Anna Dawson, Keeping Up Appearances star, dies at 88

British actress Anna Dawson, best known for her role as the affluent Violet in the beloved BBC sitcom "Keeping Up Appearances," has died at the age of 88. She passed away peacefully on Saturday, June 27, in Kerikeri, New Zealand, according to an announcement from her local church.

Her death comes just six months after the passing of her husband, singer and entertainer John Boulter, who died in December 2025 at age 94. The couple had retired to New Zealand's Bay of Islands many years ago.

Dawson's church, Christ Church Anglican at Kororāreka Russell, shared the news on social media, describing her as a "much treasured member of our faith community." The post noted that many in the local community would remember Dawson and her late husband, who lived in the Okiato and Tapeka areas. Funeral details are to be announced.

On "Keeping Up Appearances," which aired from 1990 to 1995, Dawson portrayed Violet, the wealthy sister of the famously status-obsessed Hyacinth Bucket, played by the late Dame Patricia Routledge. Violet was often referenced by Hyacinth as "the one with the Mercedes, sauna and room for a pony" before Dawson brought the character to life in the show's final series.