Beryl Vertue Dead at 90: Did Veteran TV Producer Die of a Health Condition?
Beryl Vertue, popularly known for being one of the pioneers in the history of British television, especially in comedy TV shows, has passed away at the age of 90.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Hartswood Films founder's daughters, Debbie and Sue, confirmed her death to the Press Association News Agency, confirming their mother's death.
"It's with the heaviest of hearts that we have to share the sad news that mum/Beryl passed away peacefully last night," the sisters noted.
The two siblings, who are also working as producers at their mother's company, clarified that their mother didn't die of COVID-19, but rather, her body "saying enough is enough."
Her cause of death wasn't directly addressed in the statement.
In 1979, Vertue founded Hartswood Films, run by her collaborator, creative director Steven Moffat.
The production company is the mind behind several award-winning TV shows, including "Sherlock," which has won a BAFTA award, "Dracula," and many more.
Throughout her career, she served as a producer on numerous British staple shows like "British Men Behaving Badly," "Coupling," "Supernova," and such.
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During her lifetime, Sue and Debbie shared a few personal details on their mother's role in their life, saying she was a role model, a best friend, a mentor, and a boss.
"She adored her family and was so proud of us all. She also adored her career and spending time with everybody," they noted.
According to The Guardian, Vertue spent her early days in Croydon, Surrey. After spending time at Mitcham county school, the producer immediately worked as a secretary in a shipping firm.
She was hospitalized in 1954 due to tuberculosis when Alan Simpson and Hancock's "Half Hour" writing partner Ray Galton visited and told her they needed a secretary at Associated London Scripts.
Vertue then worked in the company a year later. At that moment, she started typing scripts for "The Goon Show" and several other TV sitcoms.
She made her way from being a script typer, a business manager, to later a managing director. The TV producer became an agent for well-known writers in her country, including John Junkin, Johnny Speight, Dick Vosburgh, Marty Feldman, and many more.
Despite the company closing down after eight years, she remained working with the Robert Stigwood Organization to produce shows for the American Audience.
