Jean Marsh, co-creator and star of Upstairs, Downstairs, dies at 90

Jean Marsh, the Emmy-winning British actress and co-creator of the iconic TV series Upstairs, Downstairs, died Sunday at her home in London at age 90.

The cause of death was complications from dementia, according to filmmaker Michael Lindsay-Hogg, a close friend.

Marsh rose to fame for her portrayal of Rose Buck, the loyal parlor maid, in Upstairs, Downstairs, which aired from 1971 to 1975 in the UK and later in the U.S. on PBS. The series, co-created by Marsh and actress Eileen Atkins, explored class divisions in Edwardian England and became a groundbreaking hit, winning seven Emmys and a Peabody Award. Marsh herself won the 1975 Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.

Born in London on July 1, 1934, Marsh began her career in theater and early television, eventually appearing in notable roles in The Twilight Zone, Doctor Who, Alfred Hitchcock’s Frenzy, Willow, and Return to Oz. She also co-created The House of Eliott in the 1990s and returned for the 2010 revival of Upstairs, Downstairs.

Marsh never remarried after her divorce from actor Jon Pertwee and had no children. She continued working into her 80s, with her final screen role in Grantchester in 2015.

Remembered for her sharp wit and deep curiosity, Marsh once said, “I’m enchanted by people. Everything I notice.” Her impact on British television, particularly through Upstairs, Downstairs, remains unmatched.