Shirley Ann Pithers (12 June 1935 – 9 March 2017), better known as Jane Freeman, was a Welsh actress who was best known for her work on British television, mostly notably for her role as Ivy in Last of the Summer Wine.
Early years Freeman was born in Brentford, Middlesex, in 1935, the daughter of railway engineer Arthur Pithers and his wife, Joan Pithers, née Dewhurst. She was raised in Merthyr Tydfil following the death of her father in an accident when she was 9 years old and her mother's subsequent remarriage to Russell Evans. For a time, she used his surname and was known as Jane Evans. She graduated from the Cardiff College of Music and Drama (now the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama) in 1955.
Career After a stay in London, Freeman joined the Osiris Repertory Theatre touring company, based in Gloucestershire. She joined the Arena Theatre, Sutton Coldfield in 1958, followed by Birmingham Rep from 1968. Her stage appearances include Margaret More in the Welsh Theatre Company's first production, A Man for All Seasons, at Cardiff's New Theatre in 1962.
Freeman’s television roles include Diary Of a Young Man (1964), Crossroads (1964), Touch And Go (1978), and Hannah (1980). She was best known for her role as the abrasive but ultimately kind-hearted café owner Ivy, one of the main characters in the long-running British television comedy Last of the Summer Wine. She was one of only two actors to appear in all series of the show, from 1973 until 2010 (the other being Peter Sallis, who played Norman Clegg): however, unlike Sallis, Freeman did not appear in all of the episodes.
Her film credits included Ghost In The Water (1982), Scrubbers (1982) and Silas Marner: The Weaver of Raveloe (1986).
Personal life In 1971, Freeman married Michael Simpson, whom she met when he became artistic director of the Birmingham Rep while she was a member of that group.
Death Freeman died on 9 March 2017 at the age of 81 from lung cancer. Her age was often incorrectly reported as being 96 at the time of her death, but official birth records prove that she was born in 1935.
Roles Television Year Title Role Notes 1964 Diary of a Young Man Nurse Episode: "Marriage"1972–78Play for Today Audrey episode: "The Fishing Party" Housing Official Episode: "Highway Robbery" Martha Paisley Episode: "Through the Night" Knitting Lady Episode: "Love on a Gunboat" Mrs. Scully Episode: Scully's New Year's Eve" 1973–2010 Last of the Summer Wine Ivy Series 1–31 (supporting role, 273 episodes)1975–76Within These Walls Madge Boyle Episode: "To Reason Why" Ethel Cumberpatch Episode: "Islands in the Heartline" 1975 Zigger Zagger Mother 3 episodes 1975 Trinity Tales Cashier Episode: "The Fryer's Tale" 1976–77 Crossroads Emily Burrell 15 episodes 1978 Touch and Go Mrs. Meighan Miniseries (4 episodes) 1979 Prince Regent Lady de Clifford Miniseries (1 episode) 1980 Hannah Lilla Spencer-Smith 4 episodes 1980 ITV Playhouse Mrs. Allen Episode: "Lindsey" 1981 BBC2 Playhouse Aunt Arina Episode: "Marriage" 1982 Ghost in the Water Mrs. Willetts TV movie 1983 The Hard Word Labour Candidate Episode: "Life Isn't Like Pictures" 1983 The Black Adder Mrs. Applebottom Episode: "The Queen of Spain's Beard" 1983 Androcles and the Lion Megaera TV movie 1984 Letty Florence Jones Miniseries (2 episodes) 1984 A Taste of Honey Helen Miniseries (3 episodes) 1985 Scene Mrs. June Bristow Episode: "Baby I Love You" 1985 Silas Marner: The Weaver of Raveloe Mrs. Kimble TV movie
Film Year Title Role1979 All Day on the Sands Mrs. Cattley1980 Dark Water Managers's Wife1982 Scrubbers Sister
See also Recurring characters in Last of the Summer Wine
References
External links
Jane Freeman at Find a Grave