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Star Patricia Routledge, famous for playing Hyacinth Bucket in the classic TV sitcom Keeping Up Appearances, has died at the 96, her agent announced.

She also featured in Alan Bennett's TV monologues and played BBC One's amateur detective Hetty Wainthropp.

"It is with great sadness to confirm the loss of Dame Patricia Routledge, who left this world peacefully in her sleep today in the presence of family."

"Despite her advanced years, Dame Patricia's passion for her work and for engaging with theatergoers never waned, just as younger viewers keep discovering her work through her popular screen performances."

The statement continued: "She leaves a void by her family and friends and by her devoted admirers worldwide."

An Illustrious Career

Patricia Routledge was most famous as the character Hyacinth Bucket - who insisted it be said "bouquet" - a funny persona who represented the peak of English pretension and snobbery.

"Hyacinth is a terrible snob and I had great fun with the role enormously," the star commented.

This classic sitcom ran from the early 1990s, and a year later she was named the most beloved female performer at the BBC's 60th anniversary awards.

She also received recognition in theater and film after starting her career in the stage in the 1950s.

Following roles in the West End, she established herself in the US when she was awarded the Tony for outstanding actress in a musical on New York theater for the musical Darling of the Day in 1968.

She proved equally skilled at dramatic roles as she was at musicals and comedy - she performed in Richard III and Henry V at the prestigious theater company, then won an Olivier Award for outstanding musical performance for the production Candide in the 1980s decade.

The 1980s also marked her rise as a true national TV star - receiving parts by comedian Victoria Wood in the show As Seen on TV, and Alan Bennett in multiple solo performances, including 1988's A Lady of Letters, for which she was given a Bafta nomination.

She received more award nominations, for the popular sitcom, in the early 1990s, then starred in the main character as a older lady on a journey into detective work in BBC One's Hetty Wainthropp Investigates between the late 1990s.

She was honored with an OBE in 1993, a Commander of the British Empire in 2004, and the title of Dame in recent years.

A Remarkable Life

Via her unforgettable roles, Patricia Routledge brought laughter and joy to audiences worldwide, leaving behind a impressive collection of performances that will continue to be celebrated by fans into the future.