Remembering the real Missus Downstairs, Elsie Higgins
The real-life inspiration for The Missus Downstairs has died at the age of 69. (Submitted by Dave Sullivan)
When Elsie Higgins, the inspiration for the titular character in the TV show The Missus Downstairs, died last month, it left her friend Dave Sullivan remembering how she changed his life.
Higgins was Sullivan's neighbour, who went on to be the co-writer, co-creator and actor in the show that chronicled the unlikely friendship between John — played by Sullivan — and the Missus — played by Mary Walsh.
"My friendship with her is bigger than any show, right? Our sort of little friendship that we had is more meaningful than the show, but I'm super glad that she got enjoyment from it," Sullivan told CBC News.
"And she got to meet Mary and have those experiences because it really, it lit her up, which was fantastic."
Higgins died on Dec. 30 at the age of 69.
Sullivan said he'd met her because he'd been in the process of moving for a job when the "world decided to shut down" when the COVID-19 pandemic hit and he needed to find a new place to live in the province.
Timely connection
He found a place in Portugal Cove-St. Phillips, he recalled, "It was kind of everything I'd ever kind of dreamed of. And I thought I was alone. And the next morning I met Elsie, who was in the basement. Not squatting. She was actually living there."
"And from there on, a friendship started to kind of bloom ... which was lovely, I got to say," he said.
Sullivan's first impression of Higgins was that she was "scoping" him out, and he said it was soon apparent she was really funny. He started writing snippets about their interactions that he shared on social media.
"I am not the most social guy in the world and she was always trying to, like, pry me open and get me to talk and stuff like that. It was almost like Curb Your Enthusiasm… I'm not Larry David. I'm like a shut-in version of Larry David. But that was kind of our relationship."
Sullivan said meeting Higgins changed his life during a global pandemic, with both of them finding connection in each other.
Making it to the screen
Those snippets Sullivan shared of their interactions would become the basis for the TV show The Missus Downstairs, he said.
He said one day Mary Walsh, who was reading the snippets he posted, wrote that she was born to play the role of the missus downstairs. He wrote back, asking if she was serious.
A few days passed and Ruth Lawrence, who would become a co-producer, got involved, and he said within a week they were pitching a short series to Bell Fibe TV.
The first season of The Missus Downstairs premiered in 2021 on Bell Fibe TV and the third season will air in February. (Bell Fibe TV)
Season 3 will air in February and he said every second is dedicated to Higgins and her family.
There was an appreciation night for the show this past summer and Higgins was able to join, and Sullivan said she really enjoyed herself.
"I'm really glad that she had that experience as well ... she was such a special person," he said.
It also got him thinking about the number of people, particularly older folks, who are tucked away in a basement apartment, he said.
"How many people exist that have these fantastic personalities… and humour that, you know, is begging to be shared with everyone. I was just so lucky to have met her."
Higgin's family is also happy to see parts of Higgins carry on and shared with others through the show, Sullivan said.
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