Olga Lowe (14 September 1919 – 2 September 2013) was a South African-born British film, stage and television actress. She made her film debut in an uncredited role in the 1949 film Trottie True. Her many credits included EastEnders, Where Eagles Dare, Carry On Abroad, Steptoe and Son Ride Again and The Riddle of the Sands.Lowe, who was of Russian Jewish descent on her father's side, was born in Durban, South Africa. Her father, Charles Lowe, led the Johannesburg Symphony Orchestra. She first moved to London from South Africa in 1935. She worked in Brazil as part of Carmen Miranda's cabaret. and in 1942 survived the torpedoing of her ocean liner, City of New York, by a German submarine while returning to South Africa.Olga Lowe was a childhood friend of actor Sid James. Lowe and her first husband, John Tore, were considered to be instrumental in launching James' film career after he moved to Britain in 1947. In 1976, she was performing opposite James in The Mating Season at the Sunderland Empire Theatre on the night he suffered a fatal heart attack on stage.
Attended dancing classes in Johannesburg prior to moving to London.
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Her father was leader of the Johannesburg Symphony Orchestra.
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Began her career in support of Carmen Miranda at the age of seventeen, then joined the Folies Bergère on tour through North America.
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She was the actress on stage with Sidney James when he died of a heart attack, on 26th April 1976. The theatre was the Empire, Sunderland, and the play was The Mating Game.
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