Friday 22 January 2016

Rosemarie Dunham


Two men armed with guns, and a woman in a dressing gown, by the yard gate of a Newcastle terraced house.


Rosemarie Dunham

† Dec 13 1924 – Dec 5 2016*


Probably best known for her portrayal of Edna, the sensual, if slightly careworn, landlady in 'Get Carter' (1971), acclaimed stage actress Rosemarie Dunham had previously appeared in a smattering of TV dramas, such as 'The Avengers', 'Z-Cars', 'No Hiding Place' and 'Gideon's Way', as well as a less-expected 'Benny Hill Show'. Born Rosemarie Tomlinson, daughter of a squadron leader stationed on the RAF base at Leuchars in Fife, she later took as her stage name the middle name of her first husband, noted television presenter and documentarist Michael Ingrams.           


Rosemarie Dunham (left) with Mary Kenton in a 1964
episode of the Victorian detective series 'Sergeant Cork'    


Vamping it up with Benny Hill in 1965


As a no-nonsense waitress in the first episode of  'Budgie'
After 'Get Carter' there were a few more feature films, such as 'The Divine Sarah' (1976) and 'Croupier' (1999), but more often straight-to-video stuff like 'Tai-Pan' (1986) and 'Lady Oscar' (1979).

Getting a little frisky with Jack Regan (John Thaw), deep
undercover as a hard-of-hearing shop assistant, in 'The Sweeney'

In an episode of the Kenneth More TV series of 'Father Brown'

Her later TV roles were a mixed bag too. From 'The Sweeney', 'The Return Of The Saint', 'Father Brown', 'Shoestring' and 'Bergerac', to soaps and daytime serials like 'Coronation Street', 'Crown Court', and 'The Cedar Tree'. Mostly she seems to have played tough, confident types, but in an impressive sweep from dowds to duchesses, including an impressively realist 'Play For Today' performance in 1973's 'Kisses At Fifty' with Bill Maynard.    


As boutique owner Sylvia in 'Coronation Street', dealing with
nightmare customer Hilda Ogden (Jean Alexander) in 1976
*Edit: Having heard of Rosemarie Dunham's death from her son, I've adjusted her dates to match the information he provided, including date of birth which must have been earlier than usually quoted.    

Rosemarie Dunham - imdb

7 comments:

  1. Sadly my mother Rosemarie Dunham passed away yesterday, Monday 5th December, 2016, in London after a short illness. She would have been 92 next week. She was not Scottish! (Except on a technicality, having been born at an RAF camp in Fife.) She also enjoyed a career in theatre.
    - Paul Ingrams
    PS I'm not apparently able to add anything under my own name, a name has been plucked from my online blog. It's annoying.

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  2. Paul, thank you for taking a moment to let me know of your mother's passing. I will amend those details. Condolences to you and your family and sincere respects to your late mother as a fine actress.

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  3. A great actress. Especially well remembered in her role as Edna with Michael Caine in 'Get Carter'.

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  4. Paul my sincere condolences for your loss. Aa a close relative I was deeply moved with the news.. May rest in peace

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  5. My dear Paul,
    Hello!

    I wish you are well. The issue of the coronavirus concerns us all. I believe that you took the necessary measures and wish you all the best.

    For a long time I have no yr news or of Krystyna .. I wish you and the children all the best .. Today I sent you a separate message in yr site address.

    We, here are staying at home..

    Pls inform me re the situation with your eyesight. C.

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  6. Had a great part in an episode of Public Eye entitled What's To Become Of Us. Another reliable and staunch character actor never to be replaced.

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  7. Just watched Kisses at 50. A quality piece of drama.

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