Farewell to a legend
- Malcolm
- Feb 9, 2021
- 1 min read
A star of stage and screen who became a great friend of the Battle of Britain Memorial Trust has died at the age of 88.
Actress Jean Bayless starred in the original West End production of The Sound of Music after being auditioned by Richard Rodgers, the composer who made up one half of the famous Rodgers and Hammerstein partnership.
Jean starred in the production at the Palace Theatre for two years from April 1961, one of the highlights of an impressive career in which she rubbed shoulders with the likes of Julie Andrews, Noel Coward, Gloria Swanson, Elaine Stritch, Rudolph Nureyev, Anthony Newley Audrey Hepburn and Elvis Presley.
Later she became a familiar face on television when she played motel chef Cynthia Cunningham in the long-running soap Crossroads.
Trust secretary Patrick Tootal and wife Janet, the Trust’s event organiser, met Jean when she attended the charity’s second Parliamentary reception in 2007. She became a close personal friend and a great supporter of the Trust, as did many of her family members.
“Jean was a special friend to us and to the Trust and she will be sadly missed,” commented Patrick.
Jean, whose husband David Johnson died in 2008, is survived by her sons Daniel and Adam. She died on Friday, 5 February in Birmingham after being diagnosed with bone cancer.
Jean clearly lived an extraordinary life filled with remarkable performances and connections across theatre, television, and entertainment history. From starring at the Palace Theatre to becoming a familiar television face in Crossroads, her career touched many generations of audiences. It’s also touching to read how involved she remained with the Trust and the close friendships she built through it. Tributes like this really show the lasting impact someone can have both professionally and personally. After reading stories about classic performers and entertainment history, I sometimes relax with Eaglercraft, a lightweight sandbox game playable in the browser.
That's so sad to hear. 88 is a good innings, but it's always a loss when a talented artist passes. My grandma loved "The Sound of Music" and would always tell me stories about seeing it on stage. It reminded me of those simpler times. Talking of simpler times, I remember playing a silly game called Eggy Car on my old computer. Rest in peace, Jean Bayless. Your work brought joy to many.
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