Richard O’Sullivan, known for his role as Robin Tripp in the 1970s TV sitcoms Man About The House and Robin’s Nest, has died aged 82.
The actor, who was also famous for playing the title character in the period adventure Dick Turpin, “passed away peacefully surrounded by his close family” on Friday, according to the Royal Variety Charity.
He died at their care home, Brinsworth House in Twickenham, where he has lived for the past 23 years, the charity said.
James O’Sullivan paid tribute to his father, saying: “My dad was as funny and charming in real life as he appeared on our TV screens over the years.
“Always kind spirited, good humoured, a doting grandfather and a wonderful dad – I will miss him dearly.
“Although much of his career happened before I was born, I was fortunate enough to be able to enjoy and witness his incredible talents on the countless reruns of his shows that made him the respected and loved actor that he was.
“I would like to thank the incredible team at Brinsworth for their love, kindness and care over the last 23 years. They have been truly amazing and will always hold a special place in my heart.”
O’Sullivan’s career began as a child actor, when he appeared in The Yellow Balloon in 1953 at the age of eight.
He appeared in Sir Peter Hall’s production of Love’s Labour’s Lost at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre Stratford in 1956.
He featured in two films with Sir Cliff Richard in the 1960s – The Young Ones in 1961 and Wonderful Life in 1964 – and in 1963 starred opposite Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton in Cleopatra, in the role of Pharaoh Ptolemy XIII.
Man About The House ran for six series from 1973, following the trials and tribulations of a man sharing a London flat with two single women.
O’Sullivan starred opposite Paula Wilcox as Chrissy and Sally Thomsett as Jo.
Spin-off Robin’s Nest aired for six series from 1977 and followed Robin as a qualified chef as he sets up home with his girlfriend and a business with her father.
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