IT HAS JUST BEEN ANNOUNCED that, sadly actress, Valerie Van Ost, has
died at the age of 75. Van Ost appeared in Corruption, Incense for the
Damned and The Satanic rites of Dracula with Peter Cushing. Valerie was
also very popular in the Carry On series of film in the 1960's, in
“Carry On Cabby,” “Carry On Don’t Lose Your Head,” “Carry On Doctor” and
“Carry On Again Doctor,”. Van Ost’s sad passing was announced by agent
Barry Langford who said in a tweet, “A sad goodbye to beautiful
Valerie Van Ost, who passed away this week. Valerie gave up her
successful acting career to become a respected casting director and was
beloved in both professions. She will be much missed
VALERIE VAN OST, a native of Herkamsted,
Hertfordshire, turned to acting after she had been a dancer in her
teenager at London’s famed Palladium theatre. It's believed that at one
time she was once considered to be a possible replacement for Diana Rigg
as Emma Peel in “The Avengers,” having once appeared in an episode of
the show. In 1973, Van Ost took on her other most famous role, in the
Hammer horror movie, “The Satanic Rites of Dracula'.” Van Ost played the
role of a Secret Service secretary who is kidnapped by a satanic cult.
Van Ost was married to movie producer Greg Smith. Smith had been the
producer of Britain’s other great bawdy comedy series, the “Confessions”
series of movies in the 1970s.
VAN OST RECENTELY POSTED a photograph of her and BARRY LANGFORD on her twitter account . .
LATER IN 1985, Van Ost married Andrew Millington, with whom she set up a casting agency. This coincided with Van Ost’s retirement from acting. The pair cast five movies and a television series during the 1980s. Two of those films, “The Boys in Blue” and “Funny Money” were produced by her first husband. I am sure many of you would like to share your memories of your favourite role too.. please feel free to post your comments on the thread below. Valerie Van Ost, 25 July 1944 - 14 September 2019
