Brian Murphy, Man About The House and George and Mildred star, dies at 92

Brian Murphy died at his home in Kent on Sunday morning, survived by his wife, Hi-de-Hi! actress Linda Regan.

Actor and comedian Brian Murphy, renowned for his roles in the 1970s British sitcoms Man About The House and George and Mildred, has passed away at the age of 92.  

Murphy died at his home in Kent on Sunday morning. He is survived by his wife, Hi-de-Hi! actress Linda Regan, 75, as well as his two sons, Trevor and Kevin, from his first marriage.  

Ms. Regan shared her feelings, saying, "I was lucky to have in my lifetime found my soulmate. Brian, who I will love forever."  

Alongside a picture of them kissing, she posted on X, "My love for you will never die. RIP sweetheart."  

During the early years of his career, Murphy collaborated extensively with theatre director Joan Littlewood.  

He gained widespread recognition for his role as George Roper in the sitcoms Man About The House and George and Mildred.  

More recently, he made guest appearances in BBC’s Holby City, The Catherine Tate Show, and ITV’s Benidorm.  

Murphy’s friend and agent, Thomas Bowington, paid tribute to him, calling him a "joyful and profoundly good-hearted man" and praising both his "talent and humanity."  

Born on the Isle of Wight in 1932, Murphy began his career in the 1950s when he became part of the Theatre Workshop.  

This pioneering group, founded by Joan Littlewood and her partner Gerry Raffles, aimed to modernize theatre and make it more accessible to working-class audiences.  

Murphy performed in Shakespearean productions under Littlewood’s direction and appeared in her only feature-length film, Sparrows Can't Sing.  

However, he became best known for his portrayal of George Roper in ITV’s Man About The House, a sitcom that was considered groundbreaking in the 1970s for its depiction of a man sharing a flat with two women.  

His co-stars in the series included Paula Wilcox and Sally Thomsett as Chrissy and Jo, while Yootha Joyce played his assertive wife, Mildred.  

Murphy and Joyce later reprised their roles in the spin-off George and Mildred, which also achieved great success.  

In 2023, Murphy and his wife, Linda Regan, joined the cast of the award-nominated podcast sitcom Barmy Dale.  

The couple played Felicity Palmer, Mayoress of Barmy Dale, and Lord Palmer, her husband.