Mary Riggans (19 July 1935 – 2 December 2013) was a Scottish actress. She was best known for playing the role of Susie Sweet in the BAFTA winning children's show Balamory.[1][2] and Effie Macinnes in Take the High Road. She began her acting career in 1946, when she did a voiceover at the age of 11, and went on to star in television, radio and theatre productions.[3]
Mary Riggans | |
|---|---|
| Born | 19 July 1935 Clydebank, Scotland |
| Died | (aged 78) Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Known for | Susie Sweet in Balamory |
| Notable work | Balamory, Still Game |
Acting
editRiggans was best known for her role as Effie Macinnes on the Scottish television soap opera, Take the High Road from the early 1980s until the last episode in 2003. She appeared as Susie Sweet in Balamory, a children's television programme (2002–05), and as Sadie in Still Game (2002–07). She appeared in the pilot episode of Taggart, "Killer".
Riggans once famously cleared glasses from tables at chucking out time during her run at the King's Theatre.[3]
Theatre
edit| Year | Title | Role | Company | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | The Ship | Peggy | The Ship's Company, Govan | Bill Bryden | play by Bill Bryden |
Television credits
edit- Mrs. McKinley - Maggie (1981–1982)
- Mrs. Ramsay – Taggart (Pilot episode "Killer" 1983)
- Effie McInnes – Take the High Road (1983–2003)
- Spider – I, Lovett (1989)
- Prim Lady – Taggart (1990)
- Prim Lady - Rab C Nesbitt (1990)
- Sadie – Still Game (2002–2007)
- Susie Sweet – Balamory (2002–2005)
- Nell – Dear Frankie (2004)
Death
editRiggans died in her sleep at her Edinburgh home on 2 December 2013, a year after suffering a stroke. BBC Scotland executive Yvonne Jennings, who worked as a producer on Balamory, paid tribute to the actress.
She had suffered a stroke in April 2012 which restricted her speech and physical movement. Her daughter Samantha was with her when she died in Edinburgh.
She is survived by Samantha and her grandson.
She said: "As Suzie Sweet in Balamory, Mary was well respected by those who worked with her and much loved by the CBeebies audience. Like Suzie, Mary was a kind and giving woman who took on the role of nurturing young talent."
Julie Wilson Nimmo, who played Miss Hoolie in the children's show, added: "Shocked and saddened to hear about Mary's passing. We worked together for years, she was a brilliant actress and will be remembered fondly by the Balamory family."
References
edit- ^ Ebert, Roger (18 November 2008). Roger Ebert's Movie Yearbook 2009. Andrews McMeel Publishing. pp. 134–. ISBN 978-0-7407-7745-5. Retrieved 18 August 2011.
- ^ Davidson, Lynn (5 March 2004). "Goodbye Russell". The Scotsman. Retrieved 18 August 2011.
- ^ a b Fotheringham, Ann (6 September 2022). Scottish soap actress Mary Riggans –once cleared glasses from tables at chucking out time. Glasgow Times.
- ^ Notice of death of Mary Riggans, heraldscotland.com; accessed 10 December 2013.
- ^ "Balamory Star dies at 78", bbc.co.uk; accessed 10 December 2013.
External links
edit- Mary Riggans at IMDb
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