Marian Diamond: Miriam Margolyes pays tribute to 'dear friend' after Jackanory star's death aged 89
Tributes have been paid after English actress Marian Diamond died at the age of 89.
Her death was confirmed by close friend Miriam Margolyes, who said that Marian died at University College Hospital in London on Monday, January 5. Her cause of death is not known.
Miriam led tributes to the actress, saying in a statement on Facebook: “Alas, on my mind is the sudden death last Monday, of my dear friend, Marian Diamond, at UCH in London, aged 89. We first met in Edinburgh, I think in 1968 at the Traverse Theatre & I loved her from then on. We worked together in radio after I joined the BBC Drama Rep. Company in 1965.
“She was one of the angels in our business, endlessly generous, interested in others and thrilled by their success. She was beautiful, gentle, full of fun, wise and perceptive.”
Miriam added: “I feel utterly bereft: a unique spirit has been taken very suddenly away from us. Her late sister, the casting director, Gillian Diamond & her close friend, the actor Hugh Dickson, both died in 2018. Gillian's sons survive her. I hope they will share with her friends the funeral details. She deserves a full house. Marian, you're held in my heart forever.”
Diamond was primarily known for her voice roles, appearing in various BBC productions. She also notably voiced Galadriel in the 1981 radio series of The Lord of the Rings.
Her television work saw her perform as a Storyteller on Jackanory in the 1960s, with most of her time on the beloved show spent telling the stories of C. S Lewis. She also made brief appearances in The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Tightrope, and in 14 episodes of the soap opera Brookside. Her most recent credit came in a 2006 episode of Doctors.
Paul Jackson, who archived the BBC children’s programme Play School which Diamond presented, also paid tribute to the star. He said: “I am deeply saddened by the news that Miriam Margolyes posted, that my dear friend Marian Diamond died on the 5th January, aged 89.
“She was a great supporter of Play School and my archiving of the programme and we remained friends for 35 years.”
He added: “Although I know she had been battling health issues in recent years, I was thrilled to see her in December 2024, when she joined Play School creator Joy Whitby, Phyllida Law (+Sophie Thompson) and Carol Chell at Riverside Studios, to view an exclusive showing of a previously “missing” episode from Thursday 12th August 1965, which she presented with Rick Jones.
“She was a gentle soul and did much work away from acting helping people. Will be sorely missed.”