Acting
Yootha Joyce
British actress best known for her role as Mildred Roper in the '70s sitcom Man About the House and its spin-off George and Mildred. Born to musical parents Hurst Needham and Jessica Rivett in 1927, Joyce was trained at RADA, toured with ENSA and came to prominence via the Joan Littlewood Theatre Workshop, securing roles in TV shows such as The Avengers, Man in a Suitcase, Te Saint, Jason King and Steptoe and Son, and the films The Pumpkin Eater, A Man For All Seasons, Charlie Bubbles, All the Right Noises and Burke and Hare. She was married to fellow actor Glynn Edwards from 1956 to 1968, and they remained friends all her life. An alcoholic, Joyce died from liver failure in 1980, just four days after her 53rd birthday. Her sitcom co-star Brian Murphy was by her side. In 1986 the Smiths used an image of Joyce on the sleeve of their UK single release "Ask" and the German release of "Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others" securing her place as a British cultural icon.
Filmography
Man About the House: 50 Years of Laughs
Film · 2023
The World of Hammer
Series · 1994
George & Mildred
Film · 1980
George and Mildred
Series · 1976
Man About the House
Film · 1974
Frankenstein: The True Story
Film · 1974
Never Mind the Quality, Feel the Width
Film · 1973
Steptoe & Son Ride Again
Film · 1973
Frankenstein: The True Story
Series · 1973
Man About the House
Series · 1973
Seven of One
Series · 1973
Burke & Hare
Film · 1972
Nearest and Dearest
Film · 1972
The Road Builder
Film · 1971
Jason King
Series · 1971
All the Right Noises
Film · 1970
Fragment of Fear
Film · 1970
Manhunt
Series · 1970
The Misfit
Series · 1970
Conceptions of Murder
Series · 1970
Twenty-Nine
Film · 1969
Maigret at Bay
Film · 1969
On the Buses
Series · 1969
ITV Saturday Night Theatre
Series · 1969
W. Somerset Maugham
Series · 1969
Luther
Film · 1968
Your Name's Not God, It's Edgar
Film · 1968
Charlie Bubbles
Film · 1968
Our Mother's House
Film · 1967
Stranger in the House
Film · 1967
ITV Playhouse
Series · 1967
City '68
Series · 1967
A Man for All Seasons
Film · 1966
Kaleidoscope
Film · 1966
Fanatic
Film · 1965
Catch Us If You Can
Film · 1965
BBC Play of the Month
Series · 1965
The Wednesday Thriller
Series · 1965
Thirty-Minute Theatre
Series · 1965
The Pumpkin Eater
Film · 1964
The Wednesday Play
Series · 1964
Story Parade
Series · 1964
Theatre 625
Series · 1964
Theatre 625
Series · 1964
Redcap
Series · 1964
A Place to Go
Film · 1963
Sparrows Can't Sing
Film · 1963
The Fishing Match
Film · 1962
The Saint
Series · 1962
Corrigan Blake
Series · 1962
Steptoe and Son
Series · 1962
Steptoe and Son
Series · 1962
The Avengers
Series · 1961
No Hiding Place
Series · 1959
Armchair Theatre
Series · 1956
Armchair Theatre
Series · 1956