‘Blackadder’ actress Patsy Byrne passes away, aged 80

English actress Patsy Byrne has passed away at the age of 80.

Byrne, most known for her role as Nursie in the second series of iconic British sitcom Blackadder, passed away earlier this week from sudden heart failure, reports The Daily Telegraph.

Byrne, whose husband Patrick Seccombe passed away in 2000, died at Denville Hall, a retirement home for performers in Middlesex.

The Kent-born actress was also known for her extensive stage work and TV roles in BBC children’s series Playdays and ITV sitcom Watching – in the latter, she showed off her enviable skill of being able to do the splits well into her 60s.

Byrne’s Blackadder co-star, Sir Tony Robinson, led the tributes to the actress, telling BBC Five Live: “She had unerring skill to make the daftest, silliest thing sound absolutely real and absolutely plausible.

He continued: “I remember seeing her in As You Like It and it was one of those parts where the actress usually goes ‘de dum de dum de dum de dum de dum’ but the way she said it was so that each word was a revelation to her and I think that was one of her great comic skills.”

The actress is the second Blackadder star to pass away this month, following the death of Rik Mayall, who died last week at the age of 56.

A number of celebrities have paid tribute to the actress on Twitter since news of her passing broke, including Stephen Fry and Only Fools & Horses actor John Challis. See their tweets below.

Sad to hear that actress Patsy Byrne has died.This is her with Paul Rogers in Henry IV for the RSC in 1966. pic.twitter.com/Mi0IPTfcq4

— John Challis (@BeingBoycie) June 22, 2014

Oh lord no! I’ve just heard that Patsy Byrne, darling Nursie has died. Hope St Bernard has welcomed her to eternal rest. Adorable woman. — Stephen Fry (@stephenfry) June 22, 2014