Trailblazing Actress Cleo Sylvestre Dies at 79, Leaving Behind a Legacy of Groundbreaking Roles

Cleo Sylvestre. Image Credit: Shutterstock

Cleo Sylvestre, the iconic British actress known for her trailblazing roles on screen, stage, and in music, has passed away at the age of 79, as confirmed by her agent.

A pioneering figure in British television and theater, Sylvestre—also known by her birth name Cleopatra Palmer—was one of the first Black actresses to gain prominence in the UK entertainment industry.

Sylvestre’s acting career began in the 1960s, and she became best known for her role as Melanie Harper, Meg Richardson’s adopted daughter in ITV’s Crossroads.

Her talents spanned decades, with appearances in notable films such as Paddington (2014) and The Punk (1993). She was a familiar face on British television, having appeared in classic series like Doctor Who, Coronation Street, Grange Hill, The Bill, and Till Death Do Us Part.

In addition to her acting, Sylvestre was also a singer, famously recording a 1964 cover of “To Know Him Is to Love Him” with backing from the Rolling Stones. She continued her musical pursuits with her blues band, Honey B Mama And Friends.

In 2023, Sylvestre was honored with an MBE at Buckingham Palace for her services to drama and charity, recognizing her enduring contributions to the arts and her advocacy work.

Throughout her life, she remained committed to promoting diversity and inclusion, serving as a supporter of the Mary Seacole Statue Appeal and other charitable endeavors.

Tributes have poured in from across the entertainment industry. U.S.-born playwright Bonnie Greer described Sylvestre as one of the reasons she believed Britain had the best anglophone theater for Black women. Dame Elizabeth Anionwu, the UK’s first sickle cell nurse specialist, expressed her devastation, calling Sylvestre a “wonderful, kind friend.”

Sylvestre made her Royal Shakespeare Company debut in 2022 with As You Like It, rounding out a career that included roles in Wise Child at Wyndham’s Theatre and National Health and Under Milk Wood at the National Theatre.

Her most recent screen appearances were in the ITV thriller Platform 7 and Channel 5’s reboot of All Creatures Great and Small.

Sylvestre’s legacy as a trailblazer in British arts, her advocacy for diversity, and her deep commitment to her craft will continue to inspire generations to come.