Fawlty Towers star Claire Nielson dead at 89
Fawlty Towers actress Claire Nielson - best known for playing Mrs. Hamilton in the legendary BBC sitcom - died on April 29, aged 89.
Fawlty Towers star Claire Nielson has died aged 89.
The actress passed away on April 29.
Claire is best remembered playing the glamorous Mrs. Hamilton, who checked into the titular Torquay, Devon, hotel with her American husband, sparking a clash with owner Basil Fawlty (John Cleese) over Waldorf salad - the name of the series two episode of the beloved 1970s BBC sitcom.
Fans have expressed their sadness online, as one X user penned: "Sad news, Claire Nielson was part of the charm that made Fawlty Towers so memorable. Thoughts with her family and fans."
Another supporter typed on the social media platform: "#rip to the wonderful Claire Nielson, actress from Fawlty Towers' Waldorf Salad episode, among many other UK TV appearances. (sic)"
Claire previously revealed her agent was furious after being told the star had accepted the role of Mrs. Hamilton in Fawlty Towers.
She is quoted by The Sun as saying: "Back then, pretty young women who did light entertainment stopped being offered dramatic parts, but I’d always preferred comedy, so I didn’t care."
Claire was born to Dr. John Isbister and his wife, Peggy, on April 8, 1937, in Glasgow, Scotland.
The star's interest in acting reportedly came after she saw a performance of Swan Lake, and she went on to study at the Royal Scottish Academy of Dramatic Art.
Claire moved to London to break into showbiz, and she went on to land a key role as Jean 'Porridge' Carter in the popular ITV 1960s crime series Ghost Squad, as well as playing a central character in the hit Scottish Hogmanay show Scotch and Wry, alongside Rikki Fulton, from 1978 until 1992.
The Two Ronnies, Upstairs, Downstairs, Taggart, and Z-Cars were one of many TV credits Claire boasted.
Claire also starred opposite Sir Michael Caine, 93, and Trevor Howard as Barbara Grant in the 1971 adventure-drama film Kidnapped.
She also enjoyed painting, playing the piano, and writing, having penned a children's book called The House at Strone.
According to IMDb, Claire was married to Paul Greenwood and was previously hitched to Dennis Vance.
