Elizabeth Kelly English actress (1921–2025)
Elizabeth Kelly
Born Elizabeth Hutton Kelly
(1921-05-29 ) 29 May 1921Died 31 December 2025(2025-12-31) (aged 104) Occupation Actress Years active 1967–2007 Television EastEnders Spouse Peter Trower
( m. 1943
; died
1968
) Children 2
Elizabeth Hutton Trower (née Kelly Nellie Ellis in the BBC soap opera EastEnders
Early life
Elizabeth Hutton Kelly was born in Newcastle upon Tyne , Northumberland, on 29 May 1921, the daughter of Albert Edward Kelly (1889–1967), a shop keeper, and his wife, Elizabeth (née Tulip; 1890–1987), a housewife.[ 1] [ 2]
Career
Kelly began her acting career in the late 1960s.[ 3] [ 4] ITV soap opera Coronation Street The Bill Boon Spender Where the Heart Is Cider with Rosie [ 5]
In 1993, Kelly joined the cast of the BBC soap opera EastEnders Nellie Ellis , the interfering relative of Pauline Fowler , portraying the role until 1998, before returning briefly in 2000 for the funeral of Ethel Skinner (Gretchen Franklin ).[ 6] EastEnders , Kelly appeared in the ITV soap opera Emmerdale The Inspector Lynley Mysteries Steel River Blues Heartbeat The Royal [ 7]
Personal life and death
In June 1943, she married businessman Peter Trower.[ 1] [ 8] [ 9]
Kelly celebrated her 100th birthday in May 2021, and died of old age on 31 December 2025 at a care home in Scarborough, North Yorkshire , aged 104.[ 10] [ 11] [ 12] St Peter's Church, Scarborough on 17 February, followed by a private burial.[ 13] [ 14]
References
1 2 "Marriage notice" . The Journal. 28 June 1943. p. 3. Retrieved 4 February 2026 .↑ Hayward, Anthony (1996). Who's Who on Television . Retrieved 4 February 2026 . 1 2 3 4 "Elizabeth Kelly" . Rotten Tomatoes . 29 May 1921. Retrieved 7 November 2024 .↑ "Elizabeth Kelly | TVmaze" .↑ Denman, Amy; Rigney, Catriona (4 February 2026). "EastEnders legend Elizabeth Kelly who played Nellie Ellis dies aged 104" . OK! Magazine . Retrieved 4 February 2026 . ↑ Duke, Simon (19 February 2015). "Eastenders 30th Anniversary: Newcastle actors who've been in the BBC soap" . Chronicle Live . Retrieved 7 November 2024 . 1 2 3 4 "Elizabeth Kelly filmography" . Plex.tv . Retrieved 4 February 2026 .↑ "John H. P. Trower" . FreeBMD . Retrieved 4 February 2026 .↑ "Inside Elizabeth Kelly's family life as EastEnders star dies aged 104" . Hello! . Retrieved 4 February 2026 .↑ McGrath, Rachel (4 February 2026). "EastEnders' Nellie Ellis actor Elizabeth Kelly dies at the age of 104" . The Independent . Retrieved 4 February 2026 . ↑ Adams, Michael. "Elizabeth Kelly, EastEnders' beloved Nellie Ellis, dies aged 104 | Radio Times" . Radio Times . Retrieved 4 February 2026 . ↑ "Former EastEnders star Elizabeth Kelly dies aged 104" . Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 4 February 2026. Retrieved 4 February 2026 .↑ "Coronation Street and EastEnders icon dies aged 104 as fans pay tribute" . Bradford Telegraph and Argus . Retrieved 4 February 2026 .↑ Denman, Amy; Bridge, Olivia (4 February 2026). "EastEnders' legend Elizabeth Kelly dies aged 104" . Birmingham Live . Retrieved 4 February 2026 .
