 31 October 1970) was a well-known character actress who appeared in many British films, television shows and in theatre.[1][2][3]

Ann Lancaster
in The Magic Box (1951)
Born(1920-05-05)5 May 1920
Died31 October 1970(1970-10-31) (aged 50)
Paddington, London, England
OccupationActress

Lancaster specialised in comic roles and had a talent for voices which she often used on radio to portray children and to do voiceovers for television commercials. Her most high-profile film roles were in The Million Pound Note (1953), A Night to Remember (1958, uncredited as a woman on a train), The Dirty Dozen (1967), Fathom (1967), The Railway Children (1970), and in one Carry On Film Carry On Again Doctor (1969).[4] She was the voice behind the Ajax 'It cleans like a white tornado' advertisements on television. She was in the radio show: Mrs Dale's Diary, and appeared in many well-known television comedies including Hancock's Half Hour, Till Death Us Do Part, Tea at the Ritz, Hughie and The World of Beachcomber with Spike Milligan.[2]

Personal life

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Ann Lancaster was born in 1920 in London[5] and died of cancer in 1970 in Paddington, London[6] at the age of 50, before her last film (The Railway Children) was released.

Filmography

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  • The Vise (1 episode, 1959) .... Fat Lady
... a.k.a. Detective's Diary (USA: rerun title)
... a.k.a. Saber of London (UK)
... a.k.a. The Vise: Mark Saber (USA: third and fourth season title)
... a.k.a. Uncovered (syndication title)
  • It's Only Mink (1959) TV Episode .... Fat Lady
  • Hancock's Half Hour (3 episodes, 1957–1959) The Big Night (1959) TV Episode
  • "The Russian Prince" (1957) TV Episode (as Anne Lancaster) .... Russian Aristocrat
  • "Lady Chatterley's Revenge" (1957) TV Episode .... Cynthia – Actress
  • "Tea at the Ritz" (1963) (TV) .... Rene Barnes ... a.k.a. Comedy Four: Tea at the Ritz (UK: series title)
  • Comedy Playhouse ....(1 episode, 1963)
  • "The Chars" (1963) TV Episode .... Amanda
  • An Enemy of the State (1965) (mini) TV Series .... Grusha
  • The Wednesday Play Up the Junction (1965) TV Episode .... Winnie
  • Out of the Unknown ....(1 episode, 1965)
  • "Come Buttercup, Come Daisy, Come...?" (1965) TV Episode .... Mrs. Bryant
  • The Spies .... (1 episode, 1966) .... Dora
  • No Strings (1967) (TV)
  • Z-Cars .... (3 episodes, 1963–1967)
  • "Family Affair: Part 2" (1967) TV Episode .... Annie Ramsbottom
  • "Running Milligan" (1963) TV Episode .... Milly
  • "Train of Events" (1963) TV Episode .... Geraldine
  • Till Death Us Do Part (1 episode, 'Aunt Maud', 1968) .... Maud
  • Please Sir! (2 episodes, 1968) .... Mrs. Pearce
  • Best of Enemies (1 episode, 1968) .... Mrs. Ewing
  • Thirty-Minute Theatre (1 episode, 1969)
  • Someone's Knocking at Me Door (1969) TV Episode .... Mollie Thompson
  • The World of Beachcomber (unknown episodes, 1969) TV Series .... Various
  • Barry Humphries' Scandals (1 episode, 1970)
  • Father, Dear Father .... Bookshop Customer (1 episode, 1970)
  • "The Suitable Suitor" (1970) TV Episode .... Bookshop Customer

References

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  1. ^ "Ann Lancaster". Archived from the original on 4 August 2017.
  2. ^ a b "Ann Lancaster". aveleyman.com.
  3. ^ "Ann Lancaster". theatricalia.com.
  4. ^ "Ann Lancaster – Movies and Filmography – AllMovie". AllMovie.
  5. ^ "findmypast.co.uk". search.findmypast.co.uk.
  6. ^ "findmypast.co.uk". search.findmypast.co.uk.
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