British sitcom actor Brian Murphy dead at 92
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Man About the House and George and Mildred actor Brian Murphy has died aged 92.
In the 2000s, the esteemed British sitcom actor appeared in episodes of The Catherine Tate Show, Benidorm, and Holby City, in addition to playing Alvin Smedley in 76 episodes of Last of the Summer Wine. However, he will always be best known for playing put-upon husband George Roper in Man of the House. That character and his feisty wife were subsequently spun off into the series George and Mildred. After nearly 80 episodes, the couple also enjoyed a big screen outing in 1980.
Before coming to fame as Roper, Murphy was a member of Theatre Workshop, founded by Joan Littlewood, in the ’50s. He performed in several Shakespeare productions staged by Littlewood and also starred in her sole feature film, the kitchen sink comedy Sparrows Can’t Sing. Amazingly, he was still plying his trade in theatre in the early ’90s, when he starred in the first-ever stage production of HG Wells’ The Invisible Man.
Murphy reportedly died in his home on February 2nd, with his friend and agent Thomas Bowington stating, “It is with the greatest of sadness that we have to announce the death of our client actor Brian Murphy. It is almost impossible to describe the depth of his talent and humanity. A truly joyful and profoundly good-hearted man.”
The fondly remembered actor is survived by his wife Linda Regan, who starred in Hi-de-Hi!, and his two sons. She stated, “I was lucky to have in my lifetime found my soulmate Brian, who I will love forever,” and also posted a heartfelt tribute on X that read, “My love for you will never die. RIP, sweetheart.”
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