Anita Harris: Carry On Star, Singer, and Alzheimer’s Advocate

There’s something quietly remarkable about an entertainer who keeps working for more than six decades, shifting from pop charts to film sets to a pottery wheel: that’s the story of Anita Harris, an English actress and singer who has been in show business since 1957. She first gained attention as a member of the Cliff Adams Singers in the early 1960s, according to Wikipedia, and later became a familiar face in the iconic Carry On films, but her later years have been shaped by personal loss and a quiet resilience — caring for her husband through Alzheimer’s and finding a new creative outlet in pottery.

Born: 3 June 1942, Midsomer Norton, Somerset, England ·
Profession: Actress, singer, entertainer ·
Known for: Carry On films, Cliff Adams Singers ·
Spouse: Mike Margolis (m. 1973; died 2022) ·
Children: 2 ·
Net worth (estimated): £1 million

Eight key details, one pattern: a career that spans pop, film, and a late-life pivot to craft and advocacy.

Is Anita Harris still married?

A straightforward answer: she was married to Mike Margolis for nearly 50 years until his death in 2022. But the story behind that marriage — from manager to husband to care partner — is where the real weight lies.

Who was Mike Margolis?

• Margolis became Harris’s manager in the 1960s and later her husband, according to Alzheimer’s Research UK.
• They married in 1973, per Wikipedia, and had two children together.
• He played a role in her career as a producer and collaborator, though his own public profile remained low.

What happened to Mike Margolis?

• Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2015 (Alzheimer’s Research UK).
• Harris publicly discussed his condition in October 2022 to raise awareness for dementia research (YouTube / Alzheimer’s Research UK).
• A May 2024 update from the same charity noted that Margolis had died just over a year earlier (YouTube / Alzheimer’s Research UK).

The implication: Harris’s decision to go public with her husband’s illness turned a private grief into a public advocacy mission — one that continues to shape her current activities.

What is Anita Harris doing now?

After her husband’s death, Harris did not retreat. She continues to perform occasionally, makes pottery that she sells, and lends her voice to Alzheimer’s awareness campaigns.

Is Anita Harris still performing?

Yes — according to Alzheimer’s Research UK, she remains active as an entertainer, though the frequency of her gigs is not publicly documented.

Does Anita Harris make pottery?

• She has taken up pottery as a hobby and reportedly sells her work, though no official online store or brand name is consistently mentioned.
• The pottery appears to be a private creative outlet, not a full-time business.

The pattern: Harris’s current life blends the public persona — occasional performer, Alzheimer’s advocate — with a quieter private life centered on making things with her hands.

What is Anita Harris most famous for?

Her fame rests on two pillars: 1960s pop music and the Carry On film series.

Which Carry On films was Anita Harris in?

• She appeared in Carry On Doctor (1967) and Carry On Follow That Camel (1967) (Alzheimer’s Research UK).
• These films are among the most popular entries in the long-running British comedy series.

What songs did Anita Harris sing?

• She sang with the Cliff Adams Singers from 1961 to 1964 (Wikipedia).
• Her best-known solo recording is “Just Loving You” (Alzheimer’s Research UK).
• She had several chart hits in the 1960s, though exact chart positions are not consistently reported.

What this means: Harris built a dual career as a singer and actress, but it’s the Carry On association that keeps her name alive on streaming platforms and nostalgic article lists.

Has Anita Harris got children?

Yes, she has two children from her marriage to Mike Margolis. Their names are not publicly emphasised, reflecting Harris’s effort to keep her family life private.

How many children does Anita Harris have?

• Two children, confirmed by multiple biographical sources including Wikipedia.
• No public details about their professions or current lives are available.

The trade-off: While Harris chose the spotlight for her career, she guarded her children’s privacy — a contrast that leaves this part of her life largely undocumented.

Is Anita Harris still alive?

Yes, Anita Harris is alive as of 2025. She was born on 3 June 1942, making her 83 years old. She resides in the UK.

How old is Anita Harris?

Born 3 June 1942, she turned 83 in 2025 (Wikipedia).

Where does Anita Harris live now?

Harris lives in the UK, though her exact location is not publicly confirmed to maintain privacy. She occasionally gives interviews and posts updates through Alzheimer’s Research UK channels.

The implication: For a woman who spent half a century in the public eye, her current life remains deliberately low-key — a deliberate counterpoint to her earlier fame.

Timeline of key events

• 1942 – Born in Midsomer Norton, Somerset (Wikipedia)
• 1961–1964 – Member of the Cliff Adams Singers (Wikipedia)
• 1967 – Appears in Carry On Doctor (Alzheimer’s Research UK)
• 1973 – Marries Mike Margolis (Wikipedia)
• 2015 – Mike Margolis diagnosed with Alzheimer’s (Alzheimer’s Research UK)
• 2022 – Margolis dies; Harris goes public with the story (YouTube / Alzheimer’s Research UK)
• 2024 – Harris releases single “Never Lose Hope” in his memory (Instagram / Alzheimer’s Research UK)

The timeline highlights the key moments in Harris’s life and career.

Clarity check: confirmed facts vs. what remains unclear

A balanced view of what we know with confidence and what awaits further verification.

Confirmed facts

• Anita Harris is alive (as of 2025).
• She was married to Mike Margolis.
• He died from Alzheimer’s in 2022.
• She has two children.
• She appeared in Carry On Doctor and Carry On Follow That Camel.
• She sang with the Cliff Adams Singers.

What remains unclear

• Exact net worth figure (unverified by independent sources).
• Current frequency of live performances.
• Specific details and brand name of her pottery business.
• Whether she has future recording projects planned.

This balanced view helps readers distinguish verified facts from less certain claims.

In her own words

“I first met my darling husband Mike … he was my manager for only about five years before we fell in love.”

— Anita Harris, interview with Alzheimer’s Research UK (2022)

In 2024, Harris stated that she wrote “Never Lose Hope” about their journey with dementia and intended it as a message for anyone going through something similar, according to Alzheimer’s Research UK.

For carers facing a similar diagnosis, the example of Anita Harris shows that compassion and creativity can coexist with grief. The choice is clear: either let the loss define the end of the story, or channel it into something that helps others — and Harris has chosen the latter.

Frequently asked questions

These answers address common queries about Harris’s life and career.