British minor comedy character actress who made a lasting career
playing frumpy wives (complete with bathrobe, hairnet and curlers),
cockney scrubwomen and a constant revolving door of domestics.
Two series of sequels of Till Death Us Do Part (1965) were created. Dandy died
during the filming of the second sequel and her death was incorporated
into the series; the remainder of the series dealt with Alf's life as a
widower.
Whereas Edith Bunker was referred to as a "dingbat" by husband Archie,
Dandy's Else was referred to as a "silly old moo" by her husband
Alf.
Dandy became a 60s TV star in middle age with the British comedy classic
Till Death Us Do Part (1965) in which she played Else Garnett,
the beleaguered wife of Alf Garnett, a cranky, bigoted type. The series
caught fire and an American version was produced in the 70s,
All in the Family (1971), with Jean Stapleton's Edith
Bunker, Dandy's counterpart.