Judy Garland was one of the world’s most recognised talents … She was known for her tremendous talent but also for her turbulent lifestyle and stormy love life. But on the morning of June 22nd 1969 Judy Garland was found dead in her London home aged just 47. Autopsy: The Last Hours Of … s8e8: Judy Garland
The coroner’s report states that Judy Garland died of an overdose of prescription medication. ibid.
She is struggling under the pressure of mounting debts. ibid.
‘Between 25 and 30 suicide attempts over the years.’ ibid. Randy L Schmidt, author ‘Judy Garland on Judy Garland’
Judy’s random pill-taking was exposing her to serious risk. ibid.
She’s underweight and potentially malnourished. ibid.
He [Bruce Lee] died in suspicious circumstances after lapsing into a coma at his girlfriend’s apartment. The official cause of death was swelling of the brain triggered by an adverse reaction to a painkiller. Autopsy: The Last Hours Of … s8e9: Bruce Lee
‘I don’t believe hypersensitivity to a painkiller explains his death.’ ibid. pathologist
‘Bruce did complain of a headache just before he died.’ ibid.
‘The cause of death links back to the slipped-disc that he suffered from three years before he died. In the 1970s there was little known about the side effects of steroids … There are some tell-tale signs that someone is overusing Cortisone.’ ibid.
The doctors that examined Bruce found that he weighed only 125 lbs, and were concerned about his low weight. ibid.
‘Bruce’s lost of appetite and his loss of weight are consistent with the overuse of the steroid Cortisone. Bruce was exhibiting other side-effects.’ ibid.
Anissa Jones was the most famous child star of her generation. The adorable Buffy on the hit 60s sitcom Family Affair. Her angelic features made her instantly recognisable across America. But her window of fame was short-lived. After five seasons the show was canned. But at around 11.30 a.m. on August 28th 1976 Anissa Jones was found dead in the bedroom of a friend’s home in Oceanside, California. She was just 18 years old. Her body was taken for an autopsy, but the results were inconclusive. Autopsy: The Last Hours Of … s8e10: Anissa Jones
‘Marketed as Quaalude in the 1960s, it was a widely used sedative drug prescribed for chronic anxiety … traces of PCP were found in her system … cocaine … Seconol.’ ibid.
‘Anissa’s breathing would have become increasingly more shallow till she stopped.’ ibid.
[comment]: ‘She was a sexy girl. She had a very pretty face.’ The Unforgettable s1e1: Hattie Jacques
Hattie Jacques, one of Britain’s best loved comedy actresses, died 20 years ago. Famous for her roles in The Carry On films and the popular sitcom Sykes, her career in showbusiness spanned over 35 years. ibid.
‘She had a wicked, a puckish sense of humour.’ ibid. Eric Sykes
Hattie started her career in the music hall, at the Players’ Theatre in London’s West End. ibid.
In 1947 Hattie met actor John le Mesurier. Within two years they were married. ibid.
Born in 1947 Richard Beckinsale was a Nottingham boy who failed to get into grammar school and was written off by his teachers. The Unforgettable s1e2: Richard Beckinsale
His only real ambition was to act. ibid.
‘They used to love him of course.’ ibid. Ronnie Barker
[comment]: ‘Diana was a very big movie star from I suppose the age of 17 or 18 onwards.’ The Unforgettable s1e3: Diana Dors
‘There are times when she regretted this glamour figure.’ ibid.
‘Almost every man seemed to bring her trouble in some way.’ ibid.
‘She just kept reinventing herself.’ ibid.
Pat Phoenix was Britain’s first queen of the soaps. Known throughout the nation as Elsie Tanner. She played her character in Coronation Street for twenty-one years. The Unforgettable s1e6: Pat Phoenix
The first episode of Coronation Street was broadcast live in September 1960. ibid.
After three years Pat returned to Coronation Street alone. ibid.
In 1983 Pat published her autobiography and announced she was leaving Coronation Street for good. ibid.
In March 1986 Pat discovered she had cancer. ibid.
Leonard Rossiter’s diverse career spanned thirty years. Before achieving success in his television sitcoms, he appeared in a hundred and fifty stage productions, numerous television dramas and some of the most important films of the 1960s. The Unforgettable s2e2: Leonard Rossiter
Leonard Rossiter’s success in the theatre is less well recognised. ibid.
[wife]: ‘He enjoyed flirting. That never worried me in the slightest because I always knew he was coming home.’ The Unforgettable s2e3: Sid James
Although known for being the archetypal cheeky cockney, Sid was actually born to Jewish immigrant parents in Johannesburg, South Africa. ibid.
But with the success of the Carry-Ons came a reputation for Sid. ibid.
In 1966 he suffered a severe heart attack. ibid.
The Sykes series began in 1960 and ran for 19 years. ibid.
Yootha Joyce was born in London in 1927. Her father was a well known singer; her mother a concert pianist. The Unforgettable s3e4: Yootha Joyce
‘She was a very very good character actress.’ ibid. comment
‘Man About the House was the first series we did together.’ ibid. Brian Murphy
‘Be gentle with me, Mildred.’ ibid.
Joan Sims was born Irene Joan Marian Sims in May 1930, the only child of an Essex Railway Station master. As a child, Joan loved to dress up and entertain the waiting passengers. The Unforgettable s3e7: Joan Sims
‘It’s nice to be loved by critics, and she was adored by them.’ ibid. comment
As well as wowing the London theatre scene Joan was reaching a wider audience through films and television. ibid.
By the early 60s Joan Sims was a household name. ibid.
The 1970s was the golden age of sitcom. And her comedic talents were suddenly very much in demand. The Unforgettable s4e3: Mollie Sugden
Are You Being Served: as Mrs Slocombe, Mollie Sugden was propelled to worldwide fame. The sitcom sensation started out as a pilot episode. ibid.
‘Captain Peacock, I do not respond to any man’s finger.’ ibid. Mrs Slocombe
Mollie and Bill were still very much in demand. Often working together in the theatre. ibid.
Mollie died 1st July 2009. She was 86. ibid.
Terry Scott was a stalwart of British farce on stage and screen. And became renowned as one of the great pantomime dames. But he reached the peak of his fame in the 1970s and 1980s playing the bumbling suburban husband in Terry & June. The Unforgettable s4e4: Terry Scott
His energy and enthusiasm for performing never flagged. ibid.
Terry’s child-like qualities found their natural home in pantomime where he became legendary as a dame. ibid.
Terry joined the Carry On team. ibid.
Happy Ever After ran for five years ... The first series of Terry & June went on air. ibid.
Terry Scott died on July 26th 1994. ibid.