Brian Murphy dies aged 92
- Comic actor Brian Murphy, whose long CV includes sitcoms such as George & Mildred and Last Of The Summer Wine, has died
Brian Murphy, the star of sitcoms including Man About The House and George & Mildred, has died aged 92.
News of his passing was shared by his wife, Hi-De-Hi! star Linda Regan, on social media. Posting a picture of her kissing her husband, she said: "My love for you will never die. RIP sweetheart." She added: "I was lucky to have in my lifetime found my soulmate, Brian, who I will love forever."
Murphy's agent Thomas Bowington says he passed away at his home in Kent on Sunday morning. He called his friend and client a "joyful and profoundly good-hearted man".
Born on the Isle of Wight on 25th September 1932, Murphy moved to Portsmouth and then London when he was a child, with his parents who were in the restaurant business. He became a keen amateur actor and, after National Service where he met fellow acting enthusiast Richard Briers, he was accepted into RADA. However, he didn't stay the full term - when the money he had saved during his years in the RAF ran out, he was forced to leave and work at odd jobs.
Murphy's acting career began properly in the 1950s when he became a member of the pioneering Theatre Workshop based at The Theatre Royal, Stratford East. Founded by Joan Littlewood and Gerry Raffles, it was dedicated to modernising theatre and reaching working class audiences.
Murphy performed in many Shakespeare productions directed by Littlewood, however it was comedy he soon became known for. After roles in TV comedies such as Sez Les, Never Mind The Quality, Feel The Width and Alcock And Gander, in 1973 he landed the key character of George Roper in Man About The House. The sitcom became a big hit, running for six series. Murphy then starred in five series of spin-off George & Mildred alongside co-star Yootha Joyce. In a TV Times article, co-writer Brian Cooke stated: "They were so well loved by the public; we couldn't waste characters like that. If we hadn't used them again in something else, then somebody else would have." A film featuring the characters followed in 1980.
In the 1980s, his TV series included The Incredible Mr Tanner and L For Lester. He kept up-to-date with modern comedy trends in the 1990s and 2000s by appearing in comedies such as Mrs Merton & Malcolm, The Catherine Tate Show and This Is Jinsy. He also joined the cast of Last Of The Summer Wine from 2003, playing Alvin Smedley up until the show finished in 2010.
Murphy recently appeared on screens in the 2023 documentary Man About The House: 50 Years Of Laughter to talk about his famous character, and was still acting in that year too, taking on the role of Lord Palmer in the independently produced audio sitcom Barmy Dale.
In 2001, BCG published an interview with Brian Murphy in which he talked about his various roles. He reflected: "I had a most glorious career, lots of highs and rewards".