Peter Cook's widow Lin dies at 71, days after the release of a new film providing unprecedented access into the comedian's life 

  • Lin Cook, who met Peter in 1982 and married him in 1989, has died aged 71 
  • She recently gave access to Peter's private diaries for a BBC documentary
  • Victor Lewis-Smith, television producer, announced her death on Twitter
  • Tributes from fans praised her appearance in The Undiscovered Peter Cook

By Isobel Frodsham For Mailonline

Published: | Updated:

The of widow of comedian Peter Cook has died aged 71.

Lin, who was born as Lin Chong in Malaysia in January 1945 and was of Chinese descent, met her husband in 1982 in Hampstead, London after discovering they were neighbours. They later became friends.  

Recently, she worked with television producer, Victor Lewis-Smith, on the BBC Four documentary The Undiscovered Peter Cook, where she gave unprecedented access to Peter’s private recordings, diaries, letters, photographs, and much more.

The documentary aired on November 16. 

Lin Cook, pictured in 1997 in Hampstead Heath, met her husband in 1982 after they discovered they were neighbours in North London 

Lin Cook, pictured in 1997 in Hampstead Heath, met her husband in 1982 after they discovered they were neighbours in North London 

Victor Lewis-Smith announced her death on Twitter earlier today, saying: 'Deeply sad to announce that my dear friend Lin Cook, Peter's widow, has died.'   

Peter Cook, who was voted the Comedian's Comedian in 2005 and known for his double act with Dudley Moore, divorced his second wife, Judy Huxtable, in 1989. Peter and Lin shortly got married afterwards. 

When Peter died in 1995, aged 57, of a gastrointestinal haemorrhage, Lin suffered severe depression over the loss of her husband and bringing up her daughter Nina, who has severe learning difficulties.

Lin and Peter were married from 1989 until his death in 1995, where he suffered a gastrointestinal haemorrhage

Lin and Peter were married from 1989 until his death in 1995, where he suffered a gastrointestinal haemorrhage

She channeled her grief into setting up a charity, the Peter Cook foundation, in 2000, which aimed to raise £7m to build a music centre and home for her daughter and other disabled adults. 

Lin was also a director of Peter Cook (Productions) Ltd, a post which she resigned from last week, and inherited her late husband's 40 per cent stake in satire magazine, Private Eye, which he helped to finance after its launch in 1961.

However false rumours began to circulate that she was to sell the stake to to one of its enemies, Mohammed Al Fayed, which led to her being likened to Yoko Ono.

Peter, who was known as the Comedian's Comedian, was known for his 1960s and 70s double act with Dudley Moore

Peter, who was known as the Comedian's Comedian, was known for his 1960s and 70s double act with Dudley Moore

Victor Lewis-Smith announced her death on Twitter earlier today, saying: 'Deeply sad to announce that my dear friend Lin Cook, Peter's widow, has died.'

Victor Lewis-Smith announced her death on Twitter earlier today, saying: 'Deeply sad to announce that my dear friend Lin Cook, Peter's widow, has died.'

James Kettle wrote 'RIP Lin Cook. Her kindness is part of the reason I do what I do today.' While Mark Faulkner wrote to Victor 'Ditto what everyone else has said. Lin Cook came across as a wonderful spirit in your documentary.'

James Kettle wrote 'RIP Lin Cook. Her kindness is part of the reason I do what I do today.' While Mark Faulkner wrote to Victor 'Ditto what everyone else has said. Lin Cook came across as a wonderful spirit in your documentary.'

Ken Shabby ‏said: 'That's awful. She seemed lovely in that doc. RIP Lin Cook.'

Ken Shabby ‏said: 'That's awful. She seemed lovely in that doc. RIP Lin Cook.'

Lee Thompson ‏wrote: 'So sad to hear Peter Cook's widow Lin has died. She was so wonderful in the recent BBC4 doc, still up on iPlayer.'

Lee Thompson ‏wrote: 'So sad to hear Peter Cook's widow Lin has died. She was so wonderful in the recent BBC4 doc, still up on iPlayer.'

She later said, in an interview with The Independent, that at the time they [Private Eye] 'didn't defend me and that was very hurtful'. She added: 'I didn't do a thing. I was just trying to cope with the fact Peter wasn't around.'

In 2003, she released a book titled: Something Like Fire: Peter Cook Remembered. 

Twitter users revealed their shock over her death earlier today, with many praising her appearance in the documentary.

Ken Shabby ‏said: 'That's awful. She seemed lovely in that doc. RIP Lin Cook.'

Lee Thompson ‏wrote: 'So sad to hear Peter Cook's widow Lin has died. She was so wonderful in the recent BBC4 doc, still up on iPlayer.'

James Kettle ‏tweeted: 'RIP Lin Cook. Her kindness is part of the reason I do what I do today.'

Most watched News videos

Comments 109

Share what you think

  View all

The comments below have not been moderated.

  View all

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

We are no longer accepting comments on this article.