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Performer Dame Patricia Routledge, famous for playing Hyacinth Bucket in the beloved TV sitcom the series Keeping Up Appearances, has passed away at the 96, as confirmed by.

She also appeared in Alan Bennett's TV monologues and took on the role of BBC One's crime-solving retiree Hetty Wainthropp.

"We are deeply saddened to share the passing of Patricia Routledge, who left this world peacefully in her sleep this morning with loved ones near."

"Even at 96-years old, her love for performing and for engaging with theatergoers remained strong, just as modern audiences are still enjoying her roles through her beloved TV characters."

The statement added: "Her absence will be deeply felt by her family and friends and by her dedicated supporters worldwide."

An Illustrious Career

Patricia Routledge was best known as the character Hyacinth Bucket - pronounced "bouquet" - a humorous character who exemplified the extremes of affectation and class consciousness.

"She is a wonderfully awful character and I enjoyed playing her enormously," the performer remarked.

Keeping Up Appearances was broadcast from 1990 to 95, and soon after she was named the nation's most popular actress at the BBC's 60th anniversary awards.

Additionally, she received recognition in theater and film after launching her acting journey in the theater in the mid-20th century.

Following roles in London's West End, she established herself in the United States when she received the Tony for best lead actress in a musical on Broadway in New York for Darling of the Day in the late 1960s.

She was as adept at serious drama as she was at song-and-dance and humor - she performed in classic plays at the Royal Shakespeare Company, then received an Laurence Olivier Award for outstanding musical performance for the production Candide in the eighties.

The 80s also marked her rise as a household name - receiving parts by comedian Victoria Wood in her comedy series, and Alan Bennett in three of his renowned Talking Heads monologues, including her Bafta-nominated role, for which she received a British Academy nomination.

She earned more award nominations, for her Hyacinth role, in 1992 and 1993, then headlined the main character as a older lady on a mission to investigate mysteries in BBC One's Hetty Wainthropp Investigates between 1996 and 98.

She was made an OBE in 1993, a CBE in 2004, and a dame in recent years.

A Lasting Legacy

With her unforgettable roles, Patricia Routledge delivered humor and entertainment to countless viewers, leaving behind a rich collection of performances that will continue to be celebrated by viewers into the future.