Charmion King, grande dame of Canadian stage and screen for 60 years, died in Toronto on Jan. 6 of complications from emphysema. She was 82.

Born in Toronto in 1925, King began her career in school plays, playing mostly the male roles, before attending the University of Toronto where she worked under American actor Robert Gill. In the early 1950s, she returned from a stint in England to work at CBC and the Stratford Festival.

She was perhaps best known to TV audiences as the indomitable Aunt Josephine in CBC's Anne of Green Gables. Her other works include The Newsroom, Wind at My Back and the movies Who Has Seen the Wind? and Nobody Waved Goodbye.

King is survived by her husband Gordon Pinsent and daughter Leah Pinsent. There will be a private family cremation and memorial service at a later date.