Stephanie Cole, a celebrated British actress known for her extensive work across television, stage, and radio, has died after living with Alzheimer's disease for several years, her family confirmed. Cole was widely recognized for her performances in numerous television dramas and comedies that spanned several decades.

Born in Solihull, Cole trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and made her stage debut at age 17 in Noel Coward’s play Blithe Spirit, portraying the 90-year-old medium Madame Arcati. She later reprised this role in a 2004 West End revival at the Savoy Theatre, marking a full-circle moment in her career.

Cole gained particular acclaim for her role as Dr. Beatrice Mason in the 1980s BBC wartime drama Tenko, which depicted the experiences of British women prisoners of war in Singapore following the Japanese invasion during World War II. In the series, she portrayed a doctor responsible for the women’s health alongside co-stars Ann Bell and Stephanie Beacham.

In addition to dramatic roles, Cole demonstrated considerable talent in comedy. She won the Best TV Comedy Actress award at the 1992 British Comedy Awards for her sharp-tongued photojournalist character Diana Trent in Waiting For God. Her performance as Muriel in Alan Bennett’s Talking Heads monologue Soldiering On was also a career highlight, sharing the stage with noted actors such as Maggie Smith and Julie Walters.

Cole was further known for her role as Sylvia Goodwin, the formidable mother of Roy Cropper in the soap opera Coronation Street. This performance earned her the Best Comedy Performance award at the 2012 British Soap Awards. Her television credits also included appearances in ITV’s medical comedy-drama Doc Martin, the reboot of Still Open All Hours, and the historical series Gentleman Jack. Her last major television role came in 2021, starring alongside Greg Davies in the BBC comedy The Cleaner.

Cole was married twice. Her first marriage was to playwright and theatrical fight director Henry Marshall, which ended in divorce in 1988. In 1998, she wed actor Peter Birrel, whom she had first worked with some 30 years earlier in a production of Richard II at the Bristol Old Vic. Birrel passed away in 2004. Cole is survived by a daughter from her first marriage, Emma Battcock.

In recognition of her contributions to drama and charity work focused on the elderly and mental health, Cole was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2005. Her agent, John Grant, issued a statement on behalf of her family, confirming her battle with Alzheimer’s disease in recent years.