Gwyneth Powell, who starred in the BBC’s long-running kids drama series Grange Hill as Bridget McClusky has died aged 76, her agent confirmed Monday (12 September).
Her representative, Matthew Lacey, said in a statement on behalf of the family that the actor died after “complications following a major operation for a perforated colon”.
Per the BBC, he added that she “passed away peacefully” with her husband, actor Alan Leith, and niece beside her last Thursday (8 September).
“Gwyneth will be greatly missed by her adoring family and friends along with her many fans from multiple TV appearances,” he added.
Powell played Mrs McClusky, arguably Grange Hill School’s best-known head teacher, for eleven series between 1981 to 1991.
“At first, Mrs McClusky was written as a ‘twin set and pearls’ role, but I was quite young at the time and didn’t want to play it like that,” she told the BBC in 2008.
“My...
Her representative, Matthew Lacey, said in a statement on behalf of the family that the actor died after “complications following a major operation for a perforated colon”.
Per the BBC, he added that she “passed away peacefully” with her husband, actor Alan Leith, and niece beside her last Thursday (8 September).
“Gwyneth will be greatly missed by her adoring family and friends along with her many fans from multiple TV appearances,” he added.
Powell played Mrs McClusky, arguably Grange Hill School’s best-known head teacher, for eleven series between 1981 to 1991.
“At first, Mrs McClusky was written as a ‘twin set and pearls’ role, but I was quite young at the time and didn’t want to play it like that,” she told the BBC in 2008.
“My...
- 9/12/2022
- by Tom Murray
- The Independent - TV
Rik Mayall wasn’t just a comedy genius, he was at the fundamental core of British comedy from the 80s’ until his untimely death. ‘Al Pacino: The Movies Behind The Man’ author and broadcaster, Mark Searby sheds light into the creative work of the man in his new book ‘Rik Mayall: Comedy Genius’.
With a career born from frustrations, opinions and political strains of the working class in the 1980s, Mayall and a motley crew of young fresh talent led the uprising of alternative comedy. Taking a lead from Punk music, they took no prisoners. It was politically incorrect, anarchic and stuck two fingers up to the establishment and furthermore, it stood for something. In its new form, Mayall and his compadres had made comedy into a vessel to speak freely and represent the feelings of a fresh, passionate and raw new generation, something that has since been remixed...
With a career born from frustrations, opinions and political strains of the working class in the 1980s, Mayall and a motley crew of young fresh talent led the uprising of alternative comedy. Taking a lead from Punk music, they took no prisoners. It was politically incorrect, anarchic and stuck two fingers up to the establishment and furthermore, it stood for something. In its new form, Mayall and his compadres had made comedy into a vessel to speak freely and represent the feelings of a fresh, passionate and raw new generation, something that has since been remixed...
- 11/12/2019
- by Zehra Phelan
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
It sounds like a winner — Albert Finney and Martin Sheen team up for a daring subterranean bank robbery in the heart of London. The locations, the sets and the production are all first class. So what happened? Susannah York and Jonathan Pryce are in on the heist as well.
Loophole (1981)
Blu-ray
Kl Studio Classics
1981 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 105 min. / Street Date January 3, 2017 / available through Kino Lorber / 29.95
Starring Albert Finney, Martin Sheen, Susannah York, Colin Blakely, Jonathan Pryce, Robert Morley, Alfred Lynch, Tony Doyle, Christopher Guard, Gwyneth Powell.
Cinematography Michael Reed
Film Editor Ralph Sheldon
Original Music Lalo Schifrin
Written by Jonathan Hales from a novel by Robert Pollock
Produced by Julian Holloway, David Korda
Directed by John Quested
Reviewed by Glenn Erickson
The great movie titled Loophole is still the underdog film noir from 1954, with Barry Sullivan as a bank clerk being dogged by an insurance investigator. The 1981 Loophole, an English movie,...
Loophole (1981)
Blu-ray
Kl Studio Classics
1981 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 105 min. / Street Date January 3, 2017 / available through Kino Lorber / 29.95
Starring Albert Finney, Martin Sheen, Susannah York, Colin Blakely, Jonathan Pryce, Robert Morley, Alfred Lynch, Tony Doyle, Christopher Guard, Gwyneth Powell.
Cinematography Michael Reed
Film Editor Ralph Sheldon
Original Music Lalo Schifrin
Written by Jonathan Hales from a novel by Robert Pollock
Produced by Julian Holloway, David Korda
Directed by John Quested
Reviewed by Glenn Erickson
The great movie titled Loophole is still the underdog film noir from 1954, with Barry Sullivan as a bank clerk being dogged by an insurance investigator. The 1981 Loophole, an English movie,...
- 12/30/2016
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
Dan tackles so-called 'terrorists' staging a roadblock in a new clip from Man Down's series two finale.
The video sees Greg Davies's character come up against three "bellends with paper bags on their heads" - who can't quite work out which extremist group they represent.
Man Down concludes on Monday (July 6) at 10pm on Channel 4.
The Channel 4 comedy first aired on screens in 2013, before being renewed for a second series in the same year.
Roisin Conaty and Mike Wozniak also feature in the series alongside Davies, as well as Ashley McGuire and Gwyneth Powell.
Comedian Rik Mayall starred in the show as Dan's father before his death in 2014, with Davies later explaining he never considered recasting the role.
