Miriam Karlin had cancer

Miriam Karlin, the actress best known for her role as shop steward Paddy in Sixties sitcom The Rag Trade, has died in London aged 85.

She died in hospital following battle with cancer.

In real life, she was also a political activist and a staunch member of actors' union Equity. Equity spokesman Martin Brown said she was ‘an absolutely indefatigable campaigner and a marvellous friend’.

Raised as an orthodox Jew in London, she frequently played formidable Jewish matriarchs, among them Golde in the original West End production of Fiddler on the Roof;. Her other credits include A Clockwork Orange, The Entertainer and Room At The Top.

But she was best known for her catchphrase ‘Everybody out!’ in both the original Sixties version of The Rag Trade and its Seventies revival.

Born Miriam Samuels in 1925, she became an OBE in 1975.

Published: 3 Jun 2011