Richard O'Sullivan, best known for his role as Robin Tripp in the 1970s sitcom Man About the House, has died aged 82. The actor passed away surrounded by close family at Brinsworth House, the Royal Variety Charity's care home in west London, where he had lived since 2003, following a stroke.
A Career of Charm and Comedy
Giles Cooper of the Royal Variety said in a statement: "Richard O'Sullivan was a master of effortless charm and impeccable comic timing, bringing pure warmth, wit, and unforgettable joy to millions of living rooms as a true giant of British television."
Beyond Man About the House, O'Sullivan was famous for playing the title character in the period adventure Dick Turpin, as well as starring in Doctor at Large and the 1980s sitcom Me and My Girl. He began as a child actor, making his first film appearance singing in the Sunday School sequence of The Yellow Balloon, filmed in 1952 when he was eight and released the following year.
Memorable Moments on Screen
In one Man About the House episode, O'Sullivan pretended to hide a budgie inside his shirt, but it was actually an empty hand. He was praised for "not over-doing" the trick and being "very good with the physical comedy."
On December 11, 1974, Eamonn Andrews surprised him with the big red book on This Is Your Life. O'Sullivan famously said, "I feel much older," after being led to believe he was arriving to film a segment following a planned concert.
Another funny moment came in the episode "One for the Road," where he attempted to give his flatmate Chrissy a driving lesson using a toilet brush as a gear stick.
At age 17, O'Sullivan starred as Pharaoh Ptolemy XIII in Cleopatra, the younger brother of Elizabeth Taylor's title character. He recalled: "I was very beautiful, I looked even more beautiful than Liz Taylor with all the makeup. It was terrific."
