Dame Penelope Keith, best known for her role as Margo Leadbetter in the BBC sitcom The Good Life, has died peacefully at her home in Surrey after living with cancer. She was 86.
A statement issued on behalf of her family on 29 June 2026 said: "We are deeply saddened to announce that Dame Penelope Keith died peacefully whilst living with cancer at her home in Surrey where she had lived for more than 50 years. The family is grateful for the care and support she received throughout her treatments, and ask that their privacy be respected at this time."
Richard Briers – Tom Good
Richard Briers, who played the self-sufficient Tom Good, initially gained recognition as George Starling in Marriage Lines before achieving widespread fame in The Good Life. The programme chronicled a middle-class couple abandoning city life to embrace complete self-sufficiency in their London back garden.
His final film appearance was in Cockneys vs Zombies in 2012. He died in 2013 at his Bedford Park residence in London at the age of 79, having battled chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Felicity Kendal – Barbara Good
Felicity Kendal, who portrayed Barbara Good, went on to star in The Camomile Lawn, which as of 2022 remained the most-watched drama in Channel 4's history. In 2024, she took on a guest role in the Disney+ series Rivals as Carole Miroy and currently stars in the comedy series Small Town Scandal as Sue.
The 79-year-old actress recently spoke about mourning the loss of her partner, Michael Rudman, who died three years ago. She told Prima Magazine: "Even though you try not to show it, it sort of takes over every aspect of your life – missing that person that was part of your everyday. So the everyday changes."
Paul Eddington – Jeremy "Jerry" Leadbetter
Paul Eddington, who played Margo's husband Jerry, was diagnosed with mycosis fungoides, a rare form of cancer, at age 28. His health struggles became public in 1994 when he responded to media speculation about his darkening complexion and hair loss.
Among his final appearances was a role in the anthology series Performance in 1995, the same year he died at the age of 68. His autobiography, So Far, So Good, was released that year. Five days before his death, he appeared on a BBC programme and said: "A journalist once asked me what I would like my epitaph to be and I said I think I would like it to be, 'He did very little harm'. And that's not easy. Most people seem to me to do a great deal of harm. If I could be remembered as having done very little, that would suit me."
Reginald Marsh – Andrew, "Sir"
Reginald Marsh, who played the Goods' boss Andrew, later portrayed Reg Lamont in the soap opera Crossroads. By the 1990s he moved into smaller guest appearances, with his final television work including an episode of Paul Merton in Galton and Simpson's... broadcast in October 1997.
He died at his residence in Ryde in February 2001 at the age of 74; his cause of death was not disclosed.
The Good Life is streaming on BBC iPlayer.
