Penelope Keith, the English actor best known for her role as the snobbish Margo Leadbetter in the classic 1970s BBC sitcom The Good Life, has died at the age of 86. Her death was announced on June 29, 2026, by her family, who said she passed away peacefully at her home in West Sussex, England.
Keith's career spanned more than five decades, with notable roles in television, film, and theatre. She gained widespread fame for her portrayal of Margo in The Good Life (1975–1978), a comedy about a couple who decide to become self-sufficient in their suburban home. The show also starred Richard Briers and Felicity Kendal.
After The Good Life, Keith starred in the sitcom To the Manor Born (1979–1981), playing Audrey fforbes-Hamilton, a role that earned her a BAFTA TV Award for Best Light Entertainment Performance in 1980. She was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2014 for her services to drama and charity.
Tributes have poured in from fellow actors and fans, with many remembering her as a talented performer and a beloved figure in British comedy. She is survived by her husband, Rodney Timson, whom she married in 1967, and their two sons.
