Stephanie Cole Dies: British Star Of ‘Open All Hours’ & ‘Doc Martin’ Was 84

Stephanie Cole, the popular British actress who was one of the stars of Open All Hours, has died aged 84. She had been living with Alzheimer’s disease for a number of years.

Cole’s agent John Grant announced the news in a statement shared with press this afternoon.

“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Stephanie Cole, OBE,” he said. “She passed away this morning at the age of 84. Stephanie had been living with Alzheimer’s disease for some years.”

Grant added: “Stephanie was an extraordinary talent whose long and distinguished career included many iconic performances in theatre and television. She brought joy to millions through her many much-loved roles in sitcom and drama. She will also be remembered for her tireless work supporting mental health charities. During this incredibly difficult time, the family kindly requests privacy.”

Born in Solihull in 1941, Cole trained at the famous Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and made her stage debut playing the eccentric Madame Arcati in Noël Coward’s Blithe Spirit, which she later revived.

Her big break came in 1980 playing Dr Beatrice Mason in Tenko, a BBC drama that chronicled the lives of British women in Singapore after the Japanese invasion. She was then cast in Roy Clarke and Ronnie Barker’s hit sitcom Open All Hours, in which she played Mrs Featherstone for 10 episodes. The show about a grumpy, penny-pinching shopkeeper, played by Barker, is one of the best-known BBC sitcoms of all time and was revived in 2013 as Still Open All Hours, for which Cole returned.

Cole’s other TV credits down the years included Talking Heads, A Bit of a Do, Keeping Mum, Doc Martin and Coronation Street.

On stage she appeared in The Mousetrap, Noises Off and A Passionate Woman.

Cole’s husband, fellow actor Peter Birrel, died in 2004. She is survived by one daughter from her previous marriage.