Barbara Windsor Net Worth

What was Barbara Windsor's Net Worth?

Dame Barbara Windsor was an English actress who had a net worth of $13 million at the time of her death in 2020, at the age of 83. She was best known for her roles in the "Carry On" film and television franchise and for playing Peggy Mitchell on the BBC One television soap opera "EastEnders." Among Windsor's numerous other credits were the films "Sparrows Can't Sing" and "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang," the television sitcom "The Rag Trade," and the Broadway musical "Oh, What a Lovely War!," for which she earned a Tony Award nomination.

Early Life and Education

Barbara Windsor was born Barbara Deeks on August 6, 1937 in London, England as the only child of dressmaker Rose and bus driver John. As a youth, she attended St. Mary's Infants' School, but was evacuated to Blackpool at the age of six due to air raids during World War II. After leaving the home of a couple who sexually abused her, Windsor moved in with a friend and her parents. However, this arrangement didn't last long, as Windsor was sent back to London in 1944 after she witnessed her friend's father kissing another woman. Back in London, she was sent to the drama school Madame Behenna's Juvenile Jollities to foster her burgeoning acting talent. Windsor went on to attend Our Lady's Catholic High School, although she was eventually expelled due to an argument with the reverend mother. She subsequently went to the Aida Foster Theatre School. Windsor's parents divorced when she was 16, and she was forced to testify against her father in court.

Film Career

In 1954, Windsor made her film debut with an uncredited part in the comedy "The Belles of St Trinian's." Following some more uncredited roles, she had her first credited part in the 1960 neo-noir thriller "Too Hot to Handle," starring Jayne Mansfield. Over the subsequent years, Windsor appeared in such films as "On the Fiddle," "Hair of the Dog," and "Death Trap." She had her first lead role in the 1963 kitchen sink comedy "Sparrows Can't Sing," for which she earned a BAFTA nomination.

Windsor gained her widest recognition yet in 1964 when she starred in "Carry On Spying," the ninth film in the popular "Carry On" comedy franchise. She would go on to appear in eight more "Carry On" films, including "Carry On Doctor" (1967), "Carry On Camping" (1969), and her final one, "Carry On Dick" (1974). While making the "Carry On" films, Windsor appeared in such other titles as "Crooks in Cloisters," "San Ferry Ann," "A Study in Terror," "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang," "The Boy Friend," and "Not Now, Darling."

After co-presenting the compilation film "That's Carry On!" in 1977, Windsor didn't appear on the big screen again until 1986, with a supporting role in the historical drama "Comrades." Two years later, she was in the Pet Shop Boys musical film "It Couldn't Happen Here." Windsor wasn't in many films after that, although she did co-star in the direct-to-VHS adult pantomime "Pussy in Boots" in 1994. Following a long break from the big screen, Windsor returned in 2010 to voice Mallymkun the dormouse in Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland." She reprised the role in the 2016 sequel "Alice Through the Looking Glass."

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Television Career

Windsor first appeared on television in the mid-1950s with a guest role on "Dreamer's Highway." She had her first main role on television in 1961, playing Gloria on the BBC sitcom "The Rag Trade." Windsor returned for the third season in 1963 to play the role of Judy. During the decade, she also had guest roles on "The Edgar Wallace Mystery Theatre," "The Plane Makers," "Comedy Playhouse," "Before the Fringe," "Dad's Army," and "Ooh La La!," among other shows. From 1968 to 1969, she starred on the short-lived BBC sitcom "Wild, Wild Women," which was a failed variation on Windsor's previous sitcom "The Rag Trade." In the 1970s, Windsor mostly capitalized on her fame from the "Carry On" film franchise, appearing in three "Carry On" Christmas specials as well as the 1975 series "Carry On Laughing."

In the 1980s, Windsor had guest roles on such shows as "Worzel Gummidge," "Filthy Rich & Catflap," "Super Gran," and "The Nephew." She also starred on the children's drama "Bluebirds" at the end of the decade. In the early 1990s, Windsor appeared on "Family Fortunes" and "You Rang, M'Lord?", and was in the television film "Double Vision." She began her biggest and most famous role in 1994, as widowed mother Peggy Mitchell on the long-running BBC One soap opera "EastEnders." Windsor was on and off the show through 2016, appearing in over 1,600 total episodes. At her behest, her character was killed off. Among her other television appearances, Windsor starred in the 2000 ITV film "Cor, Blimey!" and had a cameo in the 2017 BBC biopic about her life, entitled "Babs."

Stage Career

Windsor rose to prominence on stage as a member of Joan Littlewood's Theatre Workshop. In 1959, she starred in the group's production of "Fings Ain't Wot They Used T'Be," which transferred to the West End in early 1960. Windsor went on to star in the Theatre Workshop's epic musical "Oh, What a Lovely War!," which played on the West End in 1963 before debuting on Broadway in 1964. For her work, she earned a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Musical. Windsor's other stage credits during the decade included "Twang!!," "The Beggar's Opera," and "Come Spy with Me." In the 1970s, she starred in "Sing a Rude Song," "The Threepenny Opera," and "Twelfth Night," and toured the world with her own show, "Carry On Barbara!" The next decade, Windsor acted in the black comedy play "Entertaining Mr Sloane." In addition to regular stage shows, she performed in numerous pantomimes during her career.

Marriages and Other Relationships

Windsor was married a total of three times, and had no children. She wed her first husband, convicted criminal and nightclub owner Ronnie Knight, in 1964; they divorced in early 1985. Windsor was next married to chef and restaurateur Stephen Hollings from 1986 until their divorce in 1995. She wed her third and final husband, actor Scott Mitchell, in 2000. Windsor dated many other men during her life, and was particularly notorious for her extra-marital affair with her "Carry On" co-star Sid James, who became dangerously obsessed with her and descended into alcoholism before dying from a heart attack in 1976. She also had flings with such famous men as Victor Mature, Ronnie Scott, George Best, and Maurice Gibb, and was briefly engaged to singer Cliff Lawrence, who physically abused her. Windsor had five abortions during her life.

Death

In 2014, Windsor was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, although she elected to keep the news from the public. Her husband finally disclosed the information publicly in 2018. Windsor moved into a Jewish Care home in London in the summer of 2020, and passed away near the end of the year, on December 10. Following a funeral in early 2021, her body was cremated.

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