EastEnders and On The Buses icon
The former actor passed away tragically in an unexpected blaze at her East London home, leaving soap fans heartbroken as they paid tribute to a true EastEnders icon.
Anna Karen was best known for her portrayal of Olive in the 1970s sitcom On the Buses, as well as her role as Aunt Sal in EastEnders, most fondly remembered as Peggy Mitchell's sister. Her time on the beloved soap saw her take on a recurring role spanning an entire decade, from 1996 through to 2017.
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Despite never being considered a permanent member of the cast, she made consistent returns to the show for one or two episodes at a time over more than 10 years, cementing herself as a familiar and much-loved face to countless British viewers.
Sharing the screen with her was the late, great Barbara Windsor, who portrayed the iconic Peggy Mitchell and with whom she shared the majority of her scenes. Away from the cameras, the pair were close friends right up until Windsor's death in 2020.
After a distinguished career on screen, her life came to a devastating end at the age of 85 when a fire broke out at her home on 22nd February 2022. Firefighters raced to the scene on the ground floor of a terraced house on Windsor Road, Ilford, at around 10.30pm.
Despite battling the blaze for under an hour, Karen had already tragically lost her life. In the aftermath, the Metropolitan Police confirmed the circumstances surrounding the fire did "not appear to be suspicious".
As the news spread, many stars took to social media to offer their condolences, honouring their friend and a cherished British television legend.
Among the first to pay tribute was singer Cheryl Baker, who posted at the time: "I have just heard the awful news that my fabulous mate, #AnnaKaren has died in a house fire. What an horrific way to die, I can't bear to think about it. I adored her – she was an absolute treasure, both on and off the screen."
Another heartfelt tribute came from Jake Wood, best recognised for his role as Max Branning in EastEnders. He posted: "So sad to hear of the passing of Anna Karen. Loved working with her, so funny and full of character."
EastEnders actress Rita Simons, who portrayed Roxy Mitchell, also wrote: "I just heard the awful news about the wonderful Anna Karen. Horrific and awful and so so sad. She was one of the best.
"Sleep well lovely Anna. Sending all my love to her family and friends."
MailOnline reported that multiple neighbours raised the alarm after spotting smoke billowing from Karen's front door. One neighbour, Sivalai Pavananthakumar, told the publication that residents in the street witnessed what was unfolding and rushed out to assist.
They noted that police arrived "quickly" alongside the fire brigade, who "kicked down the door" of the smoke-filled property. As a neighbour, he recalled her warmly, saying: "I recognised her and would see her every day when I took my children to school. She was a nice old lady and always said hello."