Somehow I had missed that Dame Patricia Routledge, one of the great comic actresses of our day, died earlier this month at age 96. She is best known for portraying Hyacinth Bucket (pronounced 'bouquet') in Keeping Up Appearances, but I also like her more wry and dry humor as Hetty Wainthrop in Hetty Wainthrop Investigates, a criminally underrated show. She earned a Tony Award in 1968, playing in Darling of the Day across from Vincent Price and an Olivier Award in 1988 for playing in Candide. Her acting range was extraodinary; while best known for comedy, she played in everything, and did well in everything.