"Rik was the dream casting for me. He was a childhood hero of mine, and I look like him. And he was beloved, as you saw when he died,...
The video sees Greg Davies's character come up against three "bellends with paper bags on their heads" - who can't quite work out which extremist group they represent.
Man Down concludes on Monday (July 6) at 10pm on Channel 4.
The Channel 4 comedy first aired on screens in 2013, before being renewed for a second series in the same year.
Roisin Conaty and Mike Wozniak also feature in the series alongside Davies, as well as Ashley McGuire and Gwyneth Powell.
Comedian Rik Mayall starred in the show as Dan's father before his death in 2014, with Davies later explaining he never considered recasting the role.
"Rik was the dream casting for me. He was a childhood hero of mine, and I look like him. And he was beloved, as you saw when he died,...
- 7/3/2015
- Digital Spy
Dan gets creative to pass the time invigilating an exam in tonight's (June 15) Man Down.
The teacher, played by Greg Davies, adopts a flamboyant walk while his pupils try to focus on their test papers.
The Channel 4 comedy first aired on screens in 2013, before being renewed for a second series in the same year.
Roisin Conaty and Mike Wozniak also feature in the series alongside Davies, as well as Ashley McGuire and Gwyneth Powell.
Comedian Rik Mayall starred in the show as Dan's father before his death in 2014, with Davies saying he never considered recasting the role.
"Rik was the dream casting for me. He was a childhood hero of mine, and I look like him. And he was beloved, as you saw when he died," he said. "The adoration poured out for him. So never for a second did I think, 'That's Ok, we'll just get another dad in'.
The teacher, played by Greg Davies, adopts a flamboyant walk while his pupils try to focus on their test papers.
The Channel 4 comedy first aired on screens in 2013, before being renewed for a second series in the same year.
Roisin Conaty and Mike Wozniak also feature in the series alongside Davies, as well as Ashley McGuire and Gwyneth Powell.
Comedian Rik Mayall starred in the show as Dan's father before his death in 2014, with Davies saying he never considered recasting the role.
"Rik was the dream casting for me. He was a childhood hero of mine, and I look like him. And he was beloved, as you saw when he died," he said. "The adoration poured out for him. So never for a second did I think, 'That's Ok, we'll just get another dad in'.
- 6/15/2015
- Digital Spy
Feature Jason D'Allison 17 May 2013 - 07:08
Grange Hill. The only school kids ever seemed to be interested in. Us included…
At your school, did anyone die in the swimming pool? Did you have to contend with vicious bullies (and we’re talking about the teachers!)? Did everyone have London accents coarse enough to strip the paint off the classroom doors? Yes? Flippin’ ’eck, you must have gone to Grange Hill!
If you grew up in the 1980s but don’t have a fondness for Grange Hill, there’s probably only one explanation: you were banned from watching it. Yep, for those of us who could get away with it, this rites-of-passage drama series about the pupils of a north-London comprehensive was must-see television, but by parents and teachers it was generally despised. It all started in 1978, and continues to this day (just about), but its golden age was undoubtedly the 1980s.
Grange Hill. The only school kids ever seemed to be interested in. Us included…
At your school, did anyone die in the swimming pool? Did you have to contend with vicious bullies (and we’re talking about the teachers!)? Did everyone have London accents coarse enough to strip the paint off the classroom doors? Yes? Flippin’ ’eck, you must have gone to Grange Hill!
If you grew up in the 1980s but don’t have a fondness for Grange Hill, there’s probably only one explanation: you were banned from watching it. Yep, for those of us who could get away with it, this rites-of-passage drama series about the pupils of a north-London comprehensive was must-see television, but by parents and teachers it was generally despised. It all started in 1978, and continues to this day (just about), but its golden age was undoubtedly the 1980s.
- 5/16/2013
- by louisamellor
- Den of Geek
Fans will get chance to meet stars of film, TV and sport - and try out the latest video games - at Birmingham's NEC on March 27 to 28 as the venue once more plays host to the Spring Memorabilia Show.
Among those attending are Gunnar Hansen, who plays the unforgettable Leatherface (pictured above) in 1974's The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and Richard Brooker, who plays killer Jason Vorhees in Friday 13th Part III.
Hollywood actor William Forsythe will be making his first UK appearance. He has appeared in movies such as Rob Zombie's 2005 crime thriller The Devil's Rejects about a sadistic family of serial killers, in which Forsythe played the Sheriff trying to bring them to justice (see picture below).
His other credits include the movies Once Upon A Time In America; Dick Tracy; and Steven Seagal's Out For Justice, as well as hit TV shows such as Hill Street Blues and The Untouchables.
Among those attending are Gunnar Hansen, who plays the unforgettable Leatherface (pictured above) in 1974's The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and Richard Brooker, who plays killer Jason Vorhees in Friday 13th Part III.
Hollywood actor William Forsythe will be making his first UK appearance. He has appeared in movies such as Rob Zombie's 2005 crime thriller The Devil's Rejects about a sadistic family of serial killers, in which Forsythe played the Sheriff trying to bring them to justice (see picture below).
His other credits include the movies Once Upon A Time In America; Dick Tracy; and Steven Seagal's Out For Justice, as well as hit TV shows such as Hill Street Blues and The Untouchables.
- 3/18/2010
- by David Bentley
- The Geek Files
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.