Margaret Rutherford

(1892–1972)

British actress (died aged 80) | Passport to Pimlico (1949), The Importance of Being Earnest (1952), Quiet Wedding (1941)

Inimitable, garrulous, shapeless, endearing British comedy actress, who usually seemed to be playing somebody’s slightly dotty spinster aunt

Mini Biography

Born in London, Margaret Rutherford studied at the Royal Academy of Music, and worked as a piano teacher; she was 33 when she started her professional career, studying at the Old Vic School and acting in various repertory theatres. The daughter of a man who had spent seven years in Broadmoor criminal asylum for killing his father, and a mother who committed suicide, she suffered from several nervous breakdowns, fearing that she, too, might go mad. Married Stringer Davis in 1945.

Her best roles were as Miss Prism in The Important of Being Earnest, Madame Arcati in Blithe Spirit, Headmistress Miss Evelyn Whitchurch in The Happiest Days of Your Life and the Duchess of Brighton in The VIPs, though her most popular role was probably as Agatha Christie’s detective Miss Marple in four films.

Latest Margaret Rutherford Pictures

Photograph from Curtain Up (1952) (1) featuring Charlotte Mitchell, Margaret Rutherford — Curtain Up (1952) photograph (1) | Charlotte Mitchell, Margaret Rutherford

Main title from The VIPs (1963) (7). Margaret Rutherford as the Duchess of Brighton — The VIPs (1963) opening credits (7)

Main title from Murder Most Foul (1964) (4). Margaret Rutherford Ron Moody in — Murder Most Foul (1964) opening credits (4)

Margaret Rutherford Biographies

Leading Ladies, by Boze Hadleigh. Conversations with Dame Peggy Ashcroft, Dame Edith Evans, Hermione Gingold, Joan Greenwood, Dame Celia Johnson, Elsa Lanchester, Beatrice Lillie, Rachel Roberts, Dame Flora Robson, Dame Margaret Rutherford, Dame Sybil Thorndike and Estelle Winwood. — Leading Ladies by Boze Hadleigh featuring Joan Greenwood

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Personal Details

Born

Died

Born

Margaret Rutherford was born in Balham, London on 11^th May, 1892.
Died

Margaret Rutherford died in Chalfont St Peter on 22^nd May, 1972, aged 80.

Watch Margaret Rutherford on British television

- Passport to Pimlico (1949)
- Part of a London district is discovered to belong to Burgundy, and the inhabitants find themselves free of rationing restrictions.
- Today at 10.35am on BBC Two HD