Angela Pleasence, Coronation Street star and daughter of James Bond icon, dies aged 84

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Angela Pleasence, a well-known character actress who appeared in popular shows like Coronation Street, Doctor Who, and Happy Valley, has passed away at the age of 84, according to her representative.

Pleasence was the daughter of actor Donald Pleasence, who was famous for his roles in films like Halloween (as Dr. Samuel Loomis) and James Bond’s You Only Live Twice (as Blofeld).

His daughter also became an actress. She started with a small role as Monica Sutton on the British TV show Coronation Street in 1968, and quickly followed that with a critically acclaimed performance as Catherine Howard in the TV play The Six Wives of Henry VIII.

Following in her father’s footsteps, Pleasence explored horror films, starring in the 1974 thriller Symptoms. One fan on X praised her performance as captivating and a clear demonstration of her acting ability, claiming she was just as skilled as Donald Pleasence.

Years later, the father and daughter worked together on the BBC Two series, The Barchester Chronicles, playing Mr. Grantly and Mrs. Harding, and co-starring with Alan Rickman.

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I remember seeing Richard Pleasence pop up on TV quite a bit over the years. I enjoyed his performances in shows like the BBC’s ‘Mansfield Park’ and ‘A Christmas Carol’ with George C. Scott. He was also in those reliable, always-on-TV shows we all know – ‘Casualty,’ ‘The Bill,’ and ‘Midsomer Murders.’

Later in her career, she appeared in the world of Doctor Who, playing Queen Elizabeth I in the episode ‘The Shakespeare Code’ and a different character, ‘Mystic Mags,’ in the spin-off series ‘The Sarah Jane Adventures’.

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Her last appearances on screen included the comedy Your Highness, one season of the police drama Whitechapel, and the highly praised thriller Happy Valley, where she played Winnie, a neighbor of the main character, Catherine Cawood (played by Sarah Lancashire).

Waring McKenna, Pleasence’s agent, shared the news of her death on Instagram, describing her talent for portraying characters with incredible depth and a subtly unsettling quality, especially when those characters were complicated and mysterious.

I’ll always remember her as someone who truly defied labels – she wasn’t just about one type of music or performance. Her impact on British entertainment was so unique and is something I, and so many others, will continue to cherish. It’s just heartbreaking news, and I’m sending all my sympathy to her family right now.

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Authors

David CraigSenior Drama Writer

David Craig writes about television and streaming drama and comedy for TopMob. Before joining TopMob, he worked at Starburst Magazine, hosted the podcast ‘The Winter King’ for ITVX, and earned a degree in Journalism from the University of Sheffield.

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2026-04-11 13:34