Jean Marsh, ‘Upstairs, Downstairs’ Star And Co-Creator, Dies At 90

Jean Marsh, who reached a career zenith as the star and co-creator of the British period drama Upstairs, Downstairs, died on Sunday, April 13 at her home in London from complications of dementia. She was 90.

“Jean died peacefully in bed looked after by one of her very loving carers,” said her friend, director Sir Michael Lindsay-Hogg, in a statement. “You could say we were very close for 60 years. She was as wise and funny as anyone I ever met, as well as being very pretty and kind, and talented as both an actor and writer.

“An instinctively empathetic person who was loved by everyone who met her,” he added. “We spoke on the phone almost every day for the past 40 years.”

As Rose Buck, the no-nonsense but warm-hearted head maid in Upstairs, Downstairs, which she co-created with Dame Eileen Atkins, Marsh won the Emmy in 1976 for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. The program, which is considered the inspiration for the more recent Downton Abbey, aired in the UK from 1971 to 1975 and in the United States on PBS from 1974 to 1977.

In 2010, a three-part revival of Upstairs, Downstairs aired on British broadcaster BBC One, with Marsh reprising her role as Rose Buck, who had returned to London to run an agency for domestic servants after a period spent nursing her mother in Suffolk.

Two years later, in 2012, a six-part continuation of Upstairs, Downstairs was commissioned, but Marsh was seen less frequently due to a stroke suffered by the actress.

Born on July 1, 1934 and raised in Stoke Newington, London, Jean Marsh her screen debut at age 18 in the British television movie, The Infinite Shoeblack, in 1952. One year later came her feature film debut in the British mystery thriller A Limping Lady.

In 1959, Marsh went to the United States for John Gielgud’s Broadway production of Much Ado About Nothing and began making guest appearances on television including episodes of The Twilight Zone, Danger Man, The Saint and I Spy. She also was a regular in the ITV 1966-67 drama The Informer and appeared in several episodes of Doctor Who through the course of her career.

In film, Marsh’s resume included The Rebel (1961), Unearthly Stranger (1964), fantasy adventure Willow (1988), thriller Frenzy (1972) and war movie The Eagle Has Landed (1976). And, on stage, Marsh appeared in several Shakespearean adaptations, among other plays.

More guest roles on television continued, including episodes of The Waltons, Hawaii Five-O and Trapper John, M.D. In 1982, Marsh switched to comedy as uptight Roz Keith in the 1982-83 TV sitcom 9 to 5, which was based on the film of the same name.

Her next regularly scheduled role was as Mrs. Crocker in the 2000-01 British children’s drama The Ghost Hunter.

Marsh also wrote the novels Fiennders Abbey, The House of Eliott, and Iris.

Marsh was married to Doctor Who actor Jon Pertwee for five years before their divorce in 1960 and she also had relationships with actors Kenneth Haigh, Albert Finney and Sir Michael Lindsay-Hogg