Brian Murphy (actor)

Brian Trevor John Murphy (25 September 1932 – 2 February 2025) was an English comic actor. He was best known as the henpecked husband George Roper in the popular sitcom '' Man About the House'' and its spin-off series '' George and Mildred''. He also played Alvin Smedley in ''Last of the Summer Wine''. Other notable roles included Stan the shopkeeper in the 1990s children's series '' Wizadora'', and Maurice in the comedy drama series '' The Booze Cruise''.

Early life

Murphy was born in Ventnor on the Isle of Wight, on 25 September 1932. He was the son of grocer's assistant Gerald Murphy and his wife Mabel, both of whom later became restaurateurs. His two brothers Ken and Eric died during active service in the Second World War. He was called up to do his national service at RAF Northwood, where he met future '' The Good Life'' actor Richard Briers. Upon leaving the RAF the two aspiring actors both performed in productions by the Dramatic Society at the Borough Polytechnic Institute (now London South Bank University).

Career

Early career

Murphy was a member of the Theatre Workshop (alongside future TV co-star Yootha Joyce), and a jobbing actor in the 1960s and early 1970s, combining his theatre work with guest appearances in television shows such as '' The Avengers'', '' Z-Cars'', '' Callan'' and ''Dixon of Dock Green''. He also starred in Littlewood's film '' Sparrows Can't Sing'' (1963) alongside his Theatre Workshop peers including Joyce, Barbara Windsor, Stephen Lewis, Bob Grant and Roy Kinnear. Other film roles at this time included '' San Ferry Ann'' (1965; also starring Windsor), '' The Activist'' (1969), '' The Devils'' (1971) and '' The Boy Friend'' (1971).

By the early 1970s, Murphy was considering giving up acting in order to become an insurance salesman, however he was cast in an episode of the sitcom '' Alcock and Gander'' (1972) which was written by Johnnie Mortimer and Brian Cooke. The pair were impressed by Murphy's performance and offered him a role in their then-forthcoming sitcom '' Man About the House'' which would make him a household name.

''Man About the House'' and ''George and Mildred''

Murphy first came to prominence in the ITV television sitcom '' Man About the House'', playing George Roper, whose wife, Mildred, played by Yootha Joyce, was a domineering social climber – a sharp contrast to the character of George, a lazy landlord whose desire was for an easy and quiet life. The pairing was an instant hit. A contributing factor to the actors' immediate chemistry was that they had been friends for many years.

When ''Man About The House'' ended in 1976, a spin-off was created for Murphy and Joyce, titled '' George and Mildred''. Like its predecessor, ''George and Mildred'' was also a massive success and ran for five series until 1979. In 1978 Murphy released the single "Jogging" (b/w "The Great Gnome Robbery"), recorded in the persona of George, on the Pye label. He later said, "Out of the blue I was requested to record 'Jogging' in the manner of George, and naturally could not refuse. I had been told I had an excellent singing voice and in fact did some training, but sadly I lacked confidence and missed opportunities – one of my biggest regrets." Murphy reprised his role in feature films of both sitcoms. Joyce died in 1980, and the planned sixth and final series of ''George and Mildred'' was cancelled.

After ''George and Mildred''

In 1981, another television sitcom, ''The Incredible Mr. Tanner'', was created specifically for Murphy with him in the title role and featuring regular ''Man About The House'' and ''George and Mildred'' co-star Roy Kinnear, but the show only lasted for one series. Murphy also starred in the Eric Sykes films '' The Plank'' (1979) and '' It's Your Move'' (1982). Murphy moved to the BBC in 1982 for the driving school sitcom '' L for Lester'' alongside Amanda Barrie but the series was cancelled after just one series. He then had a main role in the BBC sitcom '' Lame Ducks'' (1984–1985) as a private investigator, and gave an acclaimed performance as Arthur Lucan in the television play '' On Your Way, Riley'' (1985).

Roles in the 1990s included a shopkeeper called Stan in the pre-school children's TV series '' Wizadora'', '' One Foot in the Grave'', '' Brookside'', ''The Bill'' (as a drunken tramp dressed as an elf at Christmas), and animated series '' Pond Life''.

Murphy was the subject of '' This Is Your Life'' in 1998.

''Last of the Summer Wine'' and others

Murphy continued to appear regularly on television, most notably as Alvin Smedley in ''Last of the Summer Wine'' from 2003 until the show's end in 2010. Alvin became one of the show's main trio of characters alongside Peter Sallis and Frank Thornton, and latterly with Russ Abbot and Burt Kwouk.

Murphy also starred in all three episodes of the ITV comedy '' The Booze Cruise'', playing Maurice and appeared as Neville in four episodes of '' The Catherine Tate Show'' between 2005 and 2006. In 2010, Murphy appeared in an episode of '' Hustle'' and featured in the Christmas episode of ''Benidorm'' as Noreen's ( Elsie Kelly) new boyfriend, Clive. Murphy continued to make guest appearances in comedy shows such as '' White Van Man'', '' This Is Jinsy'' and ''Plebs''. He also appeared as Jack Dobson in '' The Cafe'' from 2011 to 2013, and also in the Channel 4 comedy '' Man Down'' as music teacher Frank Field-Williams in the 2013 Christmas special.

In 2023, Murphy wrote the introduction to the autobiography of his '' Oh, What a Lovely War!'' co-star Larry Dann. He continued to work until the end of his life, and was set to appear in a film with his wife that would have begun shooting in June 2025.

Personal life and death

Murphy married Carol Gibson in 1957; they had two children, Trevor and Kevin, and divorced in the 1980s. In 1995, Murphy married '' Hi-de-Hi!'' actress Linda Regan; they lived at The Old Cottage in Shortlands, Bromley, Kent, which dated back to at least the 17th century, but sold the property in 2018.

Murphy died on 2 February 2025, after being diagnosed with cancer in his spine and shoulders, three weeks before. He was 92.

Filmography

Television

Theatre and radio

* ''Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street'' ( Christopher Bond), Theatre Royal Stratford East, Title role ( Sweeney Todd), 1973
* ''On Your Way, Riley'' (Alan Plater), The Queen's Theatre, Arthur Lucan (Old Mother Riley), February–March 1983
* '' When We Are Married'' ( J. B. Priestley), Whitehall Theatre, Herbert Soppitt, 1986
* ''Roll on Friday'' ( Roger Hall), Watford Palace Theatre, Jim, October 1989

From October 1987 to July 1991, Murphy played Ernest Bond in BBC Radio 4's drama series ''Citizens''.

Murphy also played Robert Collins in an episode of the audio series of ''Doctor Who'' by Big Finish Productions in an episode entitled "The Home Guard" in November 2019.

Murphy appeared for three episodes - along with his wife, Linda Regan - playing the role of Mayor, Lord Palmer, in podcast sitcom ''Barmy Dale''.

References

External links

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Brian Murphy role reviews
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Murphy, Brian
1932 births
2025 deaths
20th-century Royal Air Force personnel
20th-century English male actors
21st-century English male actors
English male film actors
English male radio actors
English male stage actors
English male television actors
English male voice actors
English people of Irish descent
Male actors from the Isle of Wight
Male actors from Kent
Military personnel from the Isle of Wight
People from Ventnor