Sitcom star Jack Smethurst dies aged 89
- Jack Smethurst has died at the age of 89
- The Manchester-born actor is best known for starring in sitcom hit Love Thy Neighbour
- A wide range of comedy roles also include Carry On Sergeant and For The Love Of Ada
Actor and sitcom star Jack Smethurst has died. He was 89.
Born in Manchester on 9th April 1932, he is best remembered for playing the leading role of bigoted working class fool Eddie Booth in the 1970s comedy series Love Thy Neighbour.
He died peacefully at home earlier today surrounded by his family.
Also a popular regular in sitcom For The Love Of Ada, Smethurst's other comedy roles included appearances in Carry On Sergeant, the first film in the hit series; The Rag Trade; dinnerladies; Here's Harry; Watch Your Stern and Doctor At Large.
Such was the level of his fame and popularity from Love Thy Neighbour that he appeared as himself in the feature film adaptation of fellow hit ITV comedy Man About The House.
Raised in Collyhurst, after completing national service with the RAF Smethurst attended the London Academy of Dramatic Arts. He married Barbara Nicholls in 1957, with whom he had four children.
In 2016 Radio 4 documentary Still Loving Thy Neighbour?, he talked about the sitcom's popularity, which was seen by up to 17 million viewers each week. "For a while after Love Thy Neighbour finished - and I'm not ashamed to tell you this - but I couldn't get arrested."
However, he admitted he found it very hard to land other roles after appearing in the controversial series and he ended up working in a shop. "A friend of mine had a flower shop in Harrow-on-the-Hill and I worked there. People would come in and go, 'No, it can't be...' And I knew nothing about flowers."
However, he commented that it wasn't down the views of his character that he wasn't getting new work. "I don't think it was the racial content; I think it is that your face is so familiar. I think people are a lot more adaptable now in accepting that an actor who was playing one role is playing a different role this time. It must have lost me a few roles, but I more than made up for it."
Talking about his career, which later included roles in Coronation Street and Last Of The Summer Wine, he concluded: "It's been a rewarding one. I've enjoyed every minute."