Tributes have been paid to actress Dame Penelope Keith following her death at the age of 8610:07, 30 Jun 2026Dame Penelope Keith’s co-star has paid tribute to the star following her death at the age of 86.‌The actress, who was best known for her roles in the classic 1970s British sitcoms The Good Life and To the Manor Born, passed away on Monday with her family saying she "died peacefully whilst living with cancer at her home in Surrey".‌Dame Janet Suzman, who starred alongside Dame Penelope in the 1981 film Priest of Love, appeared on Tuesday’s (June 30) episode of BBC Breakfast and said “I miss her terribly.”‌While speaking to hosts Sally Nugent and Jon Kay, the star reflected on her favourite memory with her co-star and close friend.In a heartfelt moment, Janet started off by saying: “Just first, my condolences to her wonderful policeman husband, Ronnie.”‌Fightening back tears, the actress opened up on her favourite memory with Penelope as she said: “I’m going to miss her terribly, she was such fun to be with.”She continued: “Me and her sitting in a makeup room. Every morning we used to get up very early for George the makeup man to do (our) faces and he wasn’t at all interested in us.“We were in the adjacent room to the great Ava Gardner. Penny and I were in absolute awe. The door used to open to her room at a certain point when he dismissed us and Ava walked in looking terrible as one does in the morning and she would say ‘good morning George, you can do your thing’”.‌She went on: “I don’t know what George did to her but Penny and I were having our coffee and we would just be watching, pretending not to of course and after about ten minutes she said ‘right I’m going to do my thing now George’ and she would disappear.”Janet added: “We would wait and then the door would open again and in walks this Black Panther woman, those green eyes were beginning to appear and he would complete her makeup. Penny and I - it was our morning show, just the most wonderful thing.”‌The statement released on behalf of Penelope’s family said: "We are deeply saddened to announce that Dame Penelope Keith died peacefully whilst living with cancer at her home in Surrey where she had lived for more than 50 years."The family is grateful for the care and support she received throughout her treatments, and ask that their privacy be respected at this time."Others paying tribute included comedian and presenter Sue Perkins, who praised her on Instagram for having been the "creator of some of the greatest sit com characters of all time".Article continues belowBroadcaster Gyles Brandreth remembered Dame Penelope as "such a special lady - a wonderful actress, a real friend, so funny, so generous with the time she gave to good causes". He added: "Hers was indeed a good life."Meanwhile Felicity Kendal, her co-star in The Good Life, remembered her as a "comic genius" who was "a joy to know and work with".BBC Breakfast airs everyday from 6am on BBC One and iPlayer.