Gillian Dobb

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wilko · #1 Post by **wilko** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 2:35 pm

I cannot believe nobody saw fit to create a thread for Agatha!

It was nice to see that after being a very small piece-meal character Agatha was able to grow into what became a central supporting character on the series, ever pining for Higgins but still his close confidant, a glimpse into what Higgins perfect world may have looked like without Magnum in it.

IslandHopper · #2 Post by **IslandHopper** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 3:43 pm

I agree. Agatha did become an important part of the show. My favorite Agatha moment is in "Echoes Of The Mind" when Higgins reluctantly goes to Agatha's house to tell her that he is not going to marry her, but another. During the conversation, she reveals to Higgins' surprise that her cousin also attended Sandhurst. Higgins did not know until that very moment, and Higgins asked why she never mentioned that before. Agatha said that she didn't want to embarrass him, because she knew he had been sent down from Sandhurst, and she figured that he would tell her when he was ready. At that moment, Higgins realizes what a special person and a good friend she really was. Great moment.

#3 Post by **Doc Ibold** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 3:52 pm

I also like the fact that throughout the show, Agatha comes to like Magnum, no matter what Higgins thinks.

(i.e. beginning when she describes him as "the sordid man living in the guesthouse causing trouble" throughout the rest of the series when she is cordial to him, even when Higgins is chastizing him).

She even stands up to Higgins in "Let the Punishment Fit The Crime"!

Agatha is actually one of my favorite characters in the series.

#4 Post by **J.J. Walters** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 10:15 pm

I've always been a big Agatha fan, as well. An extremely affable character, if there ever was one!

Tralfaz · #5 Post by **Tralfaz** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 1:08 am

Agatha as Blanch DuBois, priceless!

Frodoleader · #6 Post by **Frodoleader** » Wed Oct 15, 2008 4:53 pm

Two things I did not know about Gillian Dobb (Agatha):
1. According to IMDB, she is dead! (Passed away in 2001, if that is correct), and
2. Her only acting credits are MPI and a Gidget movie in 1985 (again, true?)

Well anyway, I loved the Agatha character too.

IKnowWhatYoureThinking · Wed Oct 15, 2008 8:21 pm

I always liked the fact that she did like TM as a person, and I think it drove Higgins crazy sometimes.

#8 Post by **Doc Ibold** » Thu Oct 16, 2008 4:28 am

Frodoleader wrote:Two things I did not know about Gillian Dobb (Agatha):
1. According to IMDB, she is dead! (Passed away in 2001, if that is correct), and
2. Her only acting credits are MPI and a Gidget movie in 1985 (again, true?)

Well anyway, I loved the Agatha character too.

According to the Magnum commentaries (Believe its on Resolutions I commentary on season

, Ms. Dobb was a local actor who was cast as an extra (and it sounds like she would have been little more than an extra from their initial POV - see "The Elmo Ziller Story"), but won the crew over with her ability and the part of Agatha was specially created for her - or at lease thats my take from Charles Floyd Johnson.

The Gidget movie, I believe, was set in Hawaii..... its "Gidget's Hawaiian Adventure" or something like that. So, it kind of makes sense that Ms. Dobb would only be cast in Hawaiian shows.

Too bad there weren't more of them for her, but she'll always be Agatha to me!

R.I.P.

#9 Post by **ConchRepublican** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 3:59 am

I have been on a quest to find out more about Ms Dobbs. So far, I have run into brick walls. If only I could call Icepick!!!!!

This is some more info I tracked down:

DOBB, Gillian; 72; New York ON; Hamilton Spectator; 2001-4-4; priceace

http://obits.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/obit.cgi

It seemed she passed away in Ontario, Canada, and the obit was on 4/4/01. Unfortunately, the Hamilton Spectator only archives online going back to March 2002.

I'm still searching!

Sam · #10 Post by **Sam** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 4:19 pm

Conch...I found this at Tributes.com.

Gillian D. Dobb

1929 - 2001

Gillian was born on May 8, 1929 and passed away on Saturday, March 31, 2001.

Gillian was last known to be living in Lancaster, New York.

Lancaster is within 50 miles of Hamilton.

#11 Post by **ConchRepublican** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 4:20 pm

Sam wrote:Conch...I found this at Tributes.com.

Gillian D. Dobb

1929 - 2001

Gillian was born on May 8, 1929 and passed away on Saturday, March 31, 2001.

Gillian was last known to be living in Lancaster, New York.

Lancaster is within 50 miles of Hamilton.

Thanks Sam!

AmandaByNight · #12 Post by **AmandaByNight** » Thu Jul 29, 2010 2:16 am

Wow, this is the most info I have evern seen on the criminally underrated Gillian Dobb!

I have always really liked and been fascinated by the character of Agatha. She's so funny and SO British and very sweet and odd all at the same time. I loved the way she loved Higgins and he couldn't quite get into the groove with her. It was fun, if bittersweet.

Sam · #13 Post by **Sam** » Thu Jul 29, 2010 2:24 pm

Hi Amanda,welcome to the forum.In case you haven't seen Rick's blog,here is more info on Gillian.

http://magnumdecorator.blogspot.com/200 ... m-set.html

AmandaByNight · #14 Post by **AmandaByNight** » Thu Jul 29, 2010 3:46 pm

Sam wrote:Hi Amanda,welcome to the forum.In case you haven't seen Rick's blog,here is more info on Gillian.

http://magnumdecorator.blogspot.com/200 ... m-set.html

Wow, that was wonderful, THANK YOU!

She does seem a bit like an enigma, but now there's some pieces to the story.

I'm still very pleased to see someone as un-Hollywood as her end up as a intregal part on such an incredible show. She really added to it too!

Agatha · #15 Post by **Agatha** » Fri Sep 24, 2010 2:50 pm

A GREAT topic! I, too, have tried to find information about Gillian Dobb and haven't come up with any more that all of you have. Really good to have Rick Romer's information. I wonder...as I often do...what Tom Selleck would have to say about Gillian Dobb.

You know that guy...kind of ascerbic...has a show where he interviews actors...and then the folks in the audience ask questions...it's supposed to be all about acting and I think the audience are young actor/director/producer wanna-be people. Do you know which program I'm talking about? Am I making any sense? ANYWAY...the host seems to go into a lot of detail about his guest's acting life and actually gives the guest a chance to talk. I've always wished he'd have Tom Selleck on his show.

But, of course, then I'd have to BE there to ask the questions that I want to learn about. Oh, well.

I agree, IKnowWhatYou'reThinking, that Agatha always liked Thomas...in fact, I detected a particular gleam in her eye during the episode when Higgins "went Thomas" and Thomas became the responsible one for a while. Hmmmm. I can't remember the name of that one. And I think that he liked her as well. Some of that charming respect that Thomas had for people was clear in his relationship with Agatha. Many times when Higgins would be busy with one of his entourages of older women, Thomas would say something like "Hi, ladies. Hi, Agatha." Always singling her out as special. Always very respectful. Even more than Higgins sometimes like in Photo Play where Thomas was the one who visited her in the hospital while Higgins was busy with his SNOOKER tournament.

Interesting. Veeeery interesting!!