Hattie Jacques (1922-1980)

Josephine Edwina Jaques (7th February 1922 - 6th October 1980) was an English comedy actress, known by the stage name Hattie Jacques. Starting her career in the 1940s, Jacques first gained attention through her radio appearances with Tommy Handley on ITMA and later with Tony Hancock on Hancock's Half Hour. From 1958 to 1974 she appeared in fourteen Carry On films, often playing the Matron. She had a long professional partnership with Eric Sykes, with whom she appeared in his long running television series, Sykes. She also appeared in two Norman Wisdom films, The Square Peg and Follow a Star. Hattie Jacques was married to John Le Mesurier from 1949 until their divorce in 1965. Her final appearance on television was an advertisement for Asda in 1980. She died later that year from a heart attack aged 58.