Claire Nielson, who starred alongside John Cleese in one of the most iconic episodes of Fawlty Towers, has died at the age of 89.
Claire played glamorous guest Mrs Hamilton who arrives at the Fawlty Towers hotel with her American husband during the second series of the show.
Her husband, played by Bruce Boa, famously clashes with Basil over a Waldorf salad.
The hilarious scenes were from the second series and sees a furious Fawlty throwing all of the guests out of his establishment.
The episode explores a perceived gulf in sophistication between America and Britain during the 1970s.
Claire had previously spoken about her agent’s fury after she told them she had accepted the role as they feared playing such the part would ruin her career.
Claire Nielson, who starred alongside John Cleese in one of the most iconic episodes of Fawlty Towers, has died at the age of 89
Claire had previously spoken about her agent’s fury after she told them she had accepted the role as they feared playing such the part would ruin her career, (pictured alongside John Cleese as Basil Fawlty and her onscreen husband Bruce Boa)
She said: ‘Back then, pretty young women who did light entertainment stopped being offered dramatic parts but I’d always preferred comedy, so I didn’t care’ (pictured in 1971)
She said: ‘Back then, pretty young women who did light entertainment stopped being offered dramatic parts but I’d always preferred comedy, so I didn’t care.’
Tributes poured in for Claire soon after the news broke.
Fans of the iconic TV series wrote: ‘rip to the wonderful Claire Nielson, actress from Fawlty Towers’ Waldorf Salad episode, among many other UK TV appearances.
‘Sad news. Claire Nielson was part of the charm that made Fawlty Towers so memorable. Thoughts with her family and fans.”
‘R.I.P. Claire Nielson of Fawlty Towers, Scotch & Wry and Rab C. Nesbitt.’
While growing up in Glasgow in the 1940s, Claire was bitten by the acting bug after she watched a performance of Swan Lake.
She previousy said: ‘I remember thinking: “That’s where I belong, not in this sooty city”.’
Claire went on to play the female parts in The Two Ronnies sketches.
She also appeared on The Dick Emery Show and Upstairs Downstairs, as well as Scottish Hogmanay show Scotch and Wry.
She appreared alongside Michael Caine and Trevor Howard as Barbara Grant in the 1971 film Kidnapped and also starred in Taggart and Monarch Of The Glen.
Claire was a single mother to daughter Peggy after her marriage to actor and producer Dennis Vance broke down.
In 1994, she married long-time partner, actor Paul Greenwood, who played PC Michael Rosie Penrose in the BBC sitcom Rosie.
She went on to became an accomplished painter and wrote and illustrated a children’s book called The House at Strone.
Claire pictured in an episode of ITV show Special Branch alongside Patrick Mower
Along with her daughter and husband, she wrote a guide to grandparenting: Your First Grandchild.
According to Waterstones, the book is a witty and spaciously-designed survival guide which is both practical and celebratory.
Written by two generations of one family with illuminating case studies, tips and practical ideas – as well as a sensitive look at emotional issues – this lightly humorous book has a user-friendly, lively design and hilarious cartoons.
In 2022, Claire spoke to the Stratford Upon Avon Herald about the great comic actors she has worked with in her life, such as Cleese, The two Ronnies and Les Dawson.
She said: ‘I loved working with Les because he was such a darling man. Many people didn’t realise he was also very clever – extremely well-read and a brilliant pianist.
Claire had said that after hours of rehearsing sketches until they were word-perfect, Les would head into the BBC club and have a few pints.
That would often result in him then improvising when filming began.
She laughed: ‘My cues weren’t there, which was a bit terrifying, but he was so wonderful I didn’t mind.’
And of the two Ronnie’s she spoke about how different they were to work with.
She said: ‘Big Ronnie [Barker] was shy and quite highly strung, while Little Ronnie [Corbett] was much more confident.’
Claire was born to Dr. John Isbister and his wife, Peggy, on April 8, 1937, in Glasgow, Scotland. She died on April 29 but her death was publicly confirmed on Wednesday.
