Hilary Crane

[chuffnobbler]

Is anyone able to give any information regarding the death of the British actress Hilary Crane? I can't find an obituary, date of death or anything ...

Hilary Crane was one of those people who often cropped up in guest rolesin 70s/80s TV. Bergerac, Shoestring, that kind of stuff. I have very happy memories of her in the sadly under-rated soap Eldorado, and it's as an Eldorado fan that I am enquiring.

This page states that she died in 2009:
That Old Feeling

There are also some references online to the play Stepping Out being inspired by "the late actress Hilary Crane", who was married to the playwright.

And that is the sum total of info I can find. Anyone able to help out? She's been gone two years, but nobody seems to have noticed ...

[chuffnobbler]

Forgot to say:


Here's her IMDB, with no mention of her death:
Hilary Crane - IMDb

[seanflynn76]

I didn't think she had passed away, as she is on promotional posters for "Specsavers"...

[chuffnobbler]

I saw her picture on the side of a phone box, a year or two ago, advertising Specsavers. I reckon she's died since then.

Anyone?

[steve9049]

I saw her picture on the side of a phone box, a year or two ago, advertising Specsavers. I reckon she's died since then.

Anyone?

I think this link confirms it:-

That Old Feeling

[chuffnobbler]

That's the only explicit reference I have found. Can anyone shed any further light?

She was well established and reasonably well known: certainly she was just the type of actor who would be admired on this forum!

It really surprises me that there's no obituary, no date of death, no nothing ... a shame.

[cornershop15]

Chuff, I've been following the posts at this thread since you started it but wasn't familiar with Hilary Crane until I looked for her scenes in an episode of The Sweeney called Trust Red, short for Redgrave, the nickname of screen husband John Ronane's character.

I have done quite a few screencaps but my addiction to individual scenes has become so chronic that it's difficult to tear myself away from them! As it happens, their first scene is quite a long one and is taking ages to get right for my storyboard, but I've still had a good time watching these two actors. In most of the shots so far, Hilary is seen with her arms folded and I can't decide which is the best one to post here. I'll put a few of them up in my profile later so you can choose.

With any luck, there will be a few more Google Images of her from now on, including this close-up:

I watched Trust Red about four months ago but have seen so much since that (usually) episodes are quickly forgotten, along with most 'new' actors, unfortunately. This is how I got the idea for 'Getting to Know You'. Three days ago, I couldn't place Hilary at all, but screencapping this scene has made her a familiar face all of a sudden. As she looked then anyway. I'm sorry to read her death has now been confirmed, and that it's taken this long to discover her.

R.I.P.

[chuffnobbler]

Thanks for the pic, Cornershop, and for such a lovely post. It's very sad that she has gone, and nobody seems to have noticed. A decent character actress of the old school, with a pretty lengthy CV. That she has passed unnoticed is a real shock. I loved her as Rosemary Webb in Eldorado.

[wearysloth]

What a scream Hillary Crane, twenty-four-year-old actress wife of a London doctor is joining the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra for a performance of Alban Berg's
symphonic suite "Lulu." All she has to do is scream. But it's no laughing matter it has to be the scream of a woman dying at the hands of Jack the Ripper.
~Daily Mirror
Tuesday, February 10th, 1959

[chuffnobbler]

Thanks, Wearysloth. "wife of a London doctor" ... what a 1950s description!

[Ian K McLachla]

Of course she was also wellknown as Tucker Jenkins' Mother in Grange Hill and Tucker's Luck. She was a good actress. It is very sad if this news is true.

[Leah Lilith]

Hey,

Hilary was my great aunt. Unfortunately, she passed away in June 2009 after a battle with cancer. She is missed by the whole family and her friends. I'm sure she would be ever so appreciative of the concern from people on this forum.

Thank you. :)

[Tigon Man]

Thanks for taking the time to contact this forum Leah. Your great aunt was one of those wonderful character actresses who enlivened whatever show she was in. She could be bitter (Jean Redgrave-The Sweeney) Flirtatious (The Professionals) or homely (Grange Hill, Eldorado).
I'm sure you are very proud of her and Hilary leaves a legacy of fine television and film work to be remembered by.

[Arfur Teacake]

Hey,

Hilary was my great aunt. Unfortunately, she passed away in June 2009 after a battle with cancer. She is missed by the whole family and her friends. I'm sure she would be ever so appreciative of the concern from people on this forum.

Thank you. :)

I am sure many here will also appreciate you coming here Leah and taking time to register so that you could post your comment.

[chuffnobbler]

Hey,

Hilary was my great aunt. Unfortunately, she passed away in June 2009 after a battle with cancer. She is missed by the whole family and her friends. I'm sure she would be ever so appreciative of the concern from people on this forum.

Thank you. :)

Hi Leah: thanks for answering my query about your Great Aunt Hilary. It has taken so long to find any real information, and I am very grateful to you for taking the time.

I loved her in Eldorado, and she might well have come to feel that series was a bit of a blot on her career.

She's been gone two years now. Very sad. Best wishes to all the family.

[wellendcanons]

That's sad to hear. Thanks Leah for coming in specially to inform us.

wec

[wellendcanons]

Chuff, I've been following the posts at this thread since you started it but wasn't familiar with Hilary Crane until I looked for her scenes in an episode of The Sweeney called Trust Red, short for Redgrave, the nickname of screen husband John Ronane's character.

I have done quite a few screencaps but my addiction to individual scenes has become so chronic that it's difficult to tear myself away from them! As it happens, their first scene is quite a long one and is taking ages to get right for my storyboard, but I've still had a good time watching these two actors. In most of the shots so far, Hilary is seen with her arms folded and I can't decide which is the best one to post here. I'll put a few of them up in my profile later so you can choose.

With any luck, there will be a few more Google Images of her from now on, including this close-up:

I watched Trust Red about four months ago but have seen so much since that (usually) episodes are quickly forgotten, along with most 'new' actors, unfortunately. This is how I got the idea for 'Getting to Know You'. Three days ago, I couldn't place Hilary at all, but screencapping this scene has made her a familiar face all of a sudden. As she looked then anyway. I'm sorry to read her death has now been confirmed, and that it's taken this long to discover her.

R.I.P.

I watched this episode last night after hearing about Hilary's confirmed death. She wasn't in the episode all that long but she played a very good part.

Hilary Crane.

wec

[Azanti]

I remember her in numerous roles. She had great presence. I remember her doing an interview about Eldorado and saying 'Lets say some of the cast weren't exactly professionally experienced' she put, oh so diplomatically. Hmmm must have been referring to 'Blair' and 'Fizz' then.....

[wellendcanons]

Hilary was a suspect in an episode of Whodunnit? I watched from season one last night. It was called Did He Fall Or Was He Pushed?

wec

[AdobeFlats]

This may seem an odd memory, but I'm sure she did an advert for a dental fixative or something.
A fine actress anyway. RIP.