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British Actress And 'Oxo Mom' Lynda Bellingham Dies

The 66-year-old actress was a mother figure to an entire generation of British TV watchers. She decided in recent months to stop chemotherapy.
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The U.K. has lost the mother figure for an entire generation as Lynda Bellingham passed away Sunday after a year-plus battle with cancer.

The British actress was best known as the mom in commercials for Oxo kitchen supplies.

BELLINGHAM: "Yes, it is a surprise. No, I haven't cooked it before. Yes, it is foreign. No, Jason, it's not a hamburger. Yes, Allison, Dolly will love it. No, Nick, no garlic."

In a statement, Bellingham's family wrote, "Lynda died peacefully in her husband's arms yesterday at a London hospital."

That was the 66-year-old actress's goal as she accepted a terminal diagnosis. She made headlines in recent months for her decision to end chemotherapy treatments.

BELLINGHAM VIA ITV: "I don't want you to see me at the last. I want you to remember me happy because that is also nice to see somebody off you love happy and contented."

Bellingham was a regular in British homes from her role on the late '80s BBC sitcom "All Creatures Great and Small" to competing in a "Dancing With the Stars"-like competition only five years ago.

Earlier this year, Buckingham Palace also named Bellingham an officer of the Order of the British Empire, a step in British chivalry just below a knight or dame.

Bellingham also appeared as a commentator on ITV's "Loose Women," and the show plans to air a special goodbye on Wednesday the actress recently taped.

The show's Twitter page was flooded Monday morning with viewers and celebrities leaving condolences. The show also tweeted, "#RIPLyndaBellingham one of the best colleagues and friends we could have wished for."

Lynda Bellingham was 66.

This video includes images from Getty Images.