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Dame Barbara was born in Shoreditch, east London, in 1937. She was married three times, including to small-time criminal Ronnie Knight, and also dated gangsters Charlie and Reggie Kray. She married Mr. Mitchell in 2000 after they first met in 1992.
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She also worked in theatre, making her stage debut at the age of 13. Her stage credits include productions such as 'Oh! What a Lovely War' and 'Fings Ain’t Wot They Used to Be'.
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She appeared in nine films in the 'Carry On' comedy series, as well as 'Sparrows Can't Sing', for which she was nominated for a Bafta. She also had roles in 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang' and 'On the Fiddle' with Sir Sean Connery.
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She was well-known to millions of TV viewers for her portrayal of landlady "Peggy Mitchell" in 'EastEnders', where she starred alongside her on-screen children, Ross Kemp and Steve McFadden.
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Her final appearance on the soap was in 2016, the same year she was honored with a damehood for her contributions to charity and entertainment.
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Dame Barbara was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2014 and had moved to a care home.
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After her dementia diagnosis, Dame Barbara became an ambassador for the Alzheimer's Society and met with Mr. Johnson to raise awareness about the disease. She delivered a letter signed by 100,000 people, asking for better care for people with dementia and stating that the current system was "inadequate, unfair, unsustainable, and needed more money."
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The actress died at the age of 83. Her husband, Scott Mitchell, said she passed away peacefully from Alzheimer's at a London care home on Thursday evening.
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Mr. Mitchell, who campaigned alongside his wife, said of her death: "It was not the ending that Barbara or anyone else living with this very cruel disease deserves. I will always be immensely proud of Barbara's courage, dignity, and generosity in dealing with her own illness while still trying to help others by raising awareness for as long as she could."
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In his statement, he thanked the public, family, and friends for their support. He added, "I've lost my wife, my best friend, and soulmate, and my heart and life will never feel the same without you."
Discover the life of British actress Barbara Windsor, famous for her roles in "Carry On" films and "EastEnders."
Learn about her battle with Alzheimer's disease and the events leading to her passing. View photos that celebrate her career and lively spirit.