The Good Life actress Felicity Kendal, 77, was married to American theatre director Michael Rudman and was with him on and off for decades before he died in 2023
Felicity Kendal has opened up about the “terribly hard” experience of watching her husband Michael Rudman pass away.
The beloved 77-year-old actress, cherished for her roles as Barbara Good in ‘The Good Life’ and Rosemary Boxer in ‘Rosemary & Thyme’, shared a life with the acclaimed American theatre director, both off and on, for several decades until his sad demise last year. Recounting to Saga Magazine, Felicity revealed: “I was there when he died and it was terribly hard to watch. A combination of things ended his life: a haemorrhage, heart and blood pressure problems, and a fall.”
She spoke about the difficulty of the situation, adding: “It was hard for him since he wanted to be independent.” Kendal further expressed to the magazine the significance of letting go but confessed: “When I’m faced with a decision about something now, I still ask Michael about what I should do; that’s not being spooky, that’s just going into the many memories that will give me the answer to what he would say because I knew him so well.”
Their union began with marriage vows in 1983 and spanned seven years before they divorced, eventually reuniting in 1998 and remaining together until his death in March 2023. The ‘Death Of A Salesman’ Tony award-winning director also seems to have left a parting piece of advice, as Kendal acknowledged hearing Rudman tell her “Don’t you dare” get married again.
She reflected on his probable response if she ever considered another marriage: “He would be furious if I married again, though it couldn’t be further from my inclination. There is no room in my world for someone else apart from my dog Rufus..” Kendal is a mother to two sons, Jacob Rudman, with Rudman, and Charley Henley with her ex-husband, actor Drewe Henley, who passed away in 2016.
She’s also recognised for her roles in Solo, Mistress, The Camomile Lawn and her theatre work including Clouds directed by Rudman, which earned her the title of best actress of the year at the 1979 Variety Club awards.
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