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Dilys Watling

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Dilys Watling
Born
Dilys Rhys Jones

(1942-05-05)5 May 1942
Died10 August 2021(2021-08-10) (aged 79)
OccupationActress
Years active1962–1994
Spouses
  • Bruce Anderson
    (m. 1966, divorced)
  • (m. 1986, divorced)
Children1
Relatives

Dilys Rhys Watling (née Jones, 5 May 1942 – 10 August 2021) was an English actress, best known for appearing on British television (Coronation Street, The Benny Hill Show and The Two Ronnies).[1]

Early life and education

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Watling was born Dilys Rhys Jones, the daughter of actor Ion Rhys Jones and Patricia Hicks. Ion Rhys Jones was killed in action in World War II, and her mother later married actor Jack Watling.[2]

She attended St Mary's Convent School, Woodford, Essex, followed by acting school.

Career

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She acted in repertory theatre and at the Bristol Old Vic. Watling was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical for her Broadway debut in the short-lived Georgy in 1970. It proved to be her sole Broadway credit. Other stage credits include the musical Pickwick (1964), an adaptation of Dickens's The Pickwick Papers; the role of the Beggar Woman in the 1980 London cast of Sweeney Todd in the West End; and the West End multi-media Dave Clark rock musical Time (1986). She also made occasional film appearances, including rôles in the comedy Two Left Feet (1963); crime film, Calculated Risk, (also 1963); and the horror film, Theatre of Death, (1967).

Personal life

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Watling had four half-siblings through her mother's marriage to actor Jack Watling. These include actor Deborah and politician/actor Giles Watling.

Watling was married twice: her first marriage was to Australian Bruce Anderson in 1966; they later divorced.[1] After a relationship with actor Christopher Matthews,[citation needed] in 1986 she married actor Owen Teale, with whom she had a son, Ion, before divorcing in the mid-1990s.[1]

On 10 August 2021, she died aged 79 after a long illness.[3][4][5]

TV credits

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Year Title Role
1962 Compact Gillian Nesbitt
1965 The Likely Lads
Episode: 'A Star Is Born'
Rhona
1965 United! Sue Grainger
1966 Theatre 625
Episode: 'Doctor Knock'
Nurse
1966 Pardon the Expression
Episode: 'Night to Remember'
Miss Foster
1966 Coronation Street Merle Baker
(4 episodes)
1967 ITV Play of the Week
Episode: 'Dr De Waldo's Therapy'
Janet
1967 Mr Rose
Episode: 'The Deadly Doll'
Wendy Lee
1967 Twice a Fortnight Various
1969 Will the Real Mike Yarwood Stand Up?
1969 The Frankie Howerd Show Various
1969 Never Mind the Quality, Feel the Width
Episode: 'Arrivederci Roma'
Stewardess
1970 The Other Reg Varney Various
1971 Sykes: With the Lid Off
1971 Paul Temple
Episode: 'Game, Set and Match'
Marge
1971 Scott On...
Episodes: 'Entertainment'; 'Dress'
1972–79 The Two Ronnies Various
1976 The Morecambe & Wise Show Flossie, A Serving Wench
1975-1977 The Benny Hill Show
1987 Harry's Kingdom (TV film) Dawn
1991 The Bill
Episode: 'Getting Involved'
Mrs Goodall
1994 Minder
Episode: 'A Fridge Too Far'
Mrs Kravitz

Filmography

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Year Title Role
1963 Calculated Risk Julie
1963 Two Left Feet Mavis
1967 Theatre of Death Heidi

References

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  1. ^ a b c Hayward, Anthony (31 August 2021). "Dilys Watling obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  2. ^ Shorter, Eric (25 May 2001). "Obituary: Jack Watling". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  3. ^ Dwan, James (13 August 2021). "Tributes paid to Tony award nominated actress Dilys Watling, 78". Wandsworth Times.
  4. ^ Coronation Street star Dilys Watling dies aged 78 Metro, 16 August 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  5. ^ Dilys Watling death: Coronation Street and The Two Ronnies star dies aged 78 The Independent, 16 August 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
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