Actress Dame June Whitfield has “passed away peacefully” aged 93, her agent has confirmed.
Although she is most known for her role in Absolutely Fabulous as Edina’s mother, Dame June began her career in the 1950s and has also starred in Last of the Summer Wine, Terry and June, and most recently, Eastenders.
She was given a damehood in the 2017 Birthday Honours for her services to drama and entertainment.
Tributes have been pouring in for the veteran actress from her former co-stars and friends, including fellow Absolutely Fabulous star Joanna Lumley.
“I am heartbroken to lose such a darling friend and shall never forget her sensational talent, humour and her generosity to us all who had the joy of working with her on Ab Fab,” Joanna told ITV News.
She added: “She will always have a most special place in my heart.”
Julia Sawalha, who played June’s granddaughter in the sitcom, tweeted: ‘Thank you #damejunewhitfield, for teaching me my craft with such grace and dignity.
“I always wanted you to know how in awe of you I was, however, you were always far too humble to accept my adoration. You were a great source of inspiration to me. Bye-bye Gran.”
Eastenders actress Jessie Wallace, who starred alongside June when she guested on the soap in 2016, described her as “a truly great actress and comedy legend”, adding: “working with June was a masterclass.”
Britain’s Got Talent judge David Walliams also paid tribute on social media, writing: “#JuneWhitfield‘s incredible career in British comedy stretched all the way from ‘Hancock’s Half Hour’ to ‘Absolutely Fabulous’. She was always there, always being brilliant.”
Our thoughts are with Dame June’s family at this time.
See our gallery of the stars we lost in 2018:
Celebrity Deaths 2018 - stacked
1 of 26Jessica Falkholt (Home and Away)
Home and Away actress Jessica was seriously injured following a devastating car crash that killed her parents and sister on Boxing Day 2017. She sadly passed away on the 17th of January 2018, aged 29, six days after her life support machine was turned off.
2 of 26Leah LaBelle (American Idol)
Leah LaBelle and her NBA player husband Rasual Butler were killed in a car crash on the 31st of January. Leah was 31-years-old and was known for appearing on American Idol.
3 of 26Rasual Butler (NBA - husband of Leah LaBelle)
NBA player Rasual Butler died with his wife Leah LaBelle on the 31st of January in a car crash in California aged 38.
4 of 26Emma Chambers (Vicar of Dibley)
Actress Emma Chambers, who was best known for playing Alice Tinker in The Vicar Of Dibley, sadly died at 53-years-old on the 21st of February.
5 of 26Sir Ken Dodd
Legendary comedian, singer-songwriter and actor, Sir Ken Dodd passed away at the age of 90 on the 11th of March.
6 of 26Jim Bowen (Bullseye)
Jim Bowen, best known for hosting the darts-based gameshow Bullseye, died aged 80, on the 14th of March.
7 of 26Stephen Hawking
Stephen Hawking, theoretical physicist and author of A Brief History of Time, passed away in the early hours of the morning on the 14th of March aged 76.
8 of 26Dale Winton
TV presenter Dale Winton, famous for Dale's Supermarket Sweep and the National Lottery game show In It to Win It, passed away aged 62 on the 18th of April.
9 of 26Avicii (Tim Bergling)
Swedish DJ Avicii, real name Tim Bergling, died on the 20th of April aged just 28.
10 of 26Verne Troyer
The actor Verne Troyer, who is best known for his role as Mini-Me in the Austin Powers films, died aged 49 on the 21st of April.
11 of 26Neal E. Boyd (American Idol)
Opera singer Neal E. Boyd, who was crowned the winner of America's Got Talent in 2008, passed away at the age of just 42 on the 10th of June.
12 of 26Leslie Grantham (Dirty Den- EastEnders)
Former EastEnders actor Leslie Grantham passed away at the age of 71 on the 15th of June.
13 of 26XXXTentacion (rapper)
American rapper XXXTentacion had a Top 5 hit in the UK in 2018. He died aged just 20 on the 18th of June 2018.
14 of 26Sophie Gradon (Love Island 2016)
Love Island star Sophie Gradon sadly died at the age of just 32 on the 20th of June.
15 of 26Joe Jackson
Joe Jackson, the father of pop star Michael Jackson, died at the age of 89 on the 27th of June 2018.
16 of 26Zombie Boy (Rick Genest)
Rick Genest, better known as Zombie Boy, was known for the hundreds of tattoos all over his body. He also starred in Lady Gaga's 'Born This Way' music video. He died on the 1st of August aged 32.
17 of 26Barry Chuckle (Barry David Elliott)
Barry Chuckle passed away at the age of 73 on the 5th of August. The comedian, whose real name was Barry Elliot, starred alongside his brother Paul as the Chuckle Brothers on their show Chucklevision from 1987 to 2009 after beginning their careers on Opportunity Knocks in 1967.
18 of 26Aretha Franklin
Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin sadly passed away at the age of 76 on the 16th of August. Having been "gravely ill" for several days, the 'Respect' hitmaker died at her home in Detroit, Michigan in the US.
19 of 26Kofi Annan
Kofi Annan was Secretary-General of the United Nations from January 1997 to December 2006, he died age 80 on the 18th of August 2018.
20 of 26Burt Reynolds
American actor, famous for many films including Evening Shade and Boogie Nights, Burt Reynolds died aged 82 on the 6th of September.
21 of 26Mac Miller
US rapper Mac Miller was found dead at the age of 26. His body was found on Friday the 7th of September 2018 at his San Fernando Valley home.
22 of 26John Cunliffe
John Cunliffe, the creator of classic 80s children's programme Postman Pat, and the book Rosie and Jim, died on the 20th of September at the age of 85.
23 of 26Chas Hodges
Chas Hodges, known as one half of Chas and Dave, died on the 22nd of September, aged 74.
24 of 26Geoffrey Hayes
Geoffrey Hayes, who hosted long-running children's programme Rainbow, died on the 30th of September aged 76.
25 of 26Scott Wilson (The Walking Dead - Hershel Greene)
Scott Wilson was best know for the role of Hershel Greene in The Walking Dead. He died on the 6th of October at the age of 76.
26 of 26Stan Lee
Marvel comics creator Stan Lee died on the 12th of November at the age of 95.
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