R.I.P. John Horsley

John Horsley, the actor best known for playing Doc Morrissey in Reggie Perrin, has died at the age of 93.

Best known for telling stressed-out Reggie to 'take two asprin,' Horsely later went on to play Sir Ralph Shawcross in the BBC sitcom You Rang, M'Lord?, which ran from 1990 to 1993.

Reggie Perrin writer David Nobbs broke the news on Twitter, posting: 'John Horsley, Doc Morrissey from Reggie Perrin, died yesterday. He was wonderful and I am very saddened.'

Born in Essex, Horsley made his acting debut at the Theatre Royal in Bournemouth,before being called up to the Second World War. But he contracted hepatitis and become a member of an Army drama company that toured military units.

An old-school character actor with a great, wide-ranging list of credits to his name. Sad news. RIP.

Brilliant performance in 'Reggie Perrin'.

Good innings.

Doc Morrisey was the greatest of British TV comedy doctor characters. Being a son of a doctor may have aided John Horsley's performance.

RIP.

He was superb in the early series of Reginald Perrin and still gave a fine performance in The Legacy of Reginald Perrin.

"Do you find you can't finish the crossword like you used to?" Doc Morrissey asks Reggie, who is forever on the brink of nervous breakdown. "Nasty taste in the mouth in the mornings? Can't stop thinking about sex? Can't start doing anything about sex? Wake up in a sweat in the mornings? Keep falling asleep during Play for Today?"

"Extraordinary, Doc, that's exactly how I've been feeling," replies Reggie hopefully.

"So do I," says the doctor. "I wonder what it is." And then Doc Morrissey prescribes two Aspirin, which is what he always prescribes.

Brilliantly delivered.

A fantastic character actor. RIP.