R.I.P. Wendy Richard (Dies of Cancer at 65)

Feb. 26 (Bloomberg) -- Actress Wendy Richard, who starred as matriarch Pauline Fowler in the British Broadcasting Corp.’s soap opera “EastEnders” and was in the sitcom “Are You Being Served?”, died early today in London. She was 65.

Richard, who was in the soap for 21 years before leaving in 2006, had been battling breast cancer and died at the Harley Street Clinic with her husband, John Burns, by her side, her agent, Kevin Francis, said in a telephone interview.

“She was incredibly brave and retained her sense of humor to the end,” Francis said.

Richard, born Wendy Emerton in the northeastern English city of Middlesbrough, appeared in some of the best-known U.K. television comedy shows, including “The Likely Lads,” “Dad’s Army” and “On the Buses.” She also featured with Sid James in the “Carry On” films.

In the BBC’s “Are You Being Served?”, which ran from 1973 to 1985, she played department-store sales assistant Shirley Brahms, a role that won her fans around the world.

“She was the daughter I never had, and I shall never stop missing her,” said actress Mollie Sugden, who appeared as Mrs. Betty Slocombe alongside Richard in “Are You Being Served.”

“She lives on in the hearts of so many people who were entertained by her talent and warmed by her charm,” Sugden said in a statement on the BBC Web site. “It is a sad day and may God bless her.”

BBC Director General Mark Thompson said, “Millions of viewers and listeners across the world will mourn her passing today and she will be hugely missed,” according to the statement.

To contact the reporter on this story: Thomas Penny in London at tpenny@bloomberg.net.